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
Arizona Sports Betting Rolls Out Thursday as Judge Thwarts Last-Minute Effort to Block
Sports betting is set to kick off Thursday in Arizona in time for the NFL season. That's after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge declined to issue a temporary injunction on Monday for a tribe that claimed the state acted inappropriately in...
Caesars Southern Indiana Now Owned by EBCI Holdings as $250 Million Sale Closes
Caesars Southern Indiana officially changed hands on Friday, as EBCI Holdings took ownership of the casino, located across from Louisville. With the $250 million deal closed, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) now are in the commercial gaming business. Caesars Entertainment...
U of Denver Inks with SuperBook, Second Colorado School with Sportsbook Deal
While colleges in many sports betting states have sought to distance themselves from sports betting, things are just a little different in Colorado. On Thursday, the University of Denver’s athletic department announced that it secured a multi-year partnership with SuperBook Sports, a...
Global Gaming Expo Requiring COVID-19 Vaccines for Attendees in 2021
Another big Las Vegas event has required its attendees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. On Tuesday, the organizers for the 2021 Global Gaming Expo announced those going to the major industry trade show will need to show proof of vaccination in order...
Caesars Says Controversial ‘Double Down Conference’ No Longer at Forum
An October conference organized by a right-wing group will not be taking place at the Caesars Forum. The conference is connected to supporters of former President Donald Trump and claims the 2020 election was fraudulent. Whether the For God & Country Patriot...
Rivers Des Plaines Expansion Hits Milestone; Illinois Reinstates Casino Mask Order
Monday marked a key milestone in the expansion of the Rivers Des Plaines, as workers installed the final steel beam on the $87 million project at Illinois’ top casino. Casino executives, local officials, and representatives from local unions involved in the construction...
Arizona Sportsbooks Start Customer Sign-Ups Ahead of Planned Sept. 9 Launch
Sports betting has yet to officially begin in Arizona, but sportsbooks that have been awarded licenses have already started preparing for the Sept. 9 launch. They are initiating marketing plans and wooing bettors with early registration bonuses. That launch is timed to...
Hard Rock Northern Indiana Stakes Chicago Claim with White Sox Radio Sponsorship
Hard Rock Northern Indiana and Chicago's ESPN 1000 have announced the Gary casino will serve as the title sponsor for the Chicago White Sox radio network. It's a deal that casino officials will help draw new customers to the $300 million gaming...
Flutter Unit Takes “Monstrous” Kentucky PokerStars Ruling to US Supreme Court
A Flutter Entertainment subsidiary that operates PokerStars has asked the US Supreme Court to weigh in on a Kentucky Supreme Court decision. In that ruling, the Court awarded more than $1 billion to the state, which sued to recoup losses suffered by...
Shuffle Up and Vaccinate: 2021 World Series of Poker Requires COVID-19 Shots
The 2021 World Series of Poker, set to begin in just a little more than a month, announced Friday that anyone attending the event, including participants, will need to show proof they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In a statement released Friday, WSOP...