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.
VA Tech drops player over Temple betting probe
Temple transfer Hysier Miller has been dismissed from the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team amid a sports betting investigation of Temple, Sports Illustrated reported on 23 October. Last spring, Temple’s game against UAB was flagged for “suspicious activity” by US Integrity. The line for the game opened with UAB as a 1.5-point favourite, but moved to as high as eight. Miller scored eight points and committed three turnovers. His season average was 16 points per game.
That game was the second in which Temple did not cover a point spread – UAB won, 100-72. Despite having a losing regular season, Temple advanced to the ACC championship game and Miller averaged 27.8 points per game during the conference tournament. He announced he was entering the transfer portal after the tournament.
TSL Audio: Hysier Miller Dismissed From Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Team
Two days after the news, Carter Hill, Chris Coleman and David Cunningham discuss what they know of the situation and how it impacts the #Hokies moving forward. (22 mins)https://t.co/LLyTboILYY— Tech Sideline (@TechSideline) October 25, 2024
Sports Illustrated did not report why Miller was removed from the team.
“Temple transfer point guard Hysier Miller has been permanently released from the Virginia Tech men’s basketball programme due to circumstances prior to his enrolment at Virginia Tech,” the Hokies said in a statement. “There will be no further comment by the university on this matter.”
Virginia Tech opens its season on 4 November when it hosts Delaware State.
Big changes at IC360
The same week that IC360 announced that former New Jersey gambling regulator Dave Rebuck joined it as an advisor, SBC Americas reported that US Integrity founder and IC360 CEO Matt Holt is “no longer with the organisation”. Holt apparently has been out for two months.
IC360 is the result of a 2023 merger between US Integrity and Odds on Compliance. The new company rebranded as IC360 in April and offers gambling compliance and integrity monitoring services. At the time of the merger, Holt became the CEO of the new company.
US Integrity and Odds on Compliance previously partnered on the Prohibet product, which is essentially a paid exclusion list that sports teams, operators and regulators can purchase. The idea is to bring together excluded players’ lists, which can include consumers banned from betting in certain jurisdictions or on certain sports, under one roof.
Earlier in the week, IC360 announced that Rebuck had joined as an advisor. Rebuck retired from public service earlier this year. He was the director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) for a decade. Rebuck oversaw the launch of online gambling in New Jersey in 2013 and the 2018 launch of legal digital and retail sports betting.
“The director’s efforts in transforming New Jersey’s gaming industry, especially in internet gaming and sports wagering, makes him an invaluable resource for the company and our clients,” IC360 president Eric Frank said via press release. “His deep regulatory expertise and forward-thinking approach will help IC360 continue to navigate the evolving landscape of gaming compliance.”
Some NFL bets banned in Illinois
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) at its Thursday (24 October) meeting suspended betting on some NFL wagers at the league’s request. The agency banned betting on 10 kinds of bets plus any others that are “predetermined or 100% determinable by one person in one play”. Among the suspended bets are those on player injuries, officiating assignments and missed extra points or field goals.
Also at the meeting, the IGB approved the transfer of the wagering licence at Fairmount Park from FanDuel to Accel Entertainment. The company has plans to open a temporary racino next year. In addition, the IGB approved a new rule around preventing human trafficking. Casinos will now be required to educate employees on the subject and post signs.
Settlement coming in DraftKings’ exec lawsuit?
In a court filing on Tuesday (22 October), the lawyers for former DraftKings executive Michael Hermalyn wrote that the parties “are negotiating a potential resolution”, per Front Office Sports. Hermalyn left DraftKings for competitor Fanatics Betting & Gaming earlier this year and DraftKings filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Hermalyn stole “customer and business relationships” and had plans to use “confidential information” in his new role at Fanatics.
But after months of legal wrangling, it appears the two sides might be heading toward a settlement. Hermalyn signed a non-compete agreement with DraftKings that expires on 1 February 2025. It bans him from talking with DraftKings customers. But Front Office Sports reports that a one-day trial is scheduled in Los Angeles superior court next month. The expectation is that Hermalyn will win that lawsuit. If he does, the non-compete clause could be cut short.
Tuesday’s filing was in federal court, where judge Julia Kobick granted a stay in the pending federal case until 20 November – after the California trial.
Bovada fined in Tennessee
Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council (SWC) fined offshore sportsbook Bovada $50,000 (£38,534/€46,270) on Wednesday (23 October). Bovada, according to a SWC press release, has not responded to cease-and-desist letters. SWC investigators placed bets on Bovada three times, including as recently as last week. Tennessee law has a sliding scale of fines for violations.
“The Sports Wagering Council recommends that Tennessee users of Bovada withdraw their funds immediately,” SWC executive director Mary Beth Thomas said via press release. “Our primary role is the protection of the public interest through a safe, regulated environment and Tennessee sports bettors need to know that just because they can access a sports betting website or app inside Tennessee’s borders does not mean it is licensed to do business here.”
Bovada’s list of “restricted” US states stands at 14 after regulators across the country have sent cease-and-desist letters.
Unsurprisingly, Bovada never acknowledged or responded to the Massachusetts Attorney General Office's cease-and-desist notice.
The Attorney General's Office had no additional comments. https://t.co/1Jw83nOnQO— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) October 24, 2024
More violations in Massachusetts
During a Thursday (24 October) Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) meeting, it was revealed that BetMGM and FanDuel took wagers on LPGA events across 2023 and during the first half of 2024. LPGA betting wasn’t legal in the Bay State when the bets were accepted. BetMGM took $1,600 in bets and FanDuel took $78,000, according to staff reports. MGC commissioners are weighing whether or not to hold an adjudicatory hearing and penalise the sportsbooks.
The violations came to light when the Investigations Enforcement Bureau in May sent a letter to operators reminding them that LPGA betting wasn’t legal. The MGC didn’t approve it until 6 June.
In other news…
A federal judge in Nevada on Wednesday (23 October) dismissed Robert Cipriani’s lawsuit against Resorts World Las Vegas and former executive Scott Sibella. The suit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Sibella pleaded guilty earlier this year in another federal case. He failed to file a suspicious activity report in relation to funds from known illegal bookie Wayne Nix. He was fined $9,500 and got one year of probation.
PrizePicks announced on Thursday (24 October) that it has been approved for fantasy sports licences in Delaware and Missouri. The company will offer Arena, its peer-to-peer contest. PrizePicks launched Arena in January and it is currently available in 13 US states.
California’s Lake Elsinore Hotel and Casino was fined $900,000 by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) for anti-money laundering violations. According to a 23 October FinCEN press release, the card room committed repeated violations over four-plus years. Besides the fine, the card room will undergo AML review.
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