North America

Lawmakers in Iowa file bill to criminalize proxy betting

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Lawmakers in Iowa are introducing a measure aimed at cracking down on sportsbook account sharing and proxy wagering across the state.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has proposed Senate Study Bill 1097 as a measure aimed at protecting the public from deceptive practices by considering account sharing and proxy betting as illegal gaming. SSB 1097 proposes an amendment to Iowa’s gambling games and sports wagering rules to include definitions of account sharing and proxy betting. Patrons who have violated state rules by meeting the standards of account sharing and proxy betting are in violation of Iowa law and are subject to criminal penalties.

SSB 1097 aims to provide law enforcement with the proper authority to penalize account sharing and proxy betting by providing a clear definition. Iowa’s current gaming rules do not include any mention of account sharing or proxy wagering providing no pathway for law enforcement to charge patrons who have violated the state’s existing rules o..

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Virginia and Pennsylvania kick off Problem Gambling Awareness Month

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National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) kicks off tomorrow (March 1) in the US with numerous events planned across the country. This year’s theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition.  The states of Pennsylvania and Virginia were among the first to hold events…

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BetNow the latest offshore operator told to pack up in Michigan

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The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a cease-and-desist order to BetNow.eu, which offers sports betting, horse racing wagering and online casino games. A notice on the BetNow.eu website notes that it is licensed and regulated by The Autonomous Island of Anjoun Union of the Comoros. It is not approved as a gaming operator by the MGCB. The board wrote in…

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Interview: Mackenzie Slade of Gaming Public Policy Consulting

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Mackenzie Slade and her colleagues are on a mission to create responsible regulated gaming markets through reliable research data, behavioural science and proven regulatory strategies Mackenzie Slade and her colleagues have spent the past five years working with regulators on the rollout of regulated cannabis markets across the US. Now, they are turning their attention…

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University of Oregon, 2024: Sports Betting Legalization Amplifies Emotional Cues & Intimate Partner Violence

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The first research paper to investigate the causal relationship between legalised sports gambling and domestic violence in the US.  Using data from the 2011 to 2022 National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), it finds that legalized sports betting amplifies emotional cues, as evidenced by increased intimate partner violence when a fan’s home team unexpectedly loses. The…

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ROGA launches myth-busting RG campaign for students

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The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) has launched a new campaign called Know Your Play aimed at educating college-aged students about key responsible gaming concepts, including randomness, impulsiveness, and limit setting, while addressing myths like the illusion of control in sports betting. The Know Your Play campaign is being conducted in partnership with EPIC Global…

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San Diego study reveals increase in gambling addiction Google searches since fall of PASPA

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A new study by University of California San Diego researchers reveals an increase in internet searches for ‘gambling addiction’ and terms such as ‘helpline’ since the repeal of PASPA by the US Supreme Court in 2018. The study counted Google searches per 10 million queries that mentioned ‘gambling’ and ‘addiction’, ‘addict’, ‘anonymous’, or ‘hotline’ (for…

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Michigan orders nine more offshore casinos to hit the road

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The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is not letting up in its efforts to ensure the only online casinos taking state residents’ money are ones it has licensed. Michigan’s regulator announced on Wednesday it has sent cease-and-desist letters to nine more online casinos, alleging violations of state gaming laws: The platforms offer a range of casino-style games such as…

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Are affordability checks coming to Canadian gaming?

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For years, affordability checks have been like a boogie man for most markets. It lurks as a threat but it has yet to manifest into something operators and regulators have ever had to actually confront.

That is starting to change, though. The UK Gambling Commission began a pilot program on affordability checks in August of last year. The government assures the program will implement a “light touch” in regards to assessing whether players or gambling responsibly or not, but for many the concept at all is a non-starter.

For now, the pilot is looking at users with £500 in deposits a month, but the plan is to drop the number to £150 next month.

In North America, the idea of affordability checks still feels unlikely, but these developments at least raise the question of whether or not Canada will consider them in the future.

Privacy and politics pose challenges
During a presentation as part of SBC’s Player Protection Day, Vixio’s Gaming Compliance Managing Editor Joe Ewens said it is an ..

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