What makes Chris Altruda an expert?
Since joining Better Collective in 2019, Chris has spent the last seven years covering sports betting and online casino revenue in legalized commercial markets. He was tasked with building out state-by-state databases for both gaming verticals and became a trusted source for traditional media — including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal — who seek to add perspective to monthly or weekly figures published by state agencies.
Chris continued that work at Third Planet, focusing more on iGaming revenue as its more explosive growth increased in newsworthiness as more states debated legalizing it. Prior to entering gambling media, he was a sports writer at three major news wire services for more than two decades: ESPN SportsTicker, The Associated Press, and STATS. Chris has used that experience to forecast revenue figures based on sporting outcome results as they pertain to wagering.
Chris Altruda Expertise
Let’s dive into Chris’ areas of expertise:
Chris’ top area of expertise is revenue analysis; the breaking down of spreadsheets varies by state, and understanding nuances of data specific to what each state discloses is vital.
The duties of being an on-site reporter remain important, especially where he resides in Chicago since gaming in Illinois has expanded by leaps and bounds over the past decade. Going to Illinois Gaming Board meetings and visiting casinos across the Midwest to meet and interview key figures remains an important part of understanding how gaming comes together, both locally and regionally.
Those on-site events matter, especially with relation to gaming board meetings, because they run hand-in-hand with both state agency regulation and legislation. How do they co-exist? How are they sometimes at odds? How do they find common ground? All those things matter because sometimes the goals of both are not truly aligned.
The online casino industry continues to be one of interest. The debate will continue in the coming years as states try to find a balance between raising tax revenue from an industry that needs constantly evolving regulation to address societal needs, both good and bad. How this give and take occurs will go a long way in determining if it is ultimately successful.
