Welcome to iGB's State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we've covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.
MAC to require football injury reports
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) earlier this week became the second US college football conference to require injury reporting, the Associated Press reported on Thursday (22 August). The Big Ten was the first in 2023 and the SEC is considering the mandate.
BREAKING 🚨
The SEC continues to advance its player injury/availability reporting policy, but it has not yet been finalized, an SEC spokesperson says.
“The policy has been updated and is subject to further review. We will announce a final decision when it is complete.”
This… pic.twitter.com/y4aDvgPClj— College Football Headlines (@CFBHeadlines) August 21, 2024
MAC teams will be required to provide an injury report three hours before kickoff. Reports will be available via the conference’s website and X social-media platform. According to the AP, the MAC’s Council of Directors of Athletics approved the idea in July.
The decision, like the Big Ten’s, is in response to proliferation of legal gambling. Consumers can wager in 35+ US jurisdictions and betting has begun to effect change in how college sports are run.
Colorado bans “negative” wagers
Colorado’s Department of Revenue/Gaming Enforcement Division recently updated its bet menu by deleting 147 kinds of bets. Most of the bets removed are ones that could be considered “negative”. For example, the regulator banned bets on whether a baseball team would have an error. The list spans 19 sports, from Aussie Rules football to the NFL to the Olympics.
The regulator lists a total of 354 prohibited bets, including some that don’t meet the state’s criteria for wagers, including violating integrity.
Ohio says bye-bye to Bovada
Illegal offshore sportsbook Bovada is no longer available in Ohio, according to a Wednesday (21 August) Action Network report. On 6 August the Ohio Casino Control Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bovada. The letter had a 16 August deadline and, as of Wednesday, the Bovada site listed Ohio among jurisdictions it is not available in.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission called out Bovada for offering unlicensed gaming and for allowing underage individuals to gamble in Ohio.
We have a copy of the cease-and-desist notice to Bovada right here. 👇https://t.co/8J7zV63LZw— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) August 21, 2024
The platform is no longer available in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey or New York.
BetMGM debuts digital wallet in Nevada
BetMGM is the only sports betting app allowing Nevada residents and visitors to bet and carry funds to other states where the Entain-MGM Resorts joint venture is active, the operator said in a press release on Thursday (22 August).
On Wednesday the company went live with its digital wallet for online sports betting in Nevada, completing a project that means the wallet can be used across 29 states the operator is live in. Other sports betting operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel, have offered similar technology for several years. The company reported that the digital wallet is the first of its kind available in the state.
BetMGM also offers online sports betting in some of the biggest legal wagering states, including Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Prior to the Nevada launch of the wallet, BetMGM offered consumers single-state digital wallets. But after getting approval from regulators across the nation, BetMGM consumers can now register once, in any legal jurisdiction the company is live in, and the wallet will travel with them.
BetMGM is a joint venture between UK-based Entain and MGM.
Virginia could create new gaming agency
Since sports betting was legalised in Virginia in 2020, the state lottery has been the regulator. But as local voters have also approved casinos, which are in progress across the state, a consultant says it may be time for one umbrella gambling regulatory agency. On Wednesday (21 August) WDBJ reported that the suggestion to keep the lottery agency and add the Virginia Gambling Commission came up in a subcommittee meeting.
“I think oftentimes maybe we get complacent and things grow and we don’t acknowledge the growth. We don’t acknowledge the value that they can bring and sort of we lose control,” Delegate Terry Austin told the TV station. “So now, we’re reeling all of this back in.”
Virginia’s general assembly convenes on 8 January 2025.
NCPG, NFL renew partnership
The National Council on Problem Gambling on Thursday (22 August) announced a three-year renewal of its partnership with the NFL. The $6.4m commitment is the biggest in NCPG history and focuses on key NCPG tenets.
“Our partnership with NCPG underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice-president of social responsibility said via press release. “We are proud to leverage our platform and resources with NCPG’s expertise to raise awareness, provide education and help prevent problem gambling.”
Borgata fined in NJ again
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) earlier this week announced that it had fined Borgata casino for the second time in 18 months for underpaying taxes. Borgata will pay a $75,000 fine for underpaying taxes by $365,161 in its June tax filing. The filing covers October 2023-May 2024. The casino misreported $4,564,515 in promotional credits.
Borgata was also fined for not correctly reporting promotional deductions in October 2023. At that time, the casino underpaid by more than $785,000.
Alabama AG shuts down five illicit gambling parlors
On 19 August the Alabama attorney-general’s office shut down five illegal gambling facilities in Selma. Temporary restraining orders have been obtained and the properties are blocked from making any financial transactions.
“These facilities are operating with complete disregard to Alabama law,” Attorney-General Steve Marshall said, per the Montgomery Advertiser. “I applaud Dallas County Sheriff Granthum’s dedication to combat this blight and willingness to invite our team to assist in addressing these criminal enterprises.”
Worth the read
The NFL shared with ESPN some insights into how it monitors games for suspicious betting activity. David Purdhum writes about how each team is assigned an investigator. And on game days there are multiple people looking for line movements or “anomalies”.
In other news…
Offshore sportsbooks are taking bets on the Little League World Series, according to PlayPennsylvania. It is illegal to wager on youth sports in every US jurisdiction. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control board told PlayPennsylvania that it has referred the issue to local law enforcement.
In a presentation to Norfolk’s Architectural Review Board (ARB), officials from HKS Architects unveiled an updated proposal for the Pamunkey tribe’s Headwaters Resort & Casino. It appears the name may be dropped after all. According to WAVY, developers were noncommittal with board members about the name and said discussions are still ongoing.
New York’s Oneida Indian Nation broke ground on a $50m expansion of its Point Place Casino in Bridgeport on Tuesday (20 August). The property opened in 2018. Since then, it has added an in-person sportsbook and expanded the casino floor.
In Maine, the Portland City Council Monday approved a liquor licence for a proposed sports bar and sportsbook. It would be Maine’s first in-person wagering location. First Tracks Investments LLC would still need to go through the wagering licensing process.
PrizePicks announced Wednesday that it signed comedian Drew “Druski” Desbordes as a brand ambassador. Druski will create content for PrizePicks, including social skits and an original short-form series for YouTube.
Alberta Gaming Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) on Tuesday launched the GameSense Info Line, a new responsible gaming tool. Consumers can call 1-833-447-7523 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am-5pm, and Thursdays–Saturdays between 1pm-8pm. Alberta does not yet have legal digital sports betting. Provincial leaders have not indicated a launch date, but multiple agencies have been prepping for launch.
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