SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Ohtani clears the air on sports betting and fraud allegations

SBC AmericasMarch 26, 20240204 views

MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani has denied any wrongdoing following allegations of his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara stealing millions from him to wager on sports.

Ohtani spoke to the media on Monday for the first time since allegations were made against his former confidant, Mizuhara, who allegedly partcipated in an illegal gambling operation run by California resident and bookie Matthew Bowyer. According to the LA Times, Mizuhara allegedly siphoned at least $4.5 million from Ohtani’s bank account to cover gambling losses. Mizuhara had previously told authorities the money was transferred by Ohtani.

“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sports or asked someone to do it on my behalf,” said Ohtani during Monday’s press conference. “I’ve never asked a bookmaker to do it on my behalf. Up until a few days ago, I didn’t know this was happening. In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.”

Ohtani was first informed of Mizuhara’s allegedly stealing la..

OddsJam launches RG partnership with Birches Health

SBC AmericasMarch 25, 20240245 views

Sports betting data platform OddsJam has partnered with responsible gaming and behavioral health treatment company Birches Health to offer resources, education and care for problem gambling addictions.

All OddsJam users will now have easy access to a wide selection of responsible gaming resources and treatment services. Birches Health aims to help problem gamblers who would otherwise have been unable to access care through traditional channels immediately get the support they need.

The service provides a program covered by insurance and the government and run by a clinical team with decades of experience in gambling-specialized care.

“OddsJam is passionate about educating our users to bet smarter by focusing on value when it comes to decision-making, so working with Birches Health is a win-win,” said OddsJam CEO Matt Restivo. “We have a duty to partner with entities in our space who are doing the right thing, and Birches Health is the epitome of this philosophy.”

“We are thrilled ..

NCPG awards Tipico first sportsbook compliance accreditation

SBC AmericasMarch 25, 20240214 views

Tipico Sportsbook is making history as an operator in America’s gaming market.

The Malta-based operator has earned Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP) accreditation in New Jersey and Ohio becoming the first sportsbook in the U.S. to receive the accreditation for best practices in consumer protection. Tipico earned the iCAP accreditation following the launch of its Fair Play Pledge, a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to foster a safe and enjoyable betting experience for users while maximizing value.

The National Council on Problem Gambling is the administrator of iCAP accreditations.

“ICAP accreditation is a meaningful award for Tipico because it validates our approach to make fair play a companywide initiative that requires buy-in by our employees,” said Tipico Compliance & Legal SVP Bryan Schroeder in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of our team for rallying around our efforts to continuously improve safety and clarity. Our primary goal is to ensure customers hav..

ESPN host slammed for ‘risk-free’ betting comment

SBC AmericasMarch 25, 20240197 views

ESPN host Rece Davis is under fire for equating a college basketball wager to a “risk-free investment.”

During an ESPN Bet segment on Sunday, betting analyst Erin Dolan and Davis were discussing the rationale of betting the under for a team’s total points in a March Madness matchup between UConn and Northwestern. Dolan explained her decision to bet Northwestern to score under 60.5 points in which Davis replied with a controversial comment.

“Some would call this wagering, gambling. I think the way you’ve sold this; I think what it is, is a risk-free investment,” said Davis during the segment.

Davis describing a sports wager as a risk-free investment is an issue that continues to be a topic of discussion throughout America’s regulated gambling industry.

In 2022, FanDuel and DraftKings eliminated “risk-free” and “free bet” terminology in their marketing following criticism of advertising practices in gambling.

Last year, New York became the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to take le..

Spelinspektionen threatens Yggdrasil over unlicensed customers

CasinoBeatsMarch 25, 20240335 views

Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s Gambling Inspectorate, has issued a warning and a penalty fee of SEK 300,000 (€26,000) to Yggdrasil Gaming for non-compliance with regulations related to licensed supplier services/authorisations.

The regulator has stated that, through its investigations into unlicensed gaming websites on January 16, 2024, it determined that Yggdrasil had provided gaming software to an operator who didn’t have the necessary Swedish licence to operate in the country.

Within its report, Spelinspektionen said that it was told by Yggdrasil that the supplier had “internal flaws” within its monitoring system of dealer agreements which caused the violation and that it had promptly removed its games and other assets from the operator in question by January 23, 2024.

Spelinspektionen determined that the violation was “serious” and that Yggdrasil could have their licence revoked, but a warning was deemed “sufficient” as the regulator believes the supplier will conduct business goin..

