Additionally, the commission raised concerns about responsible gaming practices, highlighting that the companies’ offerings may have been accessible to individuals under 21, which violates Ohio’s legal gambling age restrictions. “Purchasing a contract based on which team a person thinks will win a sporting event is no different than placing a bet through a traditional sportsbook,”…
A number of individuals have filed suit against DraftKings and FanDuel for their marketing practices, but now a major metropolitan city is joining the fray.
The city of Baltimore has filed suit against the two operators for unfair, abusive and deceptive trade practices in the Baltimore City Circuit Court. Mayor Brandon Scott’s name is on the case along with the city, claiming that the two sportsbooks are using misleading promotions and corrupt VIP and retention practices to keep problem gamblers wagering with them.
Baltimore mayor says FD and DK exploiting customers
FanDuel and DraftKings are the top two operators in Maryland, with the rest of the pack far in the distance, but that has not stopped the city from taking legal action.
“But rather than accept a robust and profitable market, DraftKings and FanDuel have sought to guarantee their profitability by cheating, hoping to hook, and then ultimately exploit, as many users as possible,” the complaint reads.
The complaint took iss..
Dr. Michael Auer, managing director at OpenBet’s Neccton, highlights how a lack of standardized regulations in U.S. betting and gaming could be addressed through a behavior-focused model.
A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), online searches for gambling addiction advice have risen by 23%. Yet, in stark contrast to European markets, many U.S. jurisdictions lack clear overarching guidelines around player protection, affordability and deposit limits.
Cases of problem gambling reported over the last year suggest the need for better player behavior monitoring in the States and a more proactive approach to spotting early signs of gambling addiction. For example, one case involved a woman filing a lawsuit against a U.S. operator, stating that her husband was able to gamble 440% of his annual salary, an excessive level that clearly isn’t conducive to a sustainable, r..
Alberta has introduced its regulatory framework for regulated and licensed gaming.
Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally has introduced Bill 48, also known as the iGaming Alberta Act, as the foundation for regulated online commercial gambling in the province. The iGaming Alberta Act was crafted at the request of Premier Danielle Smith, who sought a uniform framework for the anticipated arrival of gambling.
The iGaming Alberta Act establishes the new Alberta iGaming Corporation, which would provide oversight of the province’s private-sector market. Under the bill, the Alberta iGaming Corporation would see commercial operators compete with Play Alberta, the sole regulated online gambling platform currently offered by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC).
The iGaming Alberta Act designates AGLC as the regulator of online gambling to ensure market integrity and compliance, according to a government release.
Under the measure, the Alberta iGaming Corpor..
BetMGM Canada is being penalized for violating internet gaming rules in Ontario.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued BetMGM Canada an Order of Monetary Penalty of $110,000 for violating the commission’s standards for internet gaming regarding advertising and marketing for gambling in 2024.
Last year, BetMGM participated in marketing campaigns with companies offering cash to the public in exchange for opening new accounts. The violations occurred in public forums, including a national trade conference. BetMGM has been penalized for the actions of the marketing companies as the AGCO’s standards hold operators responsible for the conduct of their third-party suppliers who are contracted to support operations in Ontario.
“Responsible gambling safeguards and the protection of Ontarians on registered gaming sites is among our key priorities,” said AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr. “The AGCO monitors the activities of all registered operators and their ..
The Nevada Athletic Commission is handing suspensions to a pair of UFC athletes.
The regulator of combat sports in the Silver State has suspended UFC fighters Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner following an investigation into an illegal gambling scheme. The illegal gambling scheme drew the attention of the UFC and the Nevada Athletic Commission in November 2022 after monitoring service provider U.S. Integrity flagged suspicious betting activity for a featherweight bout between Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbiek.
Minner failed to disclose a “serious knee injury’ before his bout with Nuerdanbiek on the UFC’s pre-fight medical questionnaire. Molina, with knowledge of Minner’s knee injury, placed a large wager on Minner’s bout, which ended in a first-round finish for Nuerdanbiek.
Molina admitted to the Nevada Athletic Commission that he had placed a large illicit wager.
“On his pre-fight medical questionnaire to the question, ‘Have you had any injuries to your elbows, hands, knees, ankles,..
BetVictor Canada has officially launched its new responsible gambling advertising campaign fronted by former Toronto Raptor Tracy McGrady.
NBA Hall-of-Famer McGrady, who began his career with the Raptors, was named as the Ontario-licensed operator’s Safer Gambling Ambassador back in October. This week, the partners have taken their marketing live in the province.
Two mobile digital trucks targeting high-traffic areas near the Raptors and the Maple Leafs’ Scotiabank Arena home and the Toronto Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre will provide audience exposure for the campaign. The marketing will be scheduled around Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays home games.
BetVictor Canada has also partnered with Clear Media Group in a move that will see 100 taxis display key brand messaging around the city.
The campaign coincides with Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign held every March that seeks to increase public awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment and recovery..
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) continues to try and crack down on offshore unlicensed online casinos from acquiring customers in the state.
Michigan’s gaming regulator has issued cease and desist letters to 10 more offshore operators owned by Apex Dynamics. The Belize-based company has seen its unlicensed online casino brands ordered to shutter operations in Michigan for violating multiple state laws.
“The Gaming Control Board’s relentless dedication to maintaining the integrity of Michigan’s gaming industry drives our efforts,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. “We will continue to take strong action to shut down illegal operations that undermine trust in Michigan’s legal gaming system.”
The MGCB determined that Apex Dynamic’s online casino brands violated the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act and the Michigan Penal Code. The regulator made its determination through their offering of illegal casino-style games and restrict..
Amid continued scrutiny, prediction markets operator Kalshi has unveiled new measures which it says are focused on strengthening protections for its users and ensuring integrity is upheld in its sports trading operations.
The company’s CEO Tarek Mansour posted on X to announce a new Customer Protection Hub which will include several guardrails we have come to expect from online sportsbooks.
Tools will include deposit caps, trading breaks and voluntary opt-outs, which Mansour said will complement Kalshi’s “internal market surveillance team and regulation systems to improve our market integrity.”
“No important financial innovation has ever been created without critics,” Mansour wrote. “… That said, criticism and doubts play a crucial role in this process: they help stress test new systems and often constructively encourage them to get better.
“From day one at Kalshi, we have been conscious of our position in building prediction markets and we carry the responsibility of fostering a..
BetBlocker has announced a collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), providing a donation in support of the International Gaming Institute’s (IGI) research program to help advance academic research on gambling software and its users.
Both organisations have stated that the goal of this project is to produce “transformative insights that will help inform evidence-based policies, enhance player protection measures, and contribute to the broader public good”.
A UK-registered charity, BetBlocker provides gambling support via its free-to-use app, which blocks a user’s device from accessing more than 88,000 gambling websites and 1,500 gambling apps. The service can also be used anonymously.
Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker, Duncan Garvie, stated: “For the first four years of the project, I delivered the user technical support for BetBlocker. I’ve interacted with thousands of people using the tool and I know how much of a difference it has made to a huge number of liv..