SBC Americas - Player Protection Hub

Canadian Gaming Summit’s Player Protection Symposium to feature former NHLer

SBC AmericasJuly 5, 20250257 views

As Canada’s market matures, player protection challenges are multiplying — from rising offshore activity to the ethical use of AI in responsible gambling.

The Player Protection Symposium at Canadian Gaming Summit 2025 will bring together the key stakeholders shaping regulation, technology, and player safety to ask: “How do we protect players without pushing them away?”

Taking place June 19 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this focused track will unite leading policy experts, operators and responsible gambling specialists to examine how Canada’s regulatory and commercial frameworks are safeguarding players in a maturing market.

Six expert-led sessions will cover the full spectrum of contemporary challenges, from AI-driven player protection to national self-exclusion models. The symposium offers delegates insight into evolving policies, technologies, and collaborations driving the next generation of responsible gaming in Canada.

“Protecting players should never be viewed as a..

Report: Guardians pitcher Ortiz under MLB investigation for gambling

SBC AmericasJuly 3, 20250259 views

American professional sports are dealing with another player-related gambling probe.

According to a report from The Athletic, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is being investigated by MLB for a matter related to gambling. Ortiz, a 26-year-old who spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave.”

Ortiz’s leave will run through the end of the MLB All-Star break, which concludes July 15. The Dominican Republic native was scheduled to pitch in a game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. As a result of his leave, the Guardians made roster changes.

“The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation,” said the team in a statement. “The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process.”

MLB reportedly won’t comment on the matter u..

New responsible gaming tool launched across DraftKings platforms

SBC AmericasJune 30, 20250266 views

DraftKings is providing account holders with a new responsible gaming product.

The Boston-based operator announced on Monday the launch of My Budget Builder, a tool allowing account holders to set customized spending limits and reminders. DraftKings is making the product available across its portfolio of platforms, including its online casino and DFS offerings. The tool is also available for DraftKings peer-to-peer Pick6 offering.

“My Budget Builder is a new kind of responsible gaming tool—intuitive, proactive, and personalized,” said DraftKings Chief Responsible Gaming Officer Lori Kalani. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to creating fun, enjoyable environments for our players. By enhancing how players engage with limit-setting, we are providing another resource that players can use to help them play responsibly.”

My Budget Builder is available on both DraftKings’ app and website with features allowing for seamless integration into online wagering. The tool allows users to estab..

WSOP teams up with RG-focused financial platform EDGE Boost

SBC AmericasJune 30, 20250254 views

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is collaborating with an emerging financial platform.

EDGE Boost, a responsible gaming-focused solution delivered by EDGE Markets, announced a partnership with the WSOP making the platform the preferred payment method of the storied poker organization. EDGE Boost provides users with a bank account designed to promote RG by offering a dedicated debit card. The debit card allows account holders to separate gambling transactions from normal finances.

The partnership allows WSOP players to circumvent traditional credit card verification by using EDGE Boost to make transactions of up to $10,000 each. EDGE Boost also allows WSOP players to make entries up to $250,000 eliminating the need for cash.

Each EDGE Boost account is insured up to $250,000 with the FDIC. In 2024, EDGE Boost became the first betting-only banking service to provide that level of FDIC support.

“EDGE Boost is going to completely transform the WSOP experience,” said WSOP COO Greg Chocho..

Report: NBA free agent Malik Beasley under investigation for insider gambling

SBC AmericasJune 30, 20250253 views

Another NBA player found themselves embroiled in controversy related to online gambling.

According to an ESPN report, NBA free agent Mailk Beasley is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York for alleged gambling related to NBA games and betting markets. Beasley is being investigated for unusual betting activity during the 2023-24 season when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks. Beasley, a free agent after spending last season with the Detroit Pistons, drew the attention of an operator when his player props received significant betting interest starting in 2024.

Kirk Evans, an industry expert, pointed out unusual betting activity on the under for Beasley’s rebound market before a game between the Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers last January. Beasley finished the contest surpassing his over/under market for rebounds.

Here is the movement I’m referring to. Beasley opened 2.5 rebounds with the under at +118, moved to -256 before being pulled. ..

Pair of California lawsuits filed against PrizePicks and DraftKings over DFS

SBC AmericasJune 27, 20250248 views

Two class action lawsuits in California are challenging the legality of not just pick’em fantasy but fantasy contests featuring more traditional lineups as well.

