Licensing – Page 4

May 23, 2023

MA regulator “frustrated” by DraftKings betting violations

Commissioners from state gambling regulator, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), said they were “frustrated” by DraftKings' betting violations.

DraftKings reported itself to the Commission after discovering it had offered bets on the tennis UTR pro-series, which is not an approved betting event in the state.

The MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) looked into the case. The wagering took place over a 12-day period from 10 March to 22 March.

During this time, players placed 864 bets on three events for a total handle of $7,867. DraftKings said the reason the error took place was because of a “miscommunication” between its trading and trading compliance teams.

The fault occurred after the operator copied a list of tennis offerings from a different jurisdiction without verifying if the event was approved in Massachusetts.

After discovering the issue, the DraftKings returned stakes to the players who had placed a bet, as well as removed any winnings and return..

May 19, 2023

Soft2Bet lands betting and casino licences in Greece

Software solutions provider Soft2Bet has secured betting events and casino games remote gaming licences in Greece.

Issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission’s Gaming Supervision and Control Commission (EEEP), the licences will enable Soft2Bet to roll out its online betting and casino products in the country.

The Greek licences follow recent approvals in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden, and form part of the provider’s wider growth plans in Europe.

Soft2Bet also said the approvals support its ongoing focus of operating in more regulated markets around the world.

“The issuance of our betting events and casino games remote gaming licences in Greece is a terrific step forward for us,” Soft2Bet’s group general counsel, David Yatom, said. “We view this as a springboard for further growth and are excited to pursue additional licence opportunities in the near future.

“Soft2Bet remains focused on and committed to expanding its operation and bringing our exceptional gaming experience to even fur..

May 4, 2023

New York greenlights $455m racing Belmont development

On 2 May, New York State lawmakers approved the FY2024 budget, which included funding for a $455m (£362.0m/€412.2m) loan to renovate and upgrade the Belmont Park race track.

Non-for-profit racetrack operator the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is charged with developing the project to build the new thoroughbred racing facility at Belmont Park.

The NYRA said that the “significant” construction development would have no cost to tax payers, due to being funded through loans that the operator is obliged to pay back to the state government.

Belmont Park’s existing grandstand and clubhouse are to be replaced with a new building, designed to “reflect the evolution” of racing and wagering since the site was last redeveloped in 1968.

In keeping with the declining popularity of racing in New York, the new construction is to be smaller, with the current 1.25 million square foot facility set to be replaced with a 275,000 square foot structure.

According to the NYRA, the new building is to..

March 31, 2023

Kentucky sports betting bill heads to governor’s desk

House Bill 551 – which would authorise sports wagering in the Bluegrass State – is heading to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk after clearing the Senate just hours before the deadline.

Beshear, a Democrat, has stated his intention to sign the bill, meaning that the outlook looks optimistic for legalised sports betting in Kentucky.

Lawmakers approved the legislation 26-12, with a 23-vote threshold for passage. The two-thirds majority requirement is a result of state rules regarding revenue generating laws being passed in a session not devoted to the budget.

There is a long tradition of horse racing in Kentucky

“After years of urging lawmakers to legalise sports betting, we finally did it! Today’s result shows that hard work pays off,” said Beshear on Twitter. “Kentuckians will soon be able to place their bets here and, for the first time, we are going to keep those dollars to support our roads and bridges, schools and communities.”

Read the full story on iGB North America

March 10, 2023

Massachusetts’ mobile sports betting market goes live

The six online operators approved to launch mobile sports betting offerings in Massachusetts – FanDuel, DraftKings, WynnBet, Barstool, BetMGM and Caesars – have gone live in Massachusetts.

More than six months on from when then-governor Charlie Baker signed House Bill 5164 into law, players have begun placing bets from the six online operators licensed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) – joining the now majority of US states that have legalised the activity.

The rollout follows the launch of retail sports betting towards the end of January, that permitted any land-based casino or racetrack operator to apply for a licence.

“The debut of sports betting in Massachusetts has delivered an incredible amount of excitement and activity to our retail sportsbook at MGM Springfield,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “We’re proud to expand our best-in-class wagering experience statewide during one of sports’ biggest months of action.”

Role of sports fans

President of Caesars Digit..

March 7, 2023

Duelling sports betting bills fail in Georgia

Two separate sports betting bills in Georgia have failed – in the state House and Senate.

This means that Georgia’s sports betting dream is dead until the 2024 Georgia legislative session at the earliest.

The Senate bill’s primary sponsor and Republican majority leader Bill Cowsert’s strategy was focused on amending the constitution of the state of Georgia to allow the legislature to pass laws.

The Senate effort aimed to amend Georgia’s constitution

In turn, this would have allowed for sports betting to be operated in the state.

Georgia currently prohibits the authorisation of gambling operations, with an enumerated exception for lotteries.

