SBC Americas

Sports bettors more likely to binge drink according to the ICRG

Sports bettors are more likely to binge drink and consume more alcohol according to a new study from the International Center for Responsible Gambling (ICRG).

Published in the JAMA Network Open journal, the study found its sample of sports bettors were disproportionately more likely to report binge drinking at a greater frequency over the last 12 months compared to non-sports bettors.

Led by Dr. Joshua Grubbs of the University of New Mexico, the study states that its findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and informed regulatory policies to mitigate the risks associated with sports betting and alcohol consumption.

“Our research highlights a troubling trend of excessive alcohol use among sports bettors,” explained Grubbs. “We must use these insights to formulate effective strategies that promote responsible gaming and alcohol consumption.”

Grubbs also noted that further investigation is needed to compare alcohol consumption between online and retail sp..

Read more

New online casino payments solution launched by Paysafe

Paysafe is diversifying its offerings for online casino operators.

The payments platform announced on Monday the launch of Pay by Bank, a new product that allows iGaming players in America to fund their gaming accounts directly from their online bank accounts. Pay by Bank, which is part of Paysafe’s Gateway payments solution, also allows online bettors to cash out their winnings seamlessly to their banking accounts.

“We’re delighted to unveil our new Pay by Bank product for our iGaming solution, which will almost certainly prove very effective in both converting and retaining players for U.S. operators, with the product’s impressive transactional speed and robust security,” said Paysafe President of Global Gaming Zak Cutler. “Through Pay by Bank, we continue to grow the Paysafe Gateway by providing American operators and their customers with unparalleled payment choices, all through a single integration.”

Paysafe has launched its new iGaming solution amid demand from U.S. players fo..

Read more

Iowa athletes file federal suit against sports betting investigators

A group of 26 athletes from Iowa and Iowa State University are suing the state for its allegedly unconstitutional investigation into their sports betting activity.

Lawsuit alleges 4th and 14th Amendment violations

In a federal complaint filed in the Southern District of Iowa, the group claimed the state of Iowa, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and individual DCI employees Stephan Bayens, Paul Feddersen, David Jobes, Troy Nelson and Brian Sanger violated their 4th and 14th Amendment rights with warrantless searches and unlawful seizures.

Per the complaint, the athletes allege that the DCI launched a sports betting investigative division in 2021. As part of an investigation conducted in tandem with the state of Illinois, the DCI became aware of GeoComply’s geolocation tech and how it can be used to identify fraudulent activity and pinpoint when betting is taking place from a restricted location such as a prison or a school.

Before DCI was able to utilize this software, Ge..

Read more

Safe Bet Show: Arthur Paikowsky talks his life in fundraising and the work of the ICRG

The Martin Lycka Safe Bet Show returned this month and Arthur Paikowsky, President of the International Centre for Responsible Gambling (ICRG), was the man in the hot seat.

In the podcast, the pair discuss Paikowsky’s life in fundraising and the work of the ICRG in progressing the industry’s knowledge of responsible gambling.

Paikowsky has spent over four decades working as a fundraiser for multiple organizations, in which time, he has raised over $1 billion. Lycka started by asking how fundraising has changed throughout Paikowsky’s career.

RG donors experiencing some fatigue

He noted that the main difference is that the industry has become more technology-driven, which he believes has not been for the better. Later in the podcast he also touched on how technology has led to donor fatigue due to people being bombarded daily with requests for money.

“When you talk to people in the fundraising world and you say how many of these hits do you get on your computer every single day [and..

Read more

New illegal gambling prevention campaign launches in Colorado

The Colorado Division of Gambling is taking steps to combat illicit gambling.

As part of the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR), the state’s Division of Gaming has launched a new campaign aimed at preventing illegal gambling by Colorado residents and visitors. The campaign, “Play Legit. Gamble Only Where Legal,” is designed to educate bettors in the Centennial State about the risks of illicit wagering and the importance of betting with licensed online operators and brick-and-mortar casinos.

“With many certified and legal gambling sites available, it’s never worth it to put yourself in danger,” said Colorado Division of Gaming Director Chris Schroder. “Together, let’s play by the rules and ensure that Colorado remains a safe and responsible gaming destination. By recognizing and preventing illegal gambling, we all win.”

Colorado is taking steps to educate residents and visitors about the risks of illegal gambling to mitigate crimes associated with wagering, including fraud and bur..

Read more

Pennsylvania legislators introduce bill to ban credit card use for online gaming

A bill has been introduced that would prevent players in Pennsylvania from using credit cards to fund their online gambling activities.

Senate Bill 1159, introduced by Sen. Wayne Fontana, proposes amendments to Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which concerns gaming in the state.

The bill states that operators “may not accept a credit card as a form of payment” for sports betting, daily fantasy contests, iLottery, and online casino activities.

Fontana drummed up support in March

In March Fontana circulated a memorandum to garner support for his proposal which aims to curtail problem gambling amid the continued growth of iGaming and sports wagering in the state.

SB1159 ended up with six cosponsors, five of which are Democrats and one who is Republican.

As part of his memorandum, Fontana included statistics from a study produced by Penn State, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the state’s Gaming Control Board, which ..

Read more

PrizePicks appoints first RG Director

Daily fantasy sports giant PrizePicks has announced new appointments to lead its HR and responsible gambling teams. Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health‘s Chief Communications Officer, Phil Sherwood, will take up the role of PrizePicks’ Senior Director of Responsible Gaming. At the MACGH, he was a driving force in the council introducing player protection measures such as the…

Read more

Ex-CFL player Lemon suspended for betting on games

The Canadian Football League is the latest sports league to take action against a player for violating gambling policy.

The CFL announced on April 24 that retired defensive lineman Shawn Lemon has been suspended indefinitely for allegedly placing bets on league games while an active player. An investigation conducted by the CFL found that the University of Akron product bet on multiple CFL games, including one in which he played during the 2021 season while a member of the Calgary Stampeders.

The investigation found that there was “irrefutable evidence of Mr. Lemon’s participation” in betting on league games and that Calgary coaches, teammates or team personnel were unaware of his actions. However, it stressed that “no evidence was found to indicate matches were in any way impacted by his wagering.”

The league reiterated that players betting on league games is strictly prohibited by its rules.

“The integrity of our game is of the utmost importance,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Amb..

Read more

DraftKings hires Cozen partner as Chief RG Officer

DraftKings has announced the appointment of Lori Kalani as its first Chief Responsible Gaming Officer. Kalani, who will report to DraftKings CEO Jason Robins, will be tasked with elevating and integrating the company’s player safety and protection activities and initiatives across all facets of DraftKings platforms and player communities.  “Responsible gaming is one of our top priorities and it…

Read more