SBC Americas - Player Protection Hub

For fans and for athletes, we need to talk more about bettors harrassing players

SBC AmericasJune 10, 20250247 views

Matthew Wein is a former government security official who worked at DHS and the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security. He now writes the Secure Stakes Substack Newsletter and owns Wein Security Lab consulting.

At the end of May Olympic Gold Medal sprinter Gabby Thomas was heckled and harassed at a track meet by a man who had bet against her. Following her exit at the French Open, Jessica Pegula detailed the threats she receives via social media from gamblers. Earlier this spring, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his family were on the receiving end of death threats from what turned out to be a drunken gambler who lost his wager. Liam Hendrinks also received death threats via social media connected to his play this season.

More and more athletes are starting to go on the record saying that there is a correlation between sports gambling and the threats they receive. To borrow a phrase from the national security world—it seems the lights on the alarm are all blinking red right ..

NY Senate bill requires insurance coverage for problem gambling

SBC AmericasJune 5, 20250233 views

New York State Sen. Joseph Addabbo introduced a new piece of legislation aimed at providing problem gambling prevention and treatment services to players.

Addabbo introduced Senate Bill S8352 on Wednesday as a measure requiring insurance companies to provide problem gambling services. The bill amends New York’s existing insurance law to require insurance policies that provide medical or similar coverage to offer outpatient coverage for the diagnoses and treatment of problem gambling.

Addabbo has filed his latest bill as he anticipates an increase in New Yorkers seeking help for problem gambling as the gaming industry continues to diversify across the country.

Under current New York law, insurance providers are not required to cover problem treatment offered by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Problem gambling treatment is only covered if the person has an associated substance use disorder. The office oversees more than 1,500 addiction prevention ..

FanDuel bettor banned over Gabby Thomas harassment at track event

SBC AmericasJune 5, 20250255 views

The banishment of a FanDuel bettor who heckled an Olympic gold medalist at a track event in Pennsylvania is drawing the attention of regulators.

FanDuel banned an unnamed bettor for sharing a video of himself heckling track and field star Gabby Thomas at a Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia. The bettor, who goes by “Mr 100k a day” on X, claimed his heckling of Thomas led to a win of two parlay wagers.

The social media posts drew the attention of Thomas, FanDuel, the track community, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

“This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults,” said Thomas in a post shared via X.

In addition to the unnamed fan’s ban from FanDuel, the issue could have regulatory repercussions. SBC Americas reached out to the PGCB for comment on the matter.

According to a spokesperson from the gaming regulator, the PGCB cannot comment on the banishment at this time as i..

NFL pledges $600,000 to research college athlete gambling behavior

SBC AmericasJune 4, 20250223 views

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has partnered with America’s most popular professional sports league.

On Wednesday, the ICRG announced it reached a deal with the NFL to address the impact of gambling behaviors on college athletes and students. As part of the pact, the NFL Foundation is donating $600,000 over three years to fund research on the risk factors and impact of gambling on college athletes and students. The research, led by the ICRG, will help identify strategies to reduce gambling-related harm through education and policy.

The research will focus on how college students interact with gambling platforms.

“The NFL has once again demonstrated its commitment to player and fan protection by supporting this critical research targeting young adults,” said ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky. “The NFL and ICRG together will make a meaningful contribution to understanding and implementing policies and programs that support a safer gambling environment.”

The NFL ..

ROGA sportsbooks respond to VIP criticism with new guidelines

SBC AmericasMay 29, 20250250 views

The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), an association of leading online sportsbooks, has published a new set of guidelines for how operators should approach VIP programs.

ROGA noted that the evidence-based recommendations are intended to support its members’ existing VIP policies to strengthen responsible online gaming by helping players set their own boundaries.

ROGA was launched in March 2024 and comprises eight members: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, PENN Entertainment, bet365, Hard Rock Digital and Bally’s. The association noted those companies combine to account for 90% of the legal U.S. online gaming market by handle.

The member sportsbooks have all independently committed to implementing these guidelines “within a commercially reasonable timeframe.”

Review behavior, equip VIPs with knowledge and power

The organization noted that it has found that the most effective VIP programs combine proactive education, personalized engagement and periodic evaluation. ..

