Steve Friess

Columnist

Steve Friess writes the State of Play column for PlayUSA twice a week. He's a veteran gambling-industry reporter who began covering Las Vegas in 1996 and covered the openings of resorts in Asia, Europe, and across the U.S. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, New Republic, Time, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, New York magazine, and many others. He, his husband, their children and three Poms live in Ann Arbor.

Posts by Steve Friess:

Steve Friess State of Play: Why There's No Political Gambling in US

Steve Friess: Misunderstandings, Bias Hobble Efforts To Legalize Political Gambling In U.S.

The reason gambling on politics in the US makes people queasy is the fear “bookies” will somehow manipulate election results or perceptions.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play: Sports Betting Integrity

Steve Friess: Integrity In Sports Betting Is More About Betting, Less About Sports

Information that could affect a sports betting line can come from absolutely anywhere — the pilot of a team plane or friends of players.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

WSOP Card-Marking Controversy

Steve Friess: In WSOP’s Card-Marking Controversy, Autism Must Speak Louder

Poker pro Martin Kabrhel owes a more expansive explanation. He brought up how his autism affects his behavior and needs to talk more about it.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State of Play What Happens On Border When Kentucky Launches Sports Betting

Steve Friess: In An Ohio Border Town, Kentucky Folks Make, Break Bread While Betting On Sports

This is how gamblers in states without legal mobile betting do it: They cross into a legal state and place wagers where they can,

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State of Play Siegfried & Roy

Steve Friess: How Vegas Was Changed By Tiger Attack At Siegfried & Roy 20 Years Ago

Las Vegas was changed because of the tiger attack at Siegfried & Roy in 2003. For better? For worse? Hard to say. But different? Undeniable.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play PredictIt and Speaker of the House

Steve Friess: A Cautious PredictIt Sits Out The House Speaker Drama

By not having a market for Speaker of the House, PredictIt believes it needs to navigate carefully amid federal government scrutiny,

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess