While the NFL has had a fair number more controversies, it is the NBA which is the first league to permanently ban a player for sports betting in the post-PASPA era. Today, the league announced that Jontay Porter will never again play for an NBA team after both betting on basketball and passing on insider information so others could bet on basketball. Last…
While the NFL has had a fair number more controversies, it is the NBA who is the first league to permanently ban a player for sports betting in the post-PASPA era. Today, the league announced that Jontay Porter will never again play for an NBA team after both betting on basketball and passing on insider information so others could bet on basketball.
Last month the NBA said it was investigating Porter after there was suspicious activity related to Porter’s play as a Toronto Raptor in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. The investigation concluded that prior to the March 20 game, Porter told a known NBA bettor about his health status. That bettor subsequently wagered $80,000 on a Porter-centric SGP that would pay out $1.1 million.
The investigation also determined Porter deliberately limited his participation in the game to ensure the under on all the legs of that parlay would cash.
In addition to divulging information, the league concluded Porter used an associate to place 13 bets on NBA..
Player protection in the U.S. has been in the spotlight of not just the sports betting industry recently, but also the media, lawmakers, and the general public. Seven leading operators formed the Responsible Online Gaming Association to support best practices, while one federal US lawmaker has called for investigation into VIP programs.
Both state and local lawmakers and regulators are reviewing advertising and marketing limits, along with bans on college prop bets. Dr. Michael Auer, Founder and Managing Director of OpenBet’s Neccton, shares some of the approaches that have developed over his 18-year career to help U.S. operators reinforce responsible play with their customers.
From lagging behind to leading the way
U.S. sports betting continues to boom. With the explosive growth of this market – and with online casino in the offing – player protection rightfully has become the industry’s top priority. However, as the sports betting market matures, so too must our ability to integr..
The former interpreter of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani is in negotiations to plead guilty following allegations of stealing million to wager on sports, according to the New York Times.
Ippei Mizuhara is expected to plead guilty to federal charges after allegedly participating in an illegal gambling operation run by former bookie Matthew Bowyer. Mizuhara, who was subsequently fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers, allegedly siphoned at least $4.5 million from Ohtani’s bank account to Bowyer to cover gambling losses. Mizuhara is alleged to have changed the alert and confirmation settings of Ohtani’s bank account.
Bank information showed Ohtani’s name on two $500,000 payments marked as loans.
Ohtani, who signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers last December, has denied any wrongdoing following the allegations against Mizuhara.
“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sports or asked someone to do it on my behalf,” said Ohtani during a team press conference last month..
While states like Ohio, Maryland and, most recently, Louisiana, are reversing course on college prop bets, the Montana Lottery is fine with keeping the wagers in the catalog.
In a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker posted on Twitter by Covers reporter Geoff Zochodne, Montana Lottery Director Bob Brown said he appreciated the concern about athlete well-being but did not think this was an issue that applies to the state.
Last week, Baker called on all states with regulated sports betting to pull college player props from the catalog.
“Speaking specifically to our state, with Montana’s low population and only two large universities, we can speak confidently that any issues occurring nationally have not been an issue in Montana,” Brown wrote. “Regarding the specifics of player prop betting, it is not in our immediate plans to discontinue college player prop markets offered through our sportsbooks. Montana’s local teams already have a limited number of markets, which we are not incli..
As the industry navigates the challenge of balancing regulatory compliance with commercial growth, SBC Summit North America will offer the optimal platform for delegates to glean insights into the latest compliance strategies, responsible gambling initiatives and safeguarding technology.
On Tuesday, May 7 the limited capacity, pre-day conference, will offer attendees at Tribeco 360 access to both the ‘SBC Gaming Regulation & Compliance Forum’ and the ‘Player Protection Symposium’.
Throughout the day, attendees can anticipate focused discussions on regulating innovative technologies, ensuring compliance in mergers and acquisitions, proactive solutions to combat underage gambling and the prominent role of technology in responsible gambling.
Kicking off the day is the panel Merge Here: M&A Compliance, which will provide insights into successfully navigating the complex framework of mergers and acquisitions. Finance and compliance experts Benjie Cherniak (Principal, Avenue H Capital),..
BetMGM is ensuring the protection of its players through a new strategic partnership.
The sports betting and online casino operator has secured a partnership with Prove Identify to leverage the digital security company’s innovative identity solution, Prove Pre-Fill. Prove Pre-Fill, which is used by more than 1,000 businesses, allows BetMGM to accelerate its onboarding process for new customers by up to 79%. The identity solution is awaiting regulatory approval for use with BetMGM offerings.
“We’re committed to providing customers with a seamless and secure sports betting experience, and our partnership with Prove is a testament to that safe bet,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “Prove Pre-Fill adds an extra layer of security, reduces sign-up abandonment, and improves the overall user experience by streamlining the identity verification and authentication processes. Users can now enjoy the BetMGM sports betting and casino experience faster and with greater peace of mind.”
Prove Pre..
The class action lawsuit filed by DraftKings patrons in Massachusetts is heading for a venue change.
Last week, the Massachusetts Superior Court of Middlesex County granted DraftKings’s request to transfer the case to the state’s Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court (BLS).
The plaintiffs, working with the Public Health Advocacy Institute, filed the class action in December, alleging that the $1,000 sign-up offer from DraftKings was deceptive.
The BLS is specifically designed to handle legal business disputes using two-judge teams from the Superior Court to weigh in on cases. This case has been delegated to the team of Judge Debra Squires-Lee and Judge Kenneth Salinger.
DraftKings argued for the transfer was appropriate because the class action relates to alleged unfair business practices and that is a case that would require “close case management” and benefit from the close oversight of BLS. The sportsbook also made it clear it intends to file a motion to dismiss onc..
Massachusetts is taking steps to educate young people about the risks of gambling.
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has announced that the state is launching the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, a public-private partnership that aims to educate young people on the laws and risks associated with gambling, according to NBC Boston.
“Because Massachusetts has entered a new era with sports betting now literally available at your fingertips, it is critical that we raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity, particularly for young people,” said Campbell. “This coalition brings together the business, professional sports, nonprofit and responsible gaming communities to best achieve one common goal: better protect and educate young adults across the Commonwealth.”
The coalition, which targets state residents ages 12 through 20, will provide evidence-based education and training backed by some of the largest entities in sports, including the NCAA, Boston..
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is discussing the potential implementation of sports wagering limits.
The MGC has raised the issue of authorizing wagering limits following a public comment submitted last year that questioned whether operators have the authority to limit bettors.
The MGC conducted an investigation on the topic that included a review of regulations, operator house rules, terms and conditions, and approved internal controls. The commission also consulted its legal team and operators to discuss betting limits.
Operators have leveraged wager limits to manage risk and to ensure the integrity of competitions on a per-customer basis. The MGC is discussing wager limits with no imminent changes coming to regulations but is willing to explore options with its six licensed sports betting operators or revisit the topic as the year moves forward.
Commissioners in the MGC are raising questions regarding potential limits in the state.
“It seems to me that the regulation..