Player Protection Symposium, SBC Summit Americas: Financial segmentation and RG tools

SBC AmericasMay 23, 20250248 views

Gambling operators and suppliers are using innovation to provide players with efficient payment processing options that also offer responsible gaming resources and tools.

The topics of financial segmentation and responsible payment tools were discussed at SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale during its Player Protection Symposium.

Financial segmentation and responsible payment tools were examined by a panel of industry experts that included PrizePicks Senior Director of Responsible Gaming Phil Sherwood, idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian and EDGE Markets CEO Seni Thomas.

The discussion also included Birches Health founder and CEO Elliot Rapaport.

Need for budgeting tools in gaming

The expansion of gaming across America has seen a bevy of payment processing options provided by operators and suppliers. The competition provides players with a variety of payment options that in some cases lack accessible RG resources and tools.

“You think about all the budgeting tools you have and if you..

Tennessee latest state to order BetOnline to cease and desist

SBC AmericasMay 22, 20250251 views

BetOnline received a new cease and desist letter from a state gaming regulator this week, marking the second letter the offshore operator has received in less than a month.

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) sent a cease and desist letter to BetOnline for allegedly operating an illegal offshore sportsbook in the state. The SWC considers BetOnline to be in violation of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, which prohibits operators from accepting wagers from customers in the state without a license.

BetOnline has been ordered to shutter operations in Tennessee by June 16.

“Shuttering illegal sportsbooks will benefit the legalized market, our licensed operators and the public good in Tennessee, but illegal offshore sportsbooks are not going to go away easily,” said SWC Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas. “We envision a Tennessee where all sports wagers are legal, and we’re working closely with our network of law enforcement at the state and federal levels to make that vision a re..

NCPG provides $192,000 in agility grants to five organizations

SBC AmericasMay 22, 20250269 views

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is continuing to invest in the development of initiatives to protect players from problem gambling.

The NCPG announced that it will be distributing $192,000 in grants between five organizations to support community-based problem gambling prevention. The council awarded the grants through its Agility Grant program, which provides financial support to nonprofits to develop and provide problem gambling prevention initiatives. The NCPG’s Agility Grant program, launched in 2022, is funded by the NFL Foundation and FanDuel.

“The NFL is proud to continue supporting the NCPG and the Agility Grants program, which provides critical funding to organizations leading innovative efforts aimed at preventing problem gambling,” said NFL SVP of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. “We are pleased to see both new and returning grantees advancing creative approaches to education and early intervention, particularly for youth and young adults.”

The organiz..

UNLV International Gaming Institute launches AI research hub

SBC AmericasMay 21, 20250261 views

The UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) is taking steps to understand the impact of machine learning and AI on America’s online gambling industry.

The IGI has launched AiR Hub, an AI-focused initiative for researching the impacts and risks of AI while also fostering collaboration between key stakeholders in the gambling industry. AiR Hub has launched under the direction of IGI Director of Research Kasra Ghaharian and gambling industry veteran and AiR Hub adjunct fellow Simo Dragicevic.

“UNLV’s International Gaming Institute has a long history of pioneering research in the gaming sector, and we are excited to launch AiR Hub as the next step in that journey,” said Ghaharian. “Our vision is to create tangible progress through collaborative, actionable research with engagement across a range of stakeholders, including regulators, academics, non-profit organizations, and industry.”

AiR Hub has debuted as gambling experts prepare to analyze the State of AI in Gaming, an industry-fir..

Wynn Las Vegas agrees to $5.5M fine over AML violations

SBC AmericasMay 19, 20250287 views

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has agreed to another multimillion-dollar settlement with a major Las Vegas casino and entertainment property.

Wynn Las Vegas reached a proposed $5.5 million stipulation for settlement with the NGCB for violating its own anti-money laundering (AML) compliance program. The casino agreed to a settlement after a disciplinary complaint was filed contemporaneously with the stipulation for settlement. The complaint detailed “unsuitable methods of operation” by Wynn Las Vegas related to facilitating improper international monetary transactions, allowing proxy betting and being tied to unregistered money transmitting businesses.

Wynn Las Vegas is set to be fined by the NGCB after reaching a non-prosecution agreement in 2024 with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

The non-prosecution agreement concerns the same AML violations by Wynn Las Vegas that resulted in the casino forfeiting $130 million to federal authorities to ..