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Major League Baseball (MLB) wants the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to create an “integrity framework” around sporting event contracts as the burgeoning vertical continues to expand.

In a letter dated March 7, MLB EVP of Legal and Operations Bryan Seeley stressed that, “as the resemblance between sports event contracts and traditional sports betting markets continues to grow, so too does the need to replicate the integrity and consumer protections that exist at the state level.”

The executive noted that, while leagues have partnered with sportsbooks, regulators and integrity monitoring firms to track betting activity, he does not know of any stipulation that requires prediction markets such as Kalshi and Crypto.com to notify leagues of potential integrity threats or share data for integrity purposes.

“MLB has been advised that some exchanges and brokers take the position that they are not even permitted to share information with MLB under current CFTC regulations,” add..

The SAFE Bet Act is being reintroduced ahead of one of the largest U.S. sports events.

Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal held a press conference to reintroduce the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every (SAFE) Bet Act. The legislation would create federal oversight of sports betting, which is currentlyregulated by states that offer it. The two lawmakers have reintroduced the act ahead of March Madness, one of the largest sports events in the U.S.

“Tens of millions of Americans are anxiously awaiting the beginning of March Madness,” said Tonko during the press conference at the U.S. Capitol. “In exactly one week, those Americans will be placing and most likely losing bets made on their favorite teams.”

The SAFE Bet Act claim the measure would protect sports bettors across the country while cracking down on illegal gambling operations and a lack of oversight.

“We are not here because we want to stop the industry from breaking records, nor are we here to prevent A..

Daily fantasy sports giant PrizePicks is the first DFS operator to receive Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP) accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

iCAP certification is granted to operators that meet the NCPG’s standards for responsible gaming and consumer protection practices.

The process involves an independent, comprehensive review of an operator’s responsible gaming policies and practices, including considerations such as Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, staff training programs, work culture, consumer protection measures, RG tool offerings, customer service standards and regulatory compliance.

PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra called the certification “powerful recognition” of the company’s operations and “an incredible honor that underscores our unwavering commitment to putting player safety first.”

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to the NCPG for their thorough evaluation, and to our exceptional team for setting the bar as an industr..

A pair of Texas lawmakers are taking legislative action to prevent collusion regarding the sale of lottery tickets across the state.

Sens. Bryan Hughes and Paul Bettencourt have introduced Senate Bill 1346 as a measure that prohibits lottery ticket sales to “persons attempting to purchase all possible winning tickets in a lottery drawing”. The two lawmakers co-authored the bill amid allegations of fraud pertaining to a multimillion-dollar jackpot awarded in 2023.

SB 1346 mandates that a lottery ticket sales agent may not “knowingly sell or allow the sale” of tickets for a lottery game to one or more persons who are attempting to buy all possible winning tickets. The measure, pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee, also calls for a hearing if illicit sales are expected. The hearing will determine whether the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) shall revoke the licenses of sales agents.

Sales agents who violate SB 1346 and have their licenses revoked are prohibited from applying for..

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is enhancing its More Than A Bet campaign as student athletes in the state face gambling-related online harassment.

The commission has made updates to its campaign ahead of March Madness, one of the largest sports betting events in America. It is also observing Problem Gambling Awareness Month with the launch of the revamped campaign. The OCCC has reported continual harassment against student athletes despite regulatory steps to combat abuse.

A year ago, Ohio operators were banned from offering NCAA player prop markets.

Ohio group helps launch campaign

Last September, Ohio for Responsible Gambling helped debut the More Than A Bet campaign with up to 25% of abusive messaging toward student athletes being gambling-related. The poor messaging remains rampant as one in three high-profile athletes receive abusive messages with more than 500 of those messages including death threats.

“People are mad when they lose a bet. That’s not an excuse to ..

A pair of college athletic programs are being proactive in notifying the NCAA of gambling-related infractions.

According to documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, the University of Texas athletic department has self-reported five NCAA violations related to improper sports betting. The violations were caused by two unnamed football players, a person associated with the women’s tennis team, a student assistant and a staff member.

The self-reported violations occurred between July 2024 and November 2024 with the five individuals spending a combined $14,885 on daily fantasy sports platform PrizePicks.

The five individuals used PrizePicks to wager on statistical player performances as Texas remains one of the last remaining U.S. markets to not offer regulated sports betting.

The University of Texas reported the five individuals as the NCAA bans wagering by all players, coaches, and team officials on events sponsored by the organization whether with sportsbooks or DFS sites..

Ahead of the start of Florida’s legislative session, a pair of bills are looking to enforce stricter punishments for illegal gambling in the Sunshine State and, in doing so, reiterate the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive position.

Rep. Webster Barnaby’s House Bill 953 and Sen. Corey Simon’s Senate Bill 1404 would make it a third-degree felony for anyone other than the Seminole Tribe to operate an online casino or online sportsbook in Florida. In Florida, that level of crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Anyone found guilty of using an online casino or online sportsbook not owned by the tribe would be charged with a first or second-degree misdemeanor.

The Seminole Tribe holds online gambling exclusivity in the state and has operated online sports betting via Hard Rock Bet since December 2023. It has successfully defended in court its right to offer the sole online sports betting platforms via a compact with the state.

Ostensibly, the new pair of bills would seem to reiterat..

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM have expanded their responsible gambling initiatives with an emphasis on providing critical resources, advancing research efforts, and strengthening supports for problem gamblers.

BetMGM is expanding its Kindbridge Behavioural Health referral program across the U.S. with the aim of ensuring players in all of the brand’s markets have direct access to mental health services. It already offered that resource in states including Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

To coincide with Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), MGM Resorts is donating $180,000 to the Kindbridge Research Institute to support studies on the impacts of sports betting on consumers, as well as to help develop responsible gaming strategies.

“Responsible gaming is a focal point of our operations, and we will continue to invest in programs that promote player protection and well-being,” said BetMGM’s Chief Compliance Officer Rhea Loney..

Two men’s college basketball players who are under investigation by the NCAA for alleged gambling violations reportedly played in daily fantasy contests involving the team.

According to an ESPN report, former Fresno State basketball player Mykell Robinson allegedly played in DFS contests based on his own performance for several games. Robinson, who was dismissed from the basketball program amid the probe, reportedly entered DFS contests that included his “under” markets for points and rebounds.

Fresno State’s Jalen Weaver is also being investigated for playing in DFS contests.

Weaver admitted to ESPN that he participated in a DFS contest in December 2024 for total points scored in a game against New Mexico. The Colorado native wagered $50 for him to score over 11 points on fantasy app Sleeper. Weaver scored 13 points in the contest.

“I just made a bad decision, and I shouldn’t even have gotten involved with that. Now, I’m obviously paying for it,” Weaver told ESPN. “I bet on a game..