About the Author
Heather Fletcher
Who Is Heather Fletcher?
Heather Fletcher is the lead writer at Bonus, concentrating on online casino coverage. She specializes in breaking news, legislative coverage, and gambling marketing strategy overviews. Fletcher was part of the team that earned the 2022 SBC North America Casino Affiliate of the Year honor.
Fletcher came to Catena Media, the parent company of Bonus, from a newspaper and magazine background. In March 2021, Fletcher began writing about online casino gambling as the lead writer for Online Poker Report. After Catena retired that online publication, she moved to Bonus and had bylines on other Catena sites, including MichiganSharp, NY Sports Day, and the now-retired NJGamblingSites. Fletcher is also a New York Times contract freelance reporter for the National Desk. She covers breaking news from Philadelphia, as needed.
Fletcher’s Top Stories on Bonus.com
- Red44 Shut Down, Seemingly Start of Crackdown on Offshore Betting Sites, Jan. 12, 2023
- Online Gambling Industry Can Rejoice: 2018 Interpretation of Wire Act Dead, Sept. 16, 2022
- Poker Players Amazed Dealer Didn’t Understand ‘Color Up’ Request, June 3, 2022
- Women and FanDuel Casino May Be a Better Couple Than ‘Break Up Win,’ Nov. 29, 2022
- Jackpot City Online Casino Debuts in Pennsylvania, Dec. 7, 2023
- 2024 Indiana, New Hampshire Online Casino Bills May Take Paths Less Traveled, July 24, 2023
Fletcher’s Citations and Interviews Include:
- Straight to the Point, Citation, Affiliates Ignore Rhode Island Online Casino Launch, March 7, 2024
- The Closing Line, Citation, Sports Betting and Online Casino Legislation Update: March 1, March 1, 2024
- The Law Office of Elissa D. Hecker, Link to Articles, This Week in New York Gambling News, Feb. 23, 2024
- Poker News Daily, Citation, New York Online Poker Bill Not Included in Governor’s Budget Plan, Jan. 17, 2024
- Straight to the Point, Citation, Iowa iCasino Unlikely in 2024, Feb. 1, 2024
- Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Consulting and Market Research, Citation, US Sports Betting Policy Monitor, Jan. 4, 2024
- National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services (NAADGS), Podcast, Citation, 2023 Year in Review, Dec. 28, 2023
- Brown Political Review, Citation, Wheel of Misfortune, Dec. 3, 2023
- Earnings+More, Citation, The Future Is Murky for Esports Betting, Nov. 28, 2023
- Sharpr, Citation, Kentucky Says ‘Yes’ to Esports Betting, Aug. 3, 2023
- 77WABC, Interview, The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano, July 6, 2023
- The Center Square, Interview, Online Gambling Could Be Next for Illinois’ Expanding Industry, April 21, 2023
- Indiana Capital Chronicle, Citation, Momentum Grows for Legal iGaming, Jan. 3, 2023
Fletcher’s Top Stories Across the Web
- The New York Times, This Wedding Is Brought to You by …, June 11, 2006
- Adweek, Online Casinos Join the Streaming Wars With Branded Live Dealers, April 29, 2022
- Adweek, These Innovative Campaigns and Execs Delivered Results and Accountability When It Mattered Most, March 21, 2021
- NY Sports Day, State of New York Sportsbooks Hearing: How Are We Doing?, Jan. 24, 2023
- The News-Herald, Tenant Issues Swirl Around Shoregate, June 2, 2000
Social Media & Professional Profiles
To reach Fletcher with a news tip, email her at [email protected].
Latest articles
Reports of the New York iGaming Bill’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
While New York legalizing online casino gambling in 2024 seems less and less likely, the bills designed to do so aren’t dead yet. On March 12, the New York State Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee will meet. Its chairman is state Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., who introduced the iGaming and iLottery bill SB8185. Meanwhile, […]
SI Casino’s Departure Frees Up an Online Casino License Slot in Michigan
The smaller Michigan online casino skins are in flux, with SI Casino leaving soon and others debuting. The latest announcement came on March 6, when 888 said it had a “termination agreement” with the entity that controls the Sports Illustrated brand. Meanwhile, 888’s New Jersey online casino, 888casino, may also have a short future. On […]
Rhode Island Online Casino Gambling Sees Slow But Smooth Full Launch Day
Rhode Island online casino gambling experienced its full Launch Day, beginning at noon on March 5. The newest and perhaps most unusual legal iGaming marketplace had a slow but smooth start via Bally Casino. State lawmakers approved legal Rhode Island online casino gambling in 2023, and regulators allowed it to launch under supervision on March […]
FanDuel Casino Gains Exclusive Rights to ‘Willy Wonka: World of Wonka’ Slots Game
No one generation owns Willy Wonka. However, FanDuel Casino has the exclusive rights to Willy Wonka slots. That means only its 21 and older online casino gamblers can play the game and “find the rich candy centers in the Chocolate River,” romp with Oompa Loompas, and open the Wonka Bar to find the Golden Ticket. Backstories […]
Bally Casino Soft Launch So Snag-Free, Unusual Format Seemingly Unnoticed
Rhode Islanders gambling on Bally Casino during the online casino app’s soft launch day on March 1 were so quiet, they didn’t take to social media to complain, and the regulator had nothing new to report. That’s a bit of a surprise because all but online slots are being brought to online casino gamblers by […]
Maine Internet Gambling Bill Returns, With Lawmakers Considering Higher 16% Operator Tax
A bill to legalize Maine internet gambling reemerged on Feb. 29, with House and Senate members agreeing in committee to change the proposed tax on iGaming operators partnering with tribes from 10% to 16%. In a 7-1 vote, the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs approved an amended LD1777. The five absent committee […]
New York Fanatics Sportsbook Has Official Launch Day on Leap Day 2024
New York Fanatics Sportsbook is online and taking bets, Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) officially announced on Feb. 29. With Launch Day on Leap Day 2024, gamblers will have time to prepare their March Madness bets. The Empire State’s newest mobile sports betting site is an automatic migration for those who were placing sports wagers […]
Maryland Makes Significant Progress on Online Casino, Poker Bills With Senate Committee Hearing
A November online casino referendum in Maryland is looking more likely than ever, as the state’s iGaming legislation has now completed hearings in both halves of the legislature. On Feb. 26 and 28, Maryland lawmakers accomplished something that has proven impossible in any other state this year — finding traction for online casino and poker […]
Maryland House Weighs Pros and Cons of Online Casino Legalization in Marathon Hearing
Most of Maryland’s retail casinos expressed support for the state’s iGaming plan during a Feb. 26 hearing, but resistance from workers’ unions remains. The online casino bill’s sponsor, Del. Vanessa E. Atterbeary, showed her commitment as she took no breaks during a seven-hour-long committee hearing that included five hours of testimony from HB1319 stakeholders. About […]
Latest Student Loan Forgiveness May Not Free Up Discretionary Spending for Online Gambling
Many gamblers are saddled with student loan debt, but the $1.2 billion student loan forgiveness plan that came into effect on Feb. 21 may not have much impact on discretionary spending at online casinos. That’s because many of the 153,000 borrowers benefitting from the forgiveness are in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. The connection between gambling activity […]
