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World Lottery Association awards Scientific Games recertification

Scientific Games is continuing to adhere to responsible gaming standards.

The Georgia-based gaming and lottery technology developer has been recertified by the World Lottery Association (WLA) for its Responsible Gaming Framework Certificate of Alignment. Scientific Games has been recertified following a comprehensive independent auditioning process that expanded across the company’s entire operations.

“Scientific Games celebrates our WLA global recertification as it reaffirms our steadfast commitment to responsible gaming innovation and ethical business practice across our operations and technology,” said Scientific Games CEO Pat McHugh.

Scientific Games received initial WLA certification for its European operations in 2015 becoming one of the first suppliers to be awarded with the confirmation of approval. Since then, it has earned several recertifications with an initial global certification in 2022.

The company was given global certification following the release of its RG p..

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Mizzou discusses sports betting ban on school events and athletes

An institute of higher education is preparing for Missouri’s launch of online sports betting.

The University of Missouri Faculty Council is considering a ban on sports betting for all faculty, staff and students on the school’s sporting events and its online network.

The potential ban would not require legislative approval as it is only a school policy. It has been proposed to protect the well-being of student athletes, faculty and the student body.

“It’s consistent with some policies put in place by other universities, it’s been a point of discussion in NCAA meetings, in the faculty athletics representatives meetings,” said MU Faculty Council Chair Tom Warhover during a meeting addressing sports wagering.

MU’s potential new rule would resemble Purdue University’s policy. Purdue’s ethics and compliance rules prohibit all faculty, staff, students and independent contractors from placing or accepting sports wagers on any Purdue team, student athlete, or contest.

The mandate also app..

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Lawmakers reintroduce SAFE Bet Act ahead of March Madness

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..

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MLB urges CFTC to take sports event contracts in hand

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..

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Mississippi State & Texas self-report NCAA gambling violations

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..

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Ohio campaign for athletes against gambling harassment gets updates

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 ..

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Texas lawmakers file measure to prevent lottery ticket collusion

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..

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PrizePicks first DFS operator to receive NCPG’s iCAP certification

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..

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Lawmakers reintroduce SAFE Bet Act ahead of March Madness

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…

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YouTube announces content ban promoting ‘unapproved’ gambling sites

YouTube announced on Tuesday that it will no longer permit content that directs users to “unapproved” gambling websites.

In an update posted on March 4, the platform’s team said that as part of an ongoing effort to protect viewers from potentially harmful content, it is strengthening its existing policies related to online gambling content.

YouTube defines unapproved gambling sites as platforms that don’t meet local legal requirements and haven’t been reviewed by YouTube or its parent company Google.

Effective March 19, YouTube will no longer allow non-Google-certified URLs, embedded links, visual displays including logos or verbal references.

“We know this update may impact creators who focus on online gambling content like casino games and applications, but we believe these changes are a necessary step in protecting our community, especially younger viewers,” read the statement.

YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle added to CNN that it will also begin age-restricting content t..

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