This bill – entitled Senate Resolution 140 – did not get the requisite two-thirds majority needed for an amendment of the state constitution, and so failed at 30-26 votes.

If the resolution had passed, sports betting would have appeared on the ballot by referendum in November 2024.

And while the amendments enabling legislation Senate Bill 17..

February 23, 2023

Massachusetts overturns affiliate ban in regulation

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has announced that it will overturn the ban on affiliates that was created in the state’s regulation.

In its open meeting today (23 February), the MCG agreed to replace the existing language in its regulation, which currently bans affiliates from the market by prohibiting cost per acquisition (CPA) and revenue share agreements.

The MGC went on to confirm that they have been working on amendments to the regulations of both licensing for sports wagering vendors as well as advertising for sports wagering advertising.

These amendments are currently still a period of consultation and will be voted on during an open meeting on 23 March 2023.

Under regulation 205 CMR 256, subsection 256.01 (3) the law currently reads: “No sports wagering operator may enter into an agreement with a third party to conduct advertising, marketing, or branding on behalf of, or to the benefit of, the licensee when compensation is dependent on, or related to, the volume ..

February 13, 2023

KeyStar Corp applies for sports betting licence in Tennessee

KeyStar Corp has officially submitted its sports wagering licence application for ZenSports in Tennessee.

KeyStar officially acquired ZenSports in October 2022, along with esports tournament specialist Ultimate Gamer.

ZenSports consists of both a traditional sportsbook and a peer-to-peer sports betting marketplace.

Read the full story on iGB North America

January 13, 2023

Jake Paul’s Betr launches real money offering in Ohio

Influencer Jake Paul’s microbetting start-up Betr will now begin accepting real-money deposits and withdrawals in Ohio, after a “soft launch” on 1 January.

In August 2022, Paul – alongside SimpleBet founder and CEO Joey Levy – launched Betr, a microbetting offering, designed at allowing players to place bets on fast-resolving markets. Paul is president of Betr, while Levy acts as CEO.

This was followed by the September launch of Betr’s mobile app, which nationwide launched on a free-to-play basis ahead of a real money offering.

The application has a reworked interface that simplifies betting UI by presenting the bet as a multiple choice question, as well as displaying odds as payout multiples.

betr allows users to place same game parlays on sports games

Betr entered Ohio through a 10-year market access agreement with Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company.

State-by-state expansion

Levy said he was “thrilled” to be launching Betr’s real-money betting business in Ohio. “Thi..

January 9, 2023

Gaming bill filed as Texas gears up for 2023 legislative session

The Texas legislature will consider a bill that would amend the state’s constitution to legalise casinos at a limited number of locations and set the stage to permit sports betting.

The proposed law – Senate Joint Resolution 17 – would devise the framework for a new body named the Texas Gaming Commission, which would supervise legalised gambling in Texas.

Casino gambling would be authorised at a “limited number of destination resorts and facilities” with the proceeds going towards tax relief and funding for education and public safety.

The amendment’s author is Houston-based state senator Carol Alvarado, a Democrat who initially pre-filed the bill on 14 November 2022.

Read full story on iGB North America

January 6, 2023

Kentucky bill for online betting, poker and fantasy introduced

A bill that would permit online sports, poker and paid fantasy competitions in Kentucky has been introduced in the State House in the current legislative session.

House Bill 106 was introduced on 5 January 2023 and sponsored by representatives Derrick Graham, Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts.

If passed, the bill would add 26 amendments to the current law and enact 13 new sections related to online sports, poker and fantasy gambling.

The bill would enable sports betting to be provided by online operators as well as allowing racing tracks to partner with online brands.

A licensed track can only partner up with one online operator, which can provide systems for gambling both on track and online.

Tracks may also offer sportsbooks at two separate locations that it owns or leases within 60 miles of the racing grounds that are not attached to the land of the track.

Sports that would be allowed to be gambled on include the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, NASCAR, MLS, NCAA, NAIA and other nation..

January 5, 2023

Missouri sports betting bill introduced

A bill that would permit sports betting in Missouri has been introduced in the state house as the current legislative session begins.

House Bill 581 was sponsored and introduced on 4 January 2023. It was sponsored by representative Phil Christofanelli.

If passed, the bill would repeal three sections of the current law and enact seventeen new ones related to sports gambling.

The bill would enable land-based casinos to offer sports betting as well as to partner with suppliers to offer sports gambling online.

Number of sports betting operators in Missouri

Each land-based casino can partner up with three online sports gambling brands , with a limit of six online partners for companies that own multiple casinos.

The proposed amendments would also allow Missouri-based sports teams to partner with a digital sports gambling provider to launch an online service. Sports teams to qualify must play in the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, WNBA or NWSL.

The state has multiple sports teams that would..

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Tag: Licensing