SBC Americas

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is answering calls for the agency to minimize efforts to combat the use of what it considers to be illegal casino-style gaming machines in the state.

The MGCB is responding to gray machines manufacturer Pace-O-Matic’s presence at brick-and-mortar properties across the Wolverine State. Pace-O-Matic, which also licenses skill games, believes the casino-style games are lawful sources of entertainment and are exempt from gambling prohibitions because they include an element of skill.

However, the MGCB takes a different stance, insisting the machines are illegal gambling tools.

“The MGCB is committed to upholding the integrity of the state’s gambling regulations and ensuring a fair and responsible gaming environment for all citizens,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. “It is essential to clarify that these casino-style electronic gaming machines are not exempt from Michigan’s penal code, and individuals operating or utilizing them are s..

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has received a favorable outcome following allegations of underage gambling and computer fraud.

According to an ESPN report, the State of Louisiana dropped charges on Tuesday against the former LSU Tiger after he was arrested in January for illegally wagering during his time in Baton Rouge. Boutte was under investigation by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division but is no longer facing a penalty after being charged with a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling prohibited for persons under 21. Boutte, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, played in six games for the Patriots last season recording two receptions and 19 yards despite his previous legal woes.

Investigation into Boutte

Louisiana State Police investigators found that Boutte allegedly used an alias to place nearly 9,000 sports bets between April 2022 and May 2023. Boutte, who was 20 years old during some of the alleged wagerin..

The Vermont Department of Mental Health is taking steps to combat problem gambling.

The department went live with its responsible gambling website on Tuesday providing residents with resources to prevent and treat sports betting and other gambling addictions. The website aims to serve the estimated 11,600 Vermonters with a gambling disorder.

“We needed more, we obviously had lottery and scratch-offs which there are people that become addicted to those as well,” said Dept. of Mental Health Medical Director Dr. Kelley Klein. “But we knew that when online sports betting went live we would have a rise in individuals that were at least at risk for problem gambling or gambling addiction.”

The new website provides Vermonters with 24-hour access to a live chat and toll-free helpline while also providing access to community-based resources such as Gamblers Anonymous. The website also offers the ability to add yourself to a gambling self-exclusion list. Vermonters can put themselves on the li..

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is receiving a boost in resources through a fresh investment earmarked in the state’s budget for fiscal year 2025.

The Michigan Legislature reached an agreement on Thursday to allocate $1.9 million toward the MGCB from the state’s FY2025 budget to add 14 full-time staff positions. The new talent will bolster the MGCB’s regulatory capacity and efforts to prevent illegal wagering as the Wolverine State serves as both a sports betting and iGaming market.

The MGCB is also allocating fresh capital from the FY2025 budget toward RG efforts.

The Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund and its associated programs are receiving a $3 million funding increase from Michigan’s gaming regulator. The proceeds will be used to improve the 24/7 Gambling Disorder Helpline, which is operated by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. Funding will also be allocated toward gambling research, existing treatment options, and gambling educational tools for kid..

Bally’s Corporation has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), becoming the eighth founding member of the independent responsible gambling trade association.

Bally’s joins bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment as the founding members of the group.

ROGA aims to promote responsible online gaming through methods such as funding independent peer-reviewed research, developing evidence-based responsible gaming best practices and driving consumer education and awareness. The association is led by Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley, the President of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling and Co-Chair of the Compliance Review Board for the American Gaming Association‘s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bally’s to ROGA — further demonstrating the collaborative effort of the iGaming and online sports betting..

An arrest warrant issued by the FBI has led to the apprehension of a British man allegedly tied to a cyberattack on BetMGM.

Spanish police have arrested an unnamed UK resident in Palma de Mallorca for his alleged involvement in a cyberattack scheme that saw fraudulent accounts created on BetMGM. The accounts, many using the personal information of pro poker players, executed unauthorized bank account withdrawals of up to $10,000 per transaction.

The British suspect is accused of SIM-swapping, a type of account fraud that exploits two-factor authentication systems through the seizure of one-time passwords. The suspect’s SIM-swapping allegedly provided access or the ability to create new BetMGM accounts.

The investigation by Spanish police found that the British suspect made his way to Spain in May by first making a stop in Barcelona before the probe led to his location in Mallorca.

Authorities were able to apprehend the suspect as he boarded a flight to Italy. Spanish police confisc..

For years responsible gambling advocates in the gambling space have said a multi-jurisdictional self-exclusion program is something to aspire towards.

Today, the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP) took the first step towards making that aspiration a reality. Technology company idPair announced Tuesday that free self-exclusion assistance is coming to a quartet of states: Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa and Colorado.

“For the first time ever, individuals seeking a wider level of protection can self-exclude from multiple states in a streamlined fashion. While today we announce our ability to provide free assistance with self-exclusion in each of these 4 states, more jurisdictions are on the way, as we accelerate toward our goal of removing barriers for people seeking protection across all gambling jurisdictions and products,” said idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian.

Each state offers its own process for self-excluding from gambling and that process can often involve several barriers..

Sam A Antar continues to fight his legal fight against online gambling operator BetMGM. After a New Jersey District Court judge tossed the case earlier this year, Antar has filed with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Madeline Cox Arleo concluded that the state’s Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) did not apply in this case, as the prevailing law overseeing the casino industry is the New Jersey Casino Control Act (CCA). Additionally, she said the casinos in the state have no obligation to stop problem gamblers from wagering with money they don’t have.

Antar alleged that Borgata Casino and BetMGM solicited him to play on the company’s online casino sites despite the VIP hosts allegedly being aware he was a problem gambler. He claims he wagered almost $30 million across 2019 and 2020. He named VIP Account Managers Quinton Hogan and Jerry Liang in the complaint, saying they plied him with bonuses and encouraged him to keep depositing on the site despite several “fundamental and visible sy..

Daily fantasy sports giant PrizePicks has partnered with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to help prevent problem gambling on its platforms.

Kindbridge, a mental health service provider dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges related to problem gambling, will provide its clinical services at no initial fee to PrizePicks players and customer-facing employees. The program will support problem gaming prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

PrizePicks will absorb all initial costs of Kindbridge services such as clinical assessments and reviews and educational and peer support groups for eligible individuals in a move that the company says sets a new benchmark in the DFS industry.

The DFS operator’s co-founder and CEO Adam Wexler and Kindbridge founder and CEO Daniel Umfleet said the nature of the partnership removes “a significant barrier to access” for players seeking help.

“It’s essential that the fantasy sports industry invests and innovates in the area of responsible ..