Compliance Updates
PHAI Files Class Action Against DraftKings in Massachusetts
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) and its Center for Public Health Litigation filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Massachusetts citizens who opened DraftKings Sportsbook accounts in response to a $1000 bonus sign-up promotion that the gambling company widely advertised. The Institute is based at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston.
The lawsuit alleges that members of the class were not aware that, in order to qualify for the sign-up bonus of $1000, new customers were required to make an initial deposit of $5000. After that, they had to gamble $25,000 on certain qualifying bets over a finite time period. If they did all of that, they would qualify to receive non-withdrawable credits to use on the platform.
Plaintiffs Shane Harris and Melissa Scanlon responded to the offer and were confused as to why they never received the $1000 sign-up bonus. The Institute’s executive director, Mark Gottlieb, said “Shane and Melissa are typical of many thousands of people in Massachusetts who were misled by the bonus offer and would not have signed up had they understood DraftKings’ unfair and deceptive requirements.”
Massachusetts is one of 38 states that has approved sports betting in the past five years since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way in the Murphy v. NCAA decision.
PHAI’s gambling policy advisor, Harry Levant, a therapist who treats patients with Gambling disorder, noted that “Gambling is a known addictive product similar to heroin, opioids, tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine.” Levant is also a doctoral student in Law and Public Policy at Northeastern who studies the public health impact of online gambling. “The time has come to bring public health reform and regulation to the gambling industry because lives are in the balance” Levant concluded.
Northeastern University Distinguished Professor of Law, Richard Daynard, who is also president of the Institute, is well-known for his pioneering work to hold tobacco companies liable for their products’ harms in court. “Online gambling is creating a public health disaster with increasingly addictive products right before our eyes,” said Daynard. “In fact,” he continued, “massive advertising using unfair and deceptive promotions to hook customers on an addictive product bears an uncanny similarity to what the cigarette companies used to get away with.”
Compliance Updates
NIGC Announces Acting Chair
The National Indian Gaming Commission announced the President’s appointment of Associate Commissioner Sharon M. Avery as Acting Chair of the Agency, effective May 15, 2024. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recently appointed Avery to a three-year term as Associate Commissioner, effective May 6, 2024. Avery will serve both as Associate Commissioner and Acting Chair until a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed Chair is in place.
As Acting Chair, Avery has the same statutory authority to lead the Agency and take official actions as a Senate-confirmed appointee.
“I am humbled the administration has entrusted me with the distinguished opportunity to serve as the NIGC Acting Chair. In this capacity, and to the best of my abilities, I will diligently execute my duties and responsibilities designated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to continue the Agency’s regulatory oversight of tribal gaming facilities without disruption, until a permanent Chair has been confirmed,” said Avery.
Avery is an enrolled member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. She has been with the NIGC for over four years where she has served as an Associate General Counsel in the NIGC Office of General Counsel. Before joining the NIGC, Avery served for more than 10 years in the legal department for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. Most recently, she served as the Tribe’s General Counsel for Tribal Operations.
Canada
Court Decision Upholds iGaming Ontario’s Model
iGaming Ontario has welcomed the decision of the Ontario Superior Court, which found that iGaming Ontario’s model is consistent with the Criminal Code and that iGaming Ontario is conducting and managing igaming in the province.
“We have always been confident in our model and are pleased that the court has ruled in our favour, and that Ontarians can continue to play with confidence in our regulated igaming market,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.
“Ontario’s model meets the requirements and contributes to the public good by protecting players, their data and their funds, while helping to fund priority public services in Ontario, and bringing well-paid, high-tech jobs and economic development to Ontario,” Otton added.
In dismissing the application brought forward by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà :ke (MCK), the Superior Court found that iGaming Ontario is the “operating mind” behind Ontario’s competitive igaming market in accordance with the conduct and manage requirements of the Criminal Code.
iGaming Ontario will continue to conduct and manage igaming as it has since the launch of the regulated market on April 4, 2022.
Compliance Updates
Supremeland Gaming Continues U.S. Expansion With Supplier License Approval In Michigan
Supremeland Gaming, Inc., the emerging brand in American iGaming, has gained approval for a Supplier License in Michigan, marking the company’s fourth U.S. state approval following the successful acquisition of interim approvals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
Supremeland Gaming is approved to operate under this license and is now authorized to offer its cutting-edge innovation to the Great Lakes State. Their continued expansion underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the iGaming industry.
Rickard Öhrn, CEO of Supremeland Gaming, said: “With approvals already in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia, our entry into Michigan underscores our dedication to serving players nationwide. We are excited about the opportunities this new market brings and look forward to delivering innovative, engaging, and responsible gaming solutions to the rapidly growing U.S. iGaming community.”
Supremeland’s game portfolio has garnered international appeal since its debut in November 2023. The innovative brand produces first-class games, including Red Panda Rising™ and its global debut, Munition Mine™, for which its subsidiary, Powderkeg Studios, is shortlisted at the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards.
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