Reporter:
Steve Bittenbender covers Midwest and Gulport news for Casino.org. He also specializes in sports betting and horse racing. Steve is a veteran reporter and brings more than two decades of experience covering sports, business and politics. He joined Casino.org in 2019.
Steve has also covered major collegiate and professional sports for the Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal and is frequently featured on local network TV newscasts and podcasts for his horse racing business and legislative expertise. A Reuters contributor, he has also previously served as editor for Government Security News.
Steve lives in Louisville, Kentucky -- the epicenter of the US horse racing industry -- with his wife and son. He is also an avid poker player, having learned from his uncle as a wholesome after-school pastime with cookies and milk.
Contact Steve at [email protected].
Areas of Expertise
1982 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Indiana Casino and Sportsbook Revenues Rebound in July
Indiana’s casinos enjoyed a good start to the fiscal year in July. According to the monthly data released by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) on Friday, the 12 state-licensed commercial casinos reported $201.2M in taxable adjusted gross receipts (AGR) for the month....
Giant Eagle Latest Grocery Chain to Apply for Ohio Sports Betting Kiosks
More Ohio supermarkets are showing an interest in offering sports betting. The Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC) updated its list of prequalified retailers on Friday afternoon.? Among the new entries were 62 stores operated by Giant Eagle. The Pennsylvania-based grocer’s stores join 42...
MLB Comes Out Swinging for Online Sports Betting, Backs California Prop 27
Proponents for online sports betting in California picked up a big endorsement Friday morning. That's when Major League Baseball announced its support for Proposition 27. The professional sports league said in a statement that protecting the game’s integrity is paramount. It also...
Tribal Gaming Operators Generate Record $39B in FY21, 43 Casinos Make 52% GGR
Tribal gaming enjoyed a record-breaking year in fiscal year 2021, federal officials announced earlier this week. However, a deeper look at the data provided by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) showed that few operators reaped most of the benefits. The country’s...
Churchill Downs-NYRA Venture Seeks to Put Horse Racing on Sports Betting Apps
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) announced late Thursday afternoon that it sold a 49% stake in its United Tote division to a subsidiary of NYRA. It's a move the Louisville-based company said goes along with its vision of introducing pari-mutuel horse racing to...
Ohio Sports Betting Kiosks Raise Questions, Not All Are Answered Yet
One of the unique aspects of Ohio’s sports betting law is the inclusion of an array of businesses that can participate in the expanded gaming opportunity. For many of those businesses, their entry into sports betting will be through hosting kiosks. More...
Caesars, EBCI Holdings to Partner on $650M Virginia Casino Project
Caesars Entertainment announced on Wednesday that when it breaks ground this week for its planned Caesars Virginia casino in Danville, Va., it will do so with a partner in the $650 million development project. ECBI Holdings, a commercial gaming and hospitality-based holding...
California Educators, Top Legislators Oppose Online Sports Betting Measure
More California leaders have come out against Proposition 27, the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize online sports betting statewide. On Wednesday, two education-related groups announced their opposition to one of two sports betting measures going before California voters in less than...
Kroger Supermarkets Considering Sports Betting Kiosk Licenses in Ohio
It’s just before 6 p.m. on an early August evening in Ohio. The Kroger in Anderson Township just outside Cincinnati looks like your typical supermarket at that time of the day. Couples and singles walk down the aisle picking up items for...
Betr Applies for Online Sports Betting License in Ohio, According to Records
Ohio will be the first state Betr will venture into. This was revealed just one day after Jake Paul and Joey Levy announced their new sports wagering company that focuses on micro-betting. Information from Florida Funders -- a venture capital firm involved...