SBC Americas

Stevin Smith joins EPIC to promote gambling harm awareness

EPIC Global Solutions is raising awareness of gambling harm with the help of a former college basketball star.

The London-based gambling harm consultancy has enlisted former Arizona State Sun Devil Stevin “Hedake” Smith to educate young athletes about gambling harm and its consequences. EPIC has added Smith to its roster due to his involvement in a point-shaving scandal during ASU’s 1993-94 men’s basketball season. The scandal resulted in Smith being arrested and subsequently sentenced to a year in prison.

Smith became involved in the point-shaving scheme to alleviate illegal gambling debt.

“I’m passionate about wanting to tell my story and get out there to prevent this from happening again,” said Smith on his decision to join EPIC. “I’ve been able to tell my story to players previously and I’m able to have a relationship with all of them in the audience because of the way I deliver my message and coming from one big fraternity in sport.”

During his time as in Tempe, the Texas nati..

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Report: NCAA sports betting violation adds to woes for Georgia

The University of Georgia football program is responding to an NCAA violation related to sports betting.

According to an Athens Banner-Herald report, an unnamed former football staffer at Georgia has been relieved of their duties for violating NCAA gambling rules by wagering on pro sports. The staffer was cited for a Level III violation by the NCAA after placing the bets in August 2020 but the wagers were not flagged for suspicious activity until last year.

The NCAA’s Level III violations, which are not new to Georgia football, are considered isolated and not widespread issues. In 2022, the program self-reported an improper real-money wager by a player on a fantasy sports platform. NCAA gambling rules ban wagering by all players, coaches, and team officials on events sponsored by the organization.

The staffer is required to adhere to certain standards if hired by another SEC institution.

“If the staff member is hired by another SEC institution in the future the staff member is req..

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Michigan regulator still considers gray machines illegal

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..

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Police drop gambling charges against Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte

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..

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NBA gambling scheme leads to guilty plea for Jontay Porter

Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for his role in a gambling scheme that led to his lifetime banishment from the NBA.

Porter pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a New York federal court and has been released on a $250,000 bond insured by his mom and spouse.

“I knew what I did was wrong and unlawful and I’m deeply sorry for my conduct,” Porter told Brooklyn Federal Judge James R. Cho during his arraignment on Wednesday.

Porter faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty with prosecutors recommending between 41 to 51 months of prison time. The 24-year-old, who is undergoing gambling counseling, is projected to pay $456,000 in fines and restitution.

His salary with the Raptors and their G-League affiliate for the 2023-24 season was $410,000. Porter has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 18. According to a criminal docket, Porter is facing forfeiture of “any property, real, or personal..

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RG website launched by Vermont health department

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..

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Michigan doubles responsible gambling budget

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..

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Massachusetts Gaming Commission studies limits on gambling advertising

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) will consider a set of recommendations to limit advertising of gambling in the state. The recommendations from Dr Rachel Volberg, a Research Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, form part of the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) project.  Volberg said her team “heartily endorses” the…

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California’s card rooms join National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

idPair has signed an agreement with the California Council on Problem Gambling that allows gamblers to self-exclude from California’s 60-plus card rooms using the newly-launched National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. Gamblers will be able to self-exclude online, unlike in the previous system where they had to do it in-person or by mail. The California deal follows…

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Bally’s joins Responsible Online Gaming Association as eighth founder

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..

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