NCAA launches gambling harm education campaign

SBC AmericasMarch 22, 20240216 views

The NCAA is continuing to protect its student-athletes from gambling harm.

The governing body of college sports has launched Draw the Line, a campaign aimed at educating student-athletes on the effects of sports betting. The campaign, which debuted during the start of March Madness, will also address problem gambling.

“Sports betting is everywhere, especially on college campuses, so it’s critical student-athletes get the real story about how it can impact them and their ability to play,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes and officials, so that’s why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement.”

The NCAA’s new campaign comes during the governing body’s most profitable event, March Madness. The three-week men’s and women’s tournament will see the NCAA generate approximately $1 billion in revenue, which is roughly 85% of its a..

Spelinspektionen to analyse risk of criminal activity on gambling accounts

CasinoBeatsMarch 22, 20240228 views

The Swedish government has instructed Spelinspektionen – the country’s gambling authority –to analyse the risks of gambling accounts being used for money laundering and other criminal activities.

The Swedish gambling regulator noted that if there is a need, it must create proposals to counteract such activity, including providing a breakdown of socio-economic consequences.

In addition, Spelinspektionen has also been asked to see if gambling accounts should be covered by the account and safe deposit box system – Konto- och värdefackssystemet – and what would happen if such accounts were added to the system.

The account and safe deposit box system allows authorities to quickly identify accounts and safe holders at financial firms. This is achieved through the Swedish Tax Agency’s technical platform Mekanismen, which allows authorities to directly and immediately receive information about accounts and safe deposit boxes at credit and investment companies.

Earlier this month, Spelinspe..

GambleAware highlights debt management importance for Debt Awareness Week

SBC NewsMarch 22, 20240231 views

In time for debt awareness week, GambleAware has put out a statement emphasising the wide availability of free debt advice services and the need to lift the stigma barrier suggesting that such services affect credit score.

Collaborating with StepChange Debt Charity, which is running this year’s Debt Awareness Week from 18-24 March, GambleAware’s Money Guidance Service Manager Kathy Wade addressed the misconception that reaching out for debt advice has an impact on private credit score.

“Having a good credit score is important for a number of reasons, including when you want to borrow money, take out a mobile phone contract, or get home broadband,” Wade said. “Companies will check your credit file before making decisions. Factors can impact your credit rating but getting debt advice is not one of them.”

Some of the factors listed by Wade that could influence people’s credit score include missed credit repayments, maxed-out credit cards, court judgements, bankruptcy, or debt relief ..

Gambling Commission clears 888 after licence review

CasinoBeatsMarch 22, 20240249 views

888 has been cleared by the UK Gambling Commission of any regulatory penalties following a review of its licence.

A review of 888’s licence was initiated by the UKGC after FS Gaming sought to acquire a stake in the gambling company last June.

FS Gaming took a 6.5 per cent stake in the firm during that month, with a subsequent proposal centred around the potential appointments of Lee Feldman, Kenny Alexander and Stephen Morana as Chair, CEO and CFO, respectively.

However, with each previously holding senior leadership positions at GVC Holdings, the now rebranded Entain, 888 was in communication with the UKGC about the shareholding and proposal.

During this period, GVC was also under an HM Revenue & Customs investigation into the company’s former Turkish business, which concluded in December last year with a £585m settlement from Entain with the Crown Prosecution Service.

888 terminated its discussions with FS Gaming in July and ended up going in a different direction with its senio..

Kindbridge expands problem gambling partnership with DraftKings

SBC AmericasMarch 21, 20240277 views

DraftKings is continuing to invest in efforts to curtail problem gambling.

The Boston-based company has announced an expanded partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to provide therapy and treatment for problem gambling in all operational sports betting and iGaming markets. The resources for users in 25 states build on a previous relationship established between DraftKings and Kindbridge.

In 2023, DraftKings and Kindbridge partnered to launch a pilot program in Colorado.

“We appreciate the opportunity to deepen our collaboration with Kindbridge Behavioral Health and strengthen our commitment to providing important resources to those experiencing potential indications of problem gaming,” said DraftKings Chief Compliance Officer Jennifer Aguiar. “We want everyone on our platform to engage in responsible play and we are committed to educating consumers on the multitude of resources offered.”

DraftKings and Kindbridge are offering services to those impacted by problem gambling fr..