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
Kentucky Gets $300M from Flutter as PokerStars Lawsuit Finally Settled
After more than a decade of litigation, Kentucky’s lawsuit against PokerStars ended Wednesday with a joint agreement providing the state with $300 million. That’s far less than the state stood to gain in the courts, but it’s still more than the losses...
Nevada Tourism Officials Allocate $13.6M in COVID-19 Relief to Promote State
The Nevada Commission on Tourism has approved the allocation of nearly $13.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to visitors bureaus and other related agencies. The move is in an effort to draw more travelers to the state. The funding comes from...
Caesars Takes More Aggressive Actions in Effort to Be Louisiana Sports Betting King
Caesars Entertainment made a couple of eye-opening moves in Louisiana over the weekend. It was part of an effort to give the Las Vegas-based gaming giant a leg up on its competition when sports betting officially launches in the state. The first...
Florida Sports Betting Federal Court Cases Picking Up Steam as Key Dates Approach
With less than a month before the first legal sports bets could be placed in Florida, the action in federal courtrooms is beginning to heat up. More filings are expected to take place in the coming days that could determine whether the...
Caesars, WynnBET Seek Growth in Indiana Sports Betting Via Colts Deals
The Indianapolis Colts doubled down on its sports betting presence this week. On Thursday, Indiana's NFL team announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. A day later, it inked another one with WynnBET. The deals themselves are not identical. In the pact with...
Shift4 Payments Founder Issacman Places Bets in Space During Inspiration4 Flight
US sports betting has reached the final frontier. On Thursday, BetMGM announced that Jared Isaacman placed two wagers while commanding the Inspiration4, the first human orbital spaceflight helmed only by civilians. Besides being the mission’s commander, Isaacman is also the founder and...
PointsBet Stakes First Claim in Texas Through Austin FC Partnership
Sports betting is not yet legal in Texas. However, one operator already has a foot in the door for when the opportunity arises in the country’s second biggest state. On Wednesday, Austin FC announced that PointsBet has become a founding partner of...
Tipico Picks Colorado for Gaming Tech Hub; $96K Average Salary for 441 Jobs
Less than a month after launching its online sportsbook in Colorado, Malta-based Tipico has announced it would locate a tech hub there. It's a move that’s expected to create up to 441 jobs over the next eight years. Tipico also considered locations...
Hard Rock, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Top Executives on Keynote Panel for 2021 G2E
Note 9/13 - This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Apoorva Gandhi's name. Three of the top US gaming executives will share the stage at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E). They will provide their insights on the industry’s...
Widowed Father in Illegal Chicago Sports Betting Ring Gets Community Confinement
Another defendant in the federal case regarding a Chicago-area illegal sports betting ring avoided a prison sentence when a judge sentenced him Thursday. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Matthew Knight received six months of community confinement along with a $10,000 fine. US...