Latest News
Check Before You Bet – Play Responsibly Ahead of March Madness

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the 2025 March Madness tournament begins with Selection Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. March Madness is the coined name for the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship. The penultimate (second to last) round is known as the Final Four, where only 4 teams remain.
Check out the full schedule below:
- Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16 on CBS
- First Four: March 18-19
- First round: March 20-21
- Second round: March 22-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
- NCAA championship game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
With March Madness being one of the most anticipated, watched, and wagered-on events in all of sports, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is reminding Arizona residents and visitors to remember to play smart and bet responsibly, remaining within the bounds of the law.
“Every year, March Madness continues to rank among the top sporting events to wager on nationally, as excitement and anxiety builds as fans watch to see if their team will make it to the Final Four,” said Jackie Johnson, ADG Director. “The Department wants to use this opportunity as a chance to remind and encourage Arizona residents, as well as our springtime visitors, to make sure they are enjoying the games responsibly. Protect your bet and ensure your wagers are placed legally and thoughtfully this March.”
Sports Pools – Know What Rules to Follow
In the United States, it is common to see friends, families, and colleagues participate in sports pools for March Madness. These pools are legal as long as the state’s social gambling rules are followed. According to Arizona Law (A.R.S. § 13-3301(9)), social gambling requires:
- That gambling cannot be conducted as business, which means that hosts cannot receive financial benefit, unless they are participating in the game;
- Hosts pay out all pool money to the winner(s);
- Only participants can win; and
- Players compete on equal terms with each other.
A few things to be on the lookout for that indicate illegal gambling:
- Paying a fee to participate, including “suggested” or “voluntary” donations.
- A host who keeps a percentage of the pool for administering the game.
- A required minimum purchase to participate (food or beverage, etc.).
- Unequal odds.
- Underage participants (under 21 years of age).
ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. To report suspected illegal gambling activity, visit our website at gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.
Responsible Betting – What to Keep in Mind
With sports betting legal in the state, it has become increasingly important to educate yourself on how you can bet responsibly. Listed below are some helpful tips as part of the American Gaming Association’s (AGA)
Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign:
- Set a Budget – It is crucial to keep in mind that everyone will have different budgets; never bet beyond your own means. Be cautious and make sure you set a limit – and stick to it – if you plan on wagering. More information on how to responsibly set a budget for wagering can be found on the AGA’s Have A Game Plan website: How Much Should I Wager?
- Know the Odds – There are plenty of key terms everyone should know when making a sports bet. What’s a parlay? Over/under? Moneyline? If you decide to wager, make sure you are briefed on The Basics of Sports Betting.
- Keep it Social – Whenever gambling, be mindful that all forms of gambling are for the purpose of entertainment. This is not a way to make money. By gaming with friends, family, and colleagues, you can keep playing responsibly and have fun.
- Keep Your Cool – No one’s perfect, and in sports, winning and losing are all part of the game. Whether you’re wagering from the sidelines or watching from home, remember to keep your cool. Good sportsmanship isn’t just for the players on the field; it’s for everyone.
- Play Legally – Legal operators provide important player protections that are not found in the illegal market. Whether you are placing a wager on your phone or at a physical sportsbook, make sure you are using a legal operator in the state. Visit the ADG website to view a full list of the state’s approved operators and retail locations: Approved Operators.
You can view more information on how to bet responsibly by visiting haveagameplan.org. In recognition of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (“PGAM”), the Department wants to remind Arizonans that if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Division of Problem Gambling (“DPG”) urges you to get help now by calling 1-800-NEXT STEP (1.800.639.8783), DPG’s confidential helpline, texting “NEXTSTEP” to 53342, or utilizing a chat feature on the DPG website. DPG’s helpline provides confidentiality and connects callers with a master’s level counselor who can connect them with available resources, including statewide treatment providers who specialize in problem gambling.
The helpline is available 24/7 to everyone facing a problem with gambling – individuals and affected family members, friends, or co-workers. Learn more and access resources at problemgambling.az.gov. Additionally, the ADG published a press release on March 3 recognizing PGAM.
Please view the press release by visiting our website’s Media Room, as well as DPG’s PGAM toolkit for more information.
Latest News
Brazilian Volleyball Confederation Partners with Sportradar

The Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) has announced a comprehensive, multi-year partnership with Sportradar Group, a leading global sports technology company, to strengthen the performance of its athletes, from grassroots to professional levels of the sport.
Starting this season, Sportradar will leverage computer vision to capture deep data from CBV matches and training sessions, on the beach and the court, to create detailed metrics and dynamic visualizations from every rally, point and match, providing teams and coaches with valuable insights that will contribute to the growth and success of Brazilian volleyball.
In collaboration with fellow CBV partner VolleyStation, Sportradar will implement several additional technology upgrades for the federation. These include a new Video Checking System at 22 training venues to improve officiating; a Brazilian Player Data Hub to track athlete development; and automated data collection and video production capabilities at the national team training center in Saquarema.
In addition, CBV will partner with Sportradar to safeguard more than 7400 annual CBV competitions from corruption and match-fixing through Sportradar’s industry-leading Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) and educational workshops for athletes, administrators, and referees.
“We are delighted CBV has selected Sportradar to transform sports performance for Brazilian volleyball. Through this partnership, we are equipping CBV with the deep data and insights to identify the next generation of champions, as well as ensuring the integrity of their competitions,” said Sergio Floris, Managing Director Brazil, Sportradar.
“The partnership with Sportradar yields important results, such as the implementation of the challenge system in all Superliga matches, bringing even more security and fairness to the games. In addition, the specific data of each athlete is a fundamental tool for the development of national volleyball,” said Jorge Bichara, Technical Director of CBV.
“We are pleased with our partnership with Sportradar through its portfolio of products and services to enhance CBV’s technical, operational, and commercial efficiency. This is another important step in our ongoing efforts to improve the relationship between fans and the sport. The data provided by Sportradar will enable the development of new experiences for fans and new revenue opportunities for CBV,” said Henrique Netto, CBV’s Director of Marketing and New Business.
Compliance Updates
DCP Issues Summary Suspension of High5Games License for Conducting Illegal Gaming Activity

The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division has issued a summary suspension of the license for Online Gaming Service Provider, High5Games.
High5Games is a licensed service provider that develops and provides online slot content for the legal gaming platforms in Connecticut. The Gaming Division’s investigation determined that High5Games also illegally operates an unlicensed online casino, High5Casino.
High5Casino was marketed by High5Games as a legal “licensed” casino and accepted wagers from Connecticut bettors, including individuals who had signed up for the statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion List.
There are only two legal platforms licensed to accept iCasino wagers from Connecticut consumers: FanDuel and DraftKings. They are affiliated with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino, respectively.
The DCP Gaming Division investigation determined that 1100 Connecticut customers made deposits and gambled on the unlicensed High5Casino platform. Of those, 911 customers lost a total of $937,938, and 108 were individuals who had signed up for the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List. Customers on the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List lost nearly $300,000 on the platform.
High5Games, a majority owner of High5Casino, will be charged with 1065 criminal counts of conducting illegal gaming activity. Gaming Division Criminal Investigators will seek criminal charges for all of the violations of Connecticut’s gaming laws, for which each charge is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2000.
DCP will seek restitution for eligible consumers who suffered a financial loss after being misled to believe that High5Casino was a legal form of gaming in Connecticut.
“Thank you to our Gaming Division team for their hard work to hold this licensee accountable. It is a privilege to hold this license, and we expect our credential holders to take that responsibility seriously. High5Games took advantage of their credential to mislead consumers into believing they were participating in gaming on a legal platform when, in fact, they were breaking the law. We remind consumers that there are only two licensed online casinos in Connecticut — DraftKings/Foxwoods and FanDuel/Mohegan Sun — and if you choose to participate in online gaming, you should only utilize one of the legal platforms licensed to operate in our state,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli.
“We are disappointed that a licensed gaming service provider took advantage of Connecticut consumers by operating an illegal casino platform. It is difficult to recover funds for consumers from illegal platforms. We remind consumers that gambling on licensed platforms is the only way to guarantee recovered funds in the event of an issue with a game or platform,” said DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman.
Latest News
New Study Links Sports Gambling with Alcohol-related Risks Over Time

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that sports gambling frequency and alcohol-related problems are strongly associated over time, reinforcing concerns about the potential health risks of concurrent gambling and drinking behaviors.
The study, funded by the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), analyzed data from over 4300 U.S. adults over two years. Researchers found that while alcohol-related problems slightly decreased over time, fluctuations in sports gambling frequency were closely tied to changes in alcohol-related harms. These findings suggest that individuals who engage in both activities may be at heightened risk of developing problematic drinking behaviors.
“These results emphasize the need for screening and intervention strategies targeting sports gamblers who also drink. It is quite likely that these behaviors are interacting in such a way that may increase the risks associated with both. Given the increasing accessibility of sports gambling in the U.S., understanding the health implications of these behaviors is critical,” said lead author Dr. Joshua B. Grubbs of the University of New Mexico.
The ICRG, the largest independent funder of gambling research in the US, has supported multiple studies aimed at understanding the risks associated with sports wagering. Dr. Grubbs’ latest research builds on his extensive body of work, which has resulted in 12 peer-reviewed publications examining gambling behaviors, addiction risks, and responsible gambling strategies. Supported by ICRG funding, his studies have significantly contributed to the understanding of these critical issues.
Among prior ICRG-supported findings:
• Sports bettors are at a higher risk for addiction than other gambling groups, with a strong connection to binge drinking. (JAMA Network Open, 2024)
• Impulsivity is a key predictor of high-risk gambling behaviors, underscoring the need for targeted intervention strategies. (Addictive Behaviors, 2024)
• Responsible gambling strategies must be tailored to different types of sports betting, as not all forms carry the same level of risk. (Journal of Gambling Studies, 2024)
• Marginalized communities face unique gambling challenges, requiring culturally sensitive harm-reduction strategies. (Addictive Behaviors, 2023)
“As sports gambling continues to expand, research like this is essential for understanding the broader public health implications. ICRG remains committed to funding rigorous, independent studies that contribute to evidence-based solutions for responsible gambling,” said Art Paikowsky, President of ICRG.
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