The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (SACB) announced that it has recently adopted an updated sports betting policy for all licensees, officials, and employees.

Effective immediately, the policy prohibits unethical betting practices and reinforces the commitment to maintaining fairness and public trust in combative sports, including boxing, wrestling, extreme wrestling, kick boxing, and combative sports exhibitions, events, performances, and contests.

“With this action, we are safeguarding the integrity of combative sports events. By implementing these standards, we are sending a clear message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated in New Jersey’s combative sports industry,” said SACB Commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr.

The policy applies to board officials, such as inspectors, timekeepers, judges, referees, and physicians; board members, including the chairman; and board employees, such as the commissioner and deputy commissioner. Promoters, participants, and their agents are also encouraged to adopt integrity policies in line with these standards.

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Key policy provisions include those related to betting restrictions, prohibited conduct, training, and enforcement, among others:

• Officials, members, and employees are prohibited from betting on any combative sports event, both within New Jersey and globally. Legal betting on non-combative sports is allowed, provided it complies with local laws. Board employees must register with the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) before placing such bets in New Jersey.

• All forms of illegal betting, including through unauthorized platforms, are strictly prohibited.

• Prohibited conduct includes match fixing and acting on or spreading insider information.

• Board personnel are prohibited from working for sportsbooks or their affiliates.

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• Promoters and participants, along with their agents and managers, must refrain from betting on combative sports events held in New Jersey or engaging in any actions that compromise the integrity of performances.

• All stakeholders, including board officials, members, employees, promotors, participants, agents, managers and seconds, are obligated to report any violations of this policy to the SACB Commissioner immediately.

• Board personnel are required to undergo training and acknowledge this policy.

• Violations may result in disciplinary actions, including fines, license suspensions, or revocation.

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Aposta Ganha, the fastest-growing Brazilian sports betting and online gaming site, has officially been awarded its sports betting and online games license through the Betting Management System (Sigap) to operate within Brazil’s regulated market.

Aposta Ganha is one of the first betting platforms to be regulated, with registration number 0022 in the Betting Management System. Having operated in Brazil over the past six years, it is perfectly positioned to thrive in Brazil’s new regulated environment, adhering to the rules of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) under the Ministry of Finance

Responsible Gaming continues to be at the heart of Aposta Ganha’s operations, even before the implementation of the stringent measures outlined in the SPA ordinances.

Aposta Ganha will commence its regulated operations from January 1, 2025, depending only on the SPA analysis to obtain the official license from the Brazilian government.

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Hugo Baungartner, Grupo Aposta Ganha CCO, said:  “We’re incredibly proud to announce our successful completion of our federal operating license application laid out by the Ministry of Finance. The strict security criteria ensure greater consumer protection and market integrity. Our hard work has seen us join an exclusive tier of companies authorized to deliver an entertaining and 100% secure gaming experience across the nation.”

The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming’s first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities. While the first racing season at Thunder Plains Park will feature temporary structures, the essential components, including barns, racing officials’ tower, video patrol towers, and spectator areas, will be in place.

The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.

With its convenient location along I-80, the track is set to draw racing fans from neighboring states in the mountain west region, as well as local fans from Cheyenne and surrounding areas.

“As a fifth-generation Wyomingite, being able to bring this track to our state carries a lot of meaning,” said Ryan Clement, managing partner at Thunder Plains. “Thunder Plains sees an incredible opportunity to create a positive impact not only on the Wyoming horse racing industry but also the area’s economy, in terms of new job opportunities and tourism revenue.”

Through partnerships with elite industry veterans and horsemen, Thunder Plains looks forward to bringing high-quality, high-caliber racing to Laramie County.

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“We’ve established a strong partnership with 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering company,” said Clement. “They’ve set the standard for horse safety across the nation, and we’re looking forward to bringing that strong emphasis on safety and track protocols to Wyoming.”

Of the partnership with Thunder Plains, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s Senior Vice President Jeff True said he sees exciting opportunities ahead.

“1/ST has a long history of operating premier racetracks and premier racing events across the country. We are thrilled to be entering the Wyoming horse racing market together with our local Wyoming partners, and we look forward to lending our expertise to help grow Wyoming horse racing.”

For all simulcasting operations, 1/ST will leverage the expertise of its affiliates at Monarch Content Management, AmTote International, and PariMAX.

“Our racetrack will be operated with numerous horse safety and welfare protocols in place,” Clement said. “The track itself, being a mile long and eighty feet wide, dramatically improves horse and rider safety. Throughout track design and construction, we collaborated with Dennis Moore, a renowned track surface specialist, to ensure the safest, most high-quality racing surface.”

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Moore’s professional history includes designing and building world-class racetracks across the county, as well as consulting on track safety projects at racetracks across the country and around the world. Moore’s projects have included the racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Lone Star Park, Remington Park and in Dubai, among others.

Future plans at Thunder Plains Park include building a regional equestrian center and establishing a high-altitude horse training and breeding program.