Tag Archives: Legal & compliance

MA regulator “frustrated” by DraftKings betting violations

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 self-reported itself to the Commission after discovering it 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 March 10 to March 22.

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 returne..

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New York greenlights $455m racing Belmont development

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..

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German regulator classifies DFS as illegal gambling

German regulator classifies DFS as illegal gambling

German regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) has classified “certain forms” of daily fantasy sports (DFS) as illegal gambling in Germany.

The classification occurred after GGL reviewed several forms of DFS, and concluded at a hearing that they could be classified as illegal gambling.

The regulator referred to Germany’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, which iterates that gambling must only be operated with the strict permission of the GGL.

GGL said that a “well-known” DFS provider ceased to operate in Germany after the hearing occured.

Ronald Benter, GGL board member said that the decision had been made to protect German players from addiction and illegal gambling offerings.

“We find that our decisions are accepted by the providers and implemented promptly,” said Benter. “This protects consumers from illegal offers and the risk of betting and gambling addiction.”

GGL CEO Benjamin Schwanke added that keeping illegal gambling offerings at bay is a joint effort t..

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What’s covered in the Gambling Act white paper?

What’s covered in the Gambling Act white paper?

After years of delays and speculation, the most transformative review of gambling in the United Kingdom in 18 years has finally been published.

The publication of the Gambling Act review white paper signifies a landmark upheaval of how gambling will be regulated in the UK going forward, in an age of smartphones and 24/7 internet access.

To say the review has been much anticipated would be an understatement. Industry trade bodies, operator groups and industry critics alike have waited eagerly for the white paper’s publication.

It has been an eventful two years and four months since the UK government announced the review – one that has encompassed the resignations and appointments of two prime ministers, the declaration of a cost of living crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While the white paper document outlines much of what the industry expected, it contains a few unexpected additions – including the addition of a gambling ombudsman, to give customers one point of contact for..

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Police raid German sports betting operator

Police raid German sports betting operator

Police in Germany have carried out raids and arrested six people as part of an investigation into an unnamed sports betting operator.

The German sports betting raids took place yesterday (20 April) and followed two and a half years of undercover investigations related to the operator, with allegations including suspicion of forming a criminal organisation, offering illegal gambling and withholding wages in reference to undeclared work.

Raids were carried out by police from the German regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, Berlin, Saxony and Bavaria, as well as authorities in Malta and Croatia. Raids took place at premises across all these regions, although the focus of the effort was Cologne.

In a joint statement issued by the Prosecution of Organised Crimes (ZeOS NRW) and the State Criminal Police Office for North Rhine-Westphalia, investigating authorities executed over 100 search warrants and six arrest warrants during the raids.

More than 100 private apartments, betting sho..

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Kentucky governor signs sports betting bill into law

Kentucky governor signs sports betting bill into law

Kentucky’s Democrat governor, Andy Beshear, has signed into law a bill that will legalise sports betting in the Bluegrass State.

House Bill 551 will make nine racetracks eligible to offer on-site retail sports betting, while each track will also be able to partner with up to three online operators, meaning up to 27 licences may be issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC).

The bill also establishes a two-tier system to taxation, with online operators to be taxed at 14.25% of gross gambling revenue, compared to the 9.75% imposed on the retail offerings.

Read the full story on iGB North America

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Kentucky sports betting bill heads to governor’s desk

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

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Oklahoma tribal sports betting bill clears House

Oklahoma tribal sports betting bill clears House

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted through a bill that would allow tribes in the US state to add legal sports betting to their existing gaming compacts.

House Bill 1027 passed yesterday (21 March) by a vote of 66-26 and will now move forward to the Senate for a further committee progress, where it could face additional amendments.

The final version of the bill would need approval from both the House and Senate before it could be passed to the governor for final sign-off.

Read the full story on iGB North America

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Missouri House votes to approve sports betting bill

Missouri House votes to approve sports betting bill

The Missouri House of Representatives has voted to approve a bill that would legalise sports betting in the US state.

While the vote is a step forward in the authorization of sports betting in the Show-Me State, a formal roll call vote is required in the House before the bill is sent to the State Senate for final confirmation.

House Bill 556, which would allow for retail and online sports wagering in Missouri, is being co-sponsored by Republicans Dave Hinman and Adam Schwadron, as well as Democrats Keri Ingle and Ashley Bland Manlove.

The bill was introduced to the House at the start of the year and approved last night (March 20). Following a formal roll call, which is expected to take place later this week, the bill will then progress to the Senate for further discussion.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

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Norway announces new distribution of Norsk Rikstoto profits

Norway announces new distribution of Norsk Rikstoto profits

The Norwegian Ministry of Food and Agriculture have established new regulations, formalising the revenue share received by the different national equestrian organisations from Norsk Rikstoto.

Under the new rules, the profits distributed to these various bodies will be formalised, with each organisation receiving a set percentage of the proceeds. This differs from the repealed regulations in which the Ministry had far more discretion over where the profits were distributed.

Gambling on horse racing in Norway is supervised by the state-owned monopoly of Norsk Rikstoto, which collects all legal pari-mutuel bets on the vertical. The profits from this company are then shared among a variety of Norwegian equestrian organisations in order to support the sport.

Distribution of profits

The new regulations outline that the Norwegian Trotting Association, the national harness racing association, is to receive 82% of the profits. The Ministry says that the grant will be used in order to suppor..

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