Legalization of Sports Betting in Oregon
Retail sports betting activities commenced in the state of Oregon in August 2019. The state was among those in the country that kick-started the process of allowing legal sports betting within its boundaries after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was declared illegal. Sports betting activities expanded to the online space within the state in no time after launching in October 2019. The state betting industry is regulated by the Oregon State Lottery Commission which oversees the retail and online betting.
The state has a unique sports betting structure. The Oregon Lottery holds the right to license online sportsbooks which therefore means only one option is allowed within the state in the online space. Licensing of retail sportsbooks goes through the tribal casinos in the state. A list tribal casinos offering sports betting in Oregon includes;
Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City
Indian Head Casino, Warm Springs
Three Rivers Casino, Coos Bay
Three Rivers Casino, Florence
Kia-Mo-Ya Casino, Chiloquin
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton
Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Rounds
Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville
Review of the Scoreboard App
Scoreboard sportsbook was founded by the Oregon Lottery in October 2019. It is a state government-owned sportsbook which enjoys a monopoly in the state of Oregon. Unlike many other states, Oregon holds a different approach to online sports betting. The state does not allow any private sportsbook operator to venture into the state. The sports betting law in the state gave the right to operate a retail sportsbook to the tribal casinos and the right for online sports betting to the Oregon Lottery.
Bettors in the state of Oregon therefore had no other choice to bet online aside from the Scoreboard app. The sportsbook allows users to wager on only professional sports, collegiate and high school sports are not available on Scoreboard. The Scoreboard app in Oregon is powered by SBTech which also holds the proprietary technology behind a couple of betting platforms in the country. Scoreboard sportsbook mobile app is available to users on both Android and iOS devices.
The Scoreboard sportsbook took almost 10 million bets in 2021 within the state of Oregon, amounting to over $330 million in total wagers. However, frequent complaints on the functionality of the platform became widespread and required the Oregon Lottery to take urgent actions. In August 2021, the Oregon Lottery approved the switch to DraftKings with the Scoreboard app to be phased out gradually. DraftKings was billed to go live in Oregon in January 2022 as Scoreboard will remain live to settle open bets.
Scoreboard Transition to DraftKings in Oregon
The Scoreboard online sports betting platform which had served the state of Oregon since October 2019 was replaced with DraftKings on January 18, 2022. DraftKings had for years hosted daily fantasy sports contests with Oregon before being granted the right to launch its sportsbook. DraftKings will operate as the sole sportsbook operator in the state of Oregon, an advantage it also enjoys in New Hampshire.
The Oregon Lottery decided to close down the Scoreboard app and replace it with DraftKings in order to save the state huge funds and provide a brilliant betting experience for wagering on professional sports. The Oregon Lottery handles a huge amount of bets and makes sizable revenue with the Scoreboard app, but a good layer of the funds are consumed by third parties linked to the app. This continues to slim down the profit margin.
The Oregon Lottery is an important body in the state in terms of revenue. Aside from income tax, the Oregon Lottery is the biggest source of revenue for the state. The lottery therefore needed to make a decision that was financially prudent for the state. This led to the closing down of the SBTech-powered Scoreboard for a much more advanced DraftKings. High quality functionality on DraftKings will also improve the betting experience in the state.
Oregon Lottery and Scoreboard App FAQs
Was the Scoreboard App Authorized in the US?
The Scoreboard sportsbook app is duly licensed for operation in the United States. In fact, the app is owned by the state-controlled Oregon Lottery.
How did Users Sign Up for the Scoreboard App?
Unlike a couple of states in the country which require users to complete an in-person verification is required to wager online, the Scoreboard app was flexible to sign-up for. Oregon residents that wished to place a bet on the Scoreboard could register on the official website of the sportsbook. In order to complete the registration process, new users needed to provide the required personal information and details. To verify that users are who they claim to be, Scoreboard conducts an identity verification process afterwards. Newly registered users were given confirmation alerts once the verification process had been completed.
Who was Eligible to Use the Scoreboard App?
The Scoreboard sportsbook app offered by the Oregon Lottery was available to everyone in the state. All bettors within the state were outrightly eligible to wager on sporting events online via the app. However, bettors in the state of Oregon had to be 21 years or above to wager on the app. It is compulsory that they are physically located within the boundaries of the state, as the Scoreboard app was only accessible within Oregon.
How Fast was Withdrawal with the Scoreboard App?
Scoreboard offered customers in Oregon a couple of methods to deposit funds and withdraw money from their account. Users were able to withdraw funds from their account mainly through online bank transfer and PlayPlus. Withdrawals made through online banking are processed within 1-5 business days with a maximum payout of $25,000. PlayPlus withdrawals on the other hand are processed within 48 hours which is also capped at $25,000. All withdrawal options on Scoreboard sportsbook were totally free.
How Was User Rating of the Scoreboard App?
User rating of the Scoreboard app was simply not good enough. Due to the fact that the Oregon Lottery maintained a monopoly within the state, its offerings were abysmal and didn't meet the users' needs. There were also frequent complaints about the app not being user-friendly and easy to use. The sportsbook also offered limited promotion to customers in the state.
What Does DraftKings Bring to the Table?
DraftKings is a respected name in the American online sports betting industry. The sportsbooks operate across several states in the country, boasting of a wide network of users. DraftKings was brought on board by the Oregon Lottery to address the issue it had operating the Scoreboard app. Ironically, DraftKings now owns SBTech which powers the Oregon Lottery Scoreboard sportsbook.
How can the Oregon Lottery be Contacted?
Bettors in Oregon can reach out to the Oregon Lottery customer support team via the official email address [email protected] for Inquiries and complaints. Users can also call the lottery’s hotline (1 866 523 6789) for issues that demand urgency. There's also a live chat option available on the state lottery website which customers can make use of. Oregon Lottery operates a customer support system that is available round the clock, offering users a guarantee of quick responses to queries.
