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
TCU, Once a 200-1 Longshot, Now One Win Away from College Football Title
It’s hard to consider a Power Five football team a Cinderella. But that’s where we are in 2023. TCU shook up the college football world Saturday evening with its 51-45 upset of Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl. With the win, the Horned...
New York Committee to Meet to Discuss Casino Solicitation
The panel that will ultimately decide where New York’s newest casinos will be located will hold its first meeting on the first workday of the new year. The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) announced late Friday afternoon that its Gaming Facility...
Ohio Sports Betting: 16 Apps, 13 Sportsbooks, and 771 Kiosks Approved for Jan. 1 Launch
The time is almost here. We’re just hours away from the start of legal sports betting in the state of Ohio, and it looks like sportsbooks are lining up as if they’re waiting for a land rush to begin. According to a...
College Football Playoff Preview: Georgia, Michigan Favored to Reach Final
The day most college football fans have waited for is finally here. The College Football Playoff semifinals take place on Saturday, with Michigan and TCU playing in the Fiesta Bowl and Georgia and Ohio State squaring off in the Peach Bowl. The...
DraftKings Faces $350K Fine in Ohio After Sports Betting Promo Mailed to People Under 21 (UPDATED)
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announced Friday afternoon it intends to fine DraftKings $350,000. That's after the sports betting giant allegedly sent promotional materials to individuals under 21 years of age. The fine against the online gaming company comes two weeks...
Sports Betting Operators Plan to Ring in Ohio’s Launch on New Year’s Day
With several sports betting operators ready to go live on Sunday, Ohioans will have plenty of choices when it comes to betting. They’ll also have plenty of options when it comes to grand opening events. Sportsbooks and online apps can officially take...
PointsBet May Sell Australian Operations to Aussie-Based Betr
PointsBet, the Australian-based sports betting operator that has been rumored to sell its US division, announced early Wednesday (Tuesday afternoon, US time) that it was in discussions to sell its Australian operations to NTD Pty Limited. NTD also is an Australian-based operator...
Why Barstool’s Troubles Might Impact ESPN’s Sports Betting Decision – Opinion
If you think that ESPN should pursue a sportsbook, then you might want to watch a Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) meeting from last week. For hours last Tuesday, MGC members questioned Penn Entertainment President and CEO Jay Snowden about Barstool Sports. Penn...
Southwest Airlines Strands Thousands Over Holiday, Hundreds of Vegas Flights Scrubbed
Wanna get away? If you’re supposed to fly with Southwest Airlines this week, the odds are likely against you. Travelers on the low-cost airline voiced their displeasure Monday as they were left stranded in airports thanks to Southwest’s mass cancellations. Many complained...
Holiday Whine: Bettors Call for Refunds After Devin Booker’s Early Exit – Opinion
UPDATE (8:40 pm ET) - DraftKings announced after the article posted that it, too, would give bettors who lost on Devin Booker single prop bets credits for free wagers. Parlays, including single-game parlays, that had Booker as the only losing leg would...