Two groups have filed class action lawsuits against DraftKings and PrizePicks in the Northern District of California. The firm representing the plaintiffs in both cases is Almeida Law Group, which specializes in corporate class action cases.

Suits attack multiple types of fantasy sports

The DraftKings lawsuit takes aim not just at its Pick6 product, which mimics the peer-to-peer pick’em offerings of Underdog and PrizePicks, but also the slate-style contests that originally brought DraftKings fantasy to prominence ten years ago. The lawsuits argue all these forms of fantasy run afoul of the law, particularly because of the variable payouts that come with lineup-based fantasy contests.

The class covered in the lawsuits includes all California residents who placed a “bet” or “wager” with DraftKings while in the Golden State. ..

AGA debuts online consumer hub to promote responsbile gaming

SBC AmericasJune 25, 20250285 views

The American Gaming Association (AGA) is allocating resources to create a new online resource to promote responsible gaming.

The AGA launched its Play Smart Consumer Hub this week allowing the trade group to provide bettors nationwide with tools and resources to practice and promote RG.

The consumer hub bolsters the AGA’s RG messaging platform Play Smart from the Start. The platform provides bettors with messaging to develop responsible gaming habits.

“The AGA is committed to making responsible gaming a seamless part of the player experience,” said CEO Bill Miller. “Part of the fun of gaming is that everyone plays differently, but no matter how or where you play, staying in control starts with habits that work for you.”

The Play Smart Consumer Hub offers a pre-play checklist providing users with the opportunity to set spending limits and a betting education section that breaks down gaming terms and odds. The hub also provides direct access to problem gambling resources. The resourc..

Regulators in Louisiana & Mississippi send C&D orders to sweeps casinos

SBC AmericasJune 18, 20250270 views

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board is the latest regulatory agency taking action against the operation of unlicensed offshore wagering and sweepstakes casino platforms.

The board is taking a stance against the unlicensed operators by issuing a slew of cease and desist orders for circumventing Louisiana’s gaming laws and regulations. The regulator recently sent Bovada a cease and desist letter before issuing over 40 additional orders.

Louisiana’s gaming regulator did not disclose the other operators that received the orders.

“These actions send a clear message,” said Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Christopher B. Hebert. “Louisiana will not tolerate illegal operators who put our citizens at risk and undermine the fairness and integrity of our gaming industry. We will continue to use every enforcement tool available to protect the public and uphold the law.”

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board sent cease and desist orders after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill to ban the operati..

FanDuel SVP Cory Fox talks RG tech and predictive technology

SBC AmericasJune 16, 20250279 views

After unveiling its new RG Check-In tool at SBC Summit Americas in May, FanDuel is gearing up to talk all things Canada and North America at the Canadian Gaming Summit this week in Toronto.

June 17-19, the gaming industry takes over the Metro Toronto Convention Center for the biggest event in Canadian gaming. We broke down all the basics you need to know.

FanDuel SVP of Public Policy and Sustainability Cory Fox will be speaking on a Technology in RG panel on June 19. Ahead of the Summit, Fox spoke to SBC Americas.

SBC Americas: You’ve just launched RG Check-in, and you’ve had My Spend going for a while. What have been your observations around the data and experiences you’ve had coming out of that?

Fox: I think we are now embarking on a new generation of tools that are much more integrated right into the customer experience, which we think will be more effective for our users, and we will get greater engagement from our users.

Last year, we launched My Spend, which gives users pers..

NCAA and Signify release gambling abuse data for March Madness

SBC AmericasJune 10, 20250233 views

The NCAA teamed up with Signify to study online abuse sparked by sports betting.

Signify and the NCAA used the 2025 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to identify and study targeted online abuse directed at student-athletes, coaches, officials and committee members. Signify leveraged its Threat Matrix artificial intelligence service to monitor public comments directed at the social media accounts of 2,032 players and 346 coaches. Signify also monitored 136 teams and 269 officials and committee members.

“One of the first things student-athletes told me when I became NCAA president was that they were being harassed online by people who are following or betting on their games,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “From day one, it’s been a priority to study this issue, monitor the public interactions, protect student-athletes and allow them to focus on being students and competing at the highest level on the court with their teammates.”

Signify and the NCAA analyzed more than 1 mi..