Compliance Updates

NCAA Calls for Changes to Sports Betting Laws to Protect Student-Athletes

Published

7 months ago

October 10, 2023

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has called on lawmakers and regulators in the US to update existing sports betting laws and regulations to protect student-athletes and ensure the integrity of college games.

The NCAA said it will begin advocating for updated sports betting laws in state legislatures to protect student-athletes from harassment or coercion, address the negative impacts of problem gambling, and protect the integrity of NCAA competition.

In the past five years, 38 states have passed 38 different laws legalizing sports betting, and while some contain robust protection and integrity provisions, many do not.

The NCAA surveyed student-athletes, engaged with key stakeholders and reviewed laws and regulations from across the country to identify model legislative provisions that it would recommend states pass. The provisions are intended to protect student-athletes, coaches, game officials and college sports personnel from harassment and problem gambling and to bolster integrity protections.

“The NCAA is making changes to help student-athletes make smart choices when it comes to sports betting, but given the explosive growth of this new industry, we are eager to partner with lawmakers, regulators and industry leaders to protect student-athletes from harassment and threats. Some states have great policies on the books to protect student-athletes from harassment and coercion and to protect the integrity of the games, but as more states pass or amend laws, more needs to be done,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said.

With several states still considering legalizing sports betting, the NCAA plans to work with lawmakers to include the provisions in pending legislation. All the provisions the NCAA is advocating for are currently in place in at least one state but not all, creating an uneven playing field and leaving student-athletes vulnerable.

To protect student-athletes from harassment or coercive behavior, the NCAA is advocating for mandatory reporting hotlines for gambling authorities to report such behavior to law enforcement, increased penalties for bettors who harass student-athletes and mandatory education for operators to help identify harassment.

Additionally, to protect the integrity of competition, states should have regulations identifying prohibited bettors and prohibit individuals younger than 21 from wagering on sports. Any sports wagering advertisement also should include information about the harassment hotline, problem gambling and prohibitions on harassment related to sports wagering. The revenue generated from sports betting should be allocated in part toward education to support the higher-risk college student population, including student-athletes.

“We are in a time where student-athlete health and well-being is the main priority. With the legalization of sports betting, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to protecting student-athletes from the potential of negative engagement with bettors. Thirty-eight states have clearly passed 38 different laws, but one thing that needs to be consistent across all is prioritizing the student-athlete experience and preventing harmful activity that jeopardizes the integrity of sports,” said Morgyn Wynne, vice chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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Compliance Updates

Greyhound Advocates Applaud Gov. Ned Lamont for Signing Bill to Outlaw Dog Racing

Published

14 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Niji Narayan

The largest greyhound protection group in the world thanked Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont for signing a bill to outlaw greyhound racing, calling the new law a victory for everyone who cares about dogs.

“The end of dog racing in Connecticut has finally come because of the hard work of dedicated lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Greyhound advocates everywhere applaud Governor Lamont’s enthusiastic stand against this cruel industry. Connecticut now joins 42 other states that have already rejected this outdated and inhumane form of gambling,” said GREY2K USA President and General Counsel Christine A. Dorchak.

Greyhound racing is now illegal in 43 states, and only continues to exist at two tracks in West Virginia. After dog racing gradually declined for decades, Florida voters outlawed the activity in 2018 by a vote of 69% to 31%, closing twelve operational racetracks. A bill to prohibit gambling on greyhound racing nationwide was introduced in the 117th Congress and earned the support of 105 cosponsors and more than 250 humane groups, anti-gambling organizations, and local animal shelters.

All mainstream animal protection groups oppose greyhound racing due to animal welfare concerns. At the last two remaining dog tracks in West Virginia, state records indicate that 666 greyhounds were injured in 2022 including 218 dogs that suffered broken bones and five greyhounds that died. Thousands of dogs also endure lives of confinement at West Virginia tracks, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day.

Compliance Updates

PGA of America Joins AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ Campaign

Published

5 days ago

May 8, 2024

Peter Tolan

The PGA of America is partnering with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign to promote responsible sports wagering.

Announced ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship—May 16-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY—the partnership will feature co-branded responsible gaming content, educational materials and strategic activations across PGA of America’s digital and social platforms.

“As the PGA of America welcomes ESPN BET as the Official Sports Betting Sponsor of the 106th PGA Championship, it is core to our values to ensure golf fans have the right tools in their bag to bet responsibly,” said PGA of America Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Price. “Activating AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign during this year’s PGA Championship and beyond will be an integral part of our strategy as interest in golf wagering grows.”

Launched in 2019, Have A Game Plan brings legal gaming operators, sports teams, leagues, media companies and other organizations together around a common consumer education message, focusing on the core principles of responsible wagering:

Set a budget and stick to it.
Keep it social—sports betting is a form of entertainment for adults.
Know the odds.
Play with legal, regulated operators.

“We look forward to our partnership with the PGA of America amplifying Have A Game Plan’s principles with golf enthusiasts and bettors across the country,” said AGA Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney. “Together, we’re driving the message home: set a budget, stick to it, and wager responsibly.”

Other league Have A Game Plan partners include the MLB, NASCAR, NBA, PGA TOUR, NHL and WNBA. For more information about the Have A Game Plan initiative and resources on responsible gambling, visit HaveAGamePlan.org.

Compliance Updates

Spinomenal is now a registered provider in Peru

Published

6 days ago

May 7, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Spinomenal, the leading iGaming content provider, has expanded its Latin American presence by registering as a service provider in Peru. The approval from Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) allows Spinomenal to provide its casino titles to the country’s locally licensed operators.

With Peru’s recent introduction of new gaming regulations, the iGaming environment is set for an exciting transformation. Spinomenal is thrilled to be part of this dynamic evolution, offering our state-of-the-art gaming solutions to energise and enhance the gaming experience within Peru’s thriving iGaming community.

Peruvian players will now be able to enjoy Spinomenal’s popular portfolio of games and some of the gems available are Majestic King and Demi Gods V.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Lior Shvartz commented: “Latin America continues to be a key region for us and we’re proud to now be able to offer our titles within the regulated Peruvian market. Games have been hand-picked for Peruvians based on localised knowledge of player preferences gained by our experience in the market prior to the new regulation.”