SBC Americas

Massachusetts regulators continue to discuss the practice of limiting bettors

The five commissioners of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission remain committed to examining the practice of sportsbooks limiting bettors. However, a meeting on Thursday resulted in more talk and no action on the matter.

The discussion follows a May meeting where Bally Bet was the only operator to appear as part of a roundtable discussion on the matter. The other operators in the state declined to participate unless they were granted the opportunity to speak in private executive session about their limiting practices.

MA commissioners want actual action, not just talk

The commissioners were eager to hear from operators but were not interested in convening another round table unless operators were willing to have substantive discussions about how they go about limiting bettors.

“It’s hard for me to believe that the operators don’t have an opinion on this policy decision that we may or may not make,” said Interim Chair Jordan Maynard.

Commissioner Nakisha Skinner warned that this di..

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BetBlocker, Caesars and IGT among winners of NCPG Awards

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced the winners of its 2024 National Awards last week, with BetBlocker, Caesars, IGT, Wisconsin Lottery and a host of others all reaching the top of the podium. Each year, NCPG honours individuals and organisations from around the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling. …

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Bally’s joins IBIA to highlight commitment to integrity

Bally’s Corporation has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) as it looks to build upon its commitment to integrity and player protection.

IBIA is a not-for-profit body that is run by operators for operators to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. Its global monitoring network detects and reports suspicious activity in regulated betting markets, such as the high-profile case of banned NBA player Jontay Porter this year.

Bally’s CEO Robeson Reeves said that IBIA membership, “aligns with our commitment to provide a safe and secure betting environment for our customers.

“As we continue to expand our footprint globally, we look forward to contributing to IBIA’s mission of upholding the integrity of sports betting worldwide,” Reeves added.

“Bally’s is a major U.S. and growing international gambling company and is another great addition to our rapidly expanding international membership base,” added Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA. “It will help us ..

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Alabama baseball scandal leads to prison sentence for former player Neff

Bert Neff has been sentenced to prison for his role in a gambling scandal that led to the firing of the former head coach of Alabama’s baseball program, Brad Bohannon.

According to court documents obtained from the U.S. District for the Northern District of Alabama, Neff has been sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in February to one count of obstruction of justice. The Indiana native was handed the sentence after betting at Great American Ballpark.

Last April, Neff attempted to place a $100,000 wager at BetMGM’s retail sportsbook in Cincinnati after being provided with insider information about the Alabama baseball team from Bohannon. Neff attempted to place the wager on Alabama’s opponent, LSU, but was limited to $15,000 by BetMGM staff who flagged the bet as suspicious. According to court documents, Bohannon told Neff to bet against Alabama.

As a result, Alabama fired Bohannon but he has yet to be charged in the case. A..

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Pro League Network hooks up with Birches Health for RG and problem gambling prevention

Sports media and entertainment company Pro League Network (PLN) has partnered with behavioral health provider Birches Health to boost its responsible gambling initiatives and problem gambling prevention.

Birches Health focuses on increasing access to responsible gaming resources and problem gambling treatment. The companies say that their new union aims to ensure that wagering on PLN sports is done in a healthy, sustainable manner via the use of clinician-led educational materials and support resources.

Birches Health will provide PLN’s 500,000+ subscribers with comprehensive virtual support including easy access to online solutions that encourage responsible gaming best practices through direct integrations. Birches also offers resources including digital education, interactive learning modules and accessible treatment options.

“We strongly believe in responsible gaming and this is another important step in that direction,” said Pro League Network Co-Founder and Partner, Mike Salva..

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Pro bettor Billy Walters slams US sports betting industry

While many people would say the first few years of widespread legalized sports betting in the United States since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) have been a near-universal success, famed professional bettor Billy Walters is not one of them.

Speaking to a room of lawmakers and regulators at last week’s National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) conference, Walters was highly critical of several aspects of the industry ranging from fairness to transparency to revenue to taxation.

Walters is arguably the most famous sports bettor in the country. Last year, his biography Gambler was a New York Times best seller.

Walters claims legalizing sports betting was done without experts

Like many other gamblers, Walters had high hopes for legalization, something he has longed for for some time.

“I wanted to see sports betting legalized. I want to see it regulated. I wanted to see the criminal element out of it. I wanted to see jobs creat..

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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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