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Compliance Updates

Betr Announces 2024 Online Sports Betting and iGaming Expansion Plans

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Betr Holdings Inc. (Betr), the Miami-based sports gaming and sports media company, announced new market access deals for online sportsbook and casino in Pennsylvania and for online sportsbook in Colorado and Kentucky.

The company has already secured market access in Indiana, has applied for a sports wagering license in Maryland, and is currently live in Ohio, Virginia, and Massachusetts with its beta product. Betr remains on track to launch V1 of its Sportsbook ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The announcement comes on the heels of a highly successful 2023 for Betr, where the company launched its real money fantasy sports product, Betr Picks, ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Betr quickly achieved significant scale via Betr Picks – both with respect to paying users and revenue – and has been able to do so efficiently and profitably as the company has quickly become a leader in real money Fantasy Sports.

Betr’s market access partnership is with the Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies, which owns and operates casino resorts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Louisiana. Pennsylvania will also be the first state where Betr will launch Betr Casino (pending regulatory approval), its regulated iGaming vertical.

“We are very excited to partner with Betr on the launch of their first online casino. Betr Casino will make a winning addition to the gaming options available to Pennsylvania players, which includes two of our own successful Live! Casino properties,” Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, said.

In Colorado, Betr has secured online sportsbook market access with Boulter Developments, pending licensing approval from the Colorado Division of Gaming. Boulter Developments has also taken an equity interest in Betr.

“Boulter Developments is excited to be partnering with Betr in the wonderful state of Colorado, pending licensing approval from the Colorado Division of Gaming. Their innovative approach to the gaming space, along with their intuitive product and rapidly growing media arm, make this a no brainer partnership for us. Further, we are thrilled to be equity partners as we firmly believe Betr is the future of sports gaming in America as they continue to make sports and betting, betr,” said Steve Boulter of Boulter Developments.

In Kentucky, Betr has secured online sportsbook market access with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who have increased their existing equity stake in Betr previously acquired through an online sportsbook market access partnership covering an upcoming launch in Indiana (pending regulatory approval).

“On behalf of our JV equity stake in Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, DBA, Sandy’s Racing & Gaming, we couldn’t be more excited to expand our KY sports betting market access strategy with Betr,” Scott Barber, CEO of EBCI Holdings, said.

“Betr’s innovative suite of products and user-friendly app are truly cutting-edge technology, coupled with their unique approach to marketing and broadcasting sports related content, creating a differentiated product offering within a rapidly growing market. We are confident our expanded relationship with Betr (Indiana market access agreement) will be a perfect fit in the great sports state of Kentucky,” Scott Barber added.

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Throughout 2024, Betr plans on pursuing a phased set of launches of its new V1 Sportsbook product in all jurisdictions it has acquired market access in to date. The company has also elected to not renew its temporary sports wagering license in Massachusetts, trading a 7 million population state for over 23 million in the net new states for collectively less economics than it would have required to renew in MA alone. By the end of 2024, Betr plans on being live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, Colorado, Kentucky with its V1 Sportsbook and to be live with its Casino product in Pennsylvania, in addition to the 20+ jurisdictions it currently operates Betr Picks.

“We are thrilled to announce our new market access partnerships for Sportsbook and the introduction of Betr Casino in 2024 ahead of our V1 Sportsbook launch. Through the success of Betr Picks, we have validated that our playbook of simpler and more intuitive user experiences built for casual fans on the product front, and original short form video built for the next generation of sports fans on social media on the distribution front, are winning strategies for rapidly and efficiently scaling a new real money gaming business in the US. The data we are seeing not only suggests that we are building a large and highly profitable real money gaming and media business, but that we are doing so by bringing new users into the category. We plan on replicating this playbook for Betr Sportsbook and Betr Casino after releasing V1 of our Sportsbook later this year. By the end of 2024, we should see a further step change in our scale, while also having successfully laid the foundations of at least four distinct business units: Betr Fantasy, Betr Sportsbook, Betr Casino, and Betr Media,” Joey Levy, Founder and CEO of Betr, said.

“The new states we have acquired market access in will offer Betr Sportsbook the opportunity to reach over 17% of the U.S. adult population by the end of this year, while Betr Picks will continue to be available to over 50% of the U.S. adult population. Finally, we want to thank the MGC for their great partnership during our temporary license period in Massachusetts and we hope to receive the honor and privilege of reentering this market at a later date,” Joey Levy added.

Compliance Updates

New Bill in California Could End Online Sweepstakes Gaming

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California State Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) has introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 831 to protect Californians from unregulated online gambling by prohibiting online sweepstakes games that use a “dual currency” model to mimic casino-style wagering.

“Sweepstakes” platforms sell virtual coins that are used to play casino-style games and can be redeemed for cash or prizes, essentially operating as unlicensed gambling businesses. By exploiting “No Purchase Necessary” disclaimers, they sidestep California’s regulatory framework and evade the state’s voter-approved proposition related to Tribal-State gaming. Many of these “sweepstakes” operators are based offshore and function without proper oversight, avoiding requirements like consumer protections, responsible gaming safeguards, background checks, and tax compliance.

“We cannot look the other way while these platforms exploit legal grey areas. These operations undermine the voter-approved framework that affirms Tribal governments’ sovereign right to conduct gaming in California. AB 831 strengthens that framework and ensures gaming in California remains fair and accountable,” said Assemblymember Avelino Valencia.

AB 831 fortifies existing sweepstakes laws and clarifies the illegality of internet-based sweepstakes that use the dual currency model. It reinforces the shared responsibility between the State, licensed operators, and Native Nations to keep gaming safe, transparent, and accountable. AB 831 is co-sponsored by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN), reflecting strong support from across Indian Country.

“For over 25 years, Tribal governments like Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, have upheld the will of California voters by operating gaming with integrity. That commitment has allowed us to reinvest in our communities, boost local economies, and support essential public services on reservations and in partnerships across the state. Illegal online gaming now threatens this foundation—compromising voter-approved law and putting Californians at risk,” said Yuhaaviatam Tribal Council of San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena.

“We support this legislation that will close dangerous loopholes and strengthen the integrity of California’s gaming system. We remain committed to defending a proven framework that protects the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and delivers real and lasting benefits to all Californians. Together, Tribal governments and the State of California will continue to address and take decisive action against illegal internet gaming in all its forms,” said Yuhaaviatam Tribal Council of San Manuel Vice Chairman Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

“Tribal government gaming contributes nearly $25 billion to California’s economy, sustains over 112,000 jobs, and funds critical community programs. Unregulated online sweepstakes threaten this voter-approved system by imitating casino gaming without oversight, accountability, or community investment. These illegal platforms erase the benefits of regulated gaming while exposing consumers to serious risks,” said CNIGA Chairman James Siva.

AB 831 is pending a hearing in the Senate.

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Compliance Updates

New Initiative from DI Council Aims to Enable Betting on Professional Sports

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New Initiative from DI Council Aims to Enable Betting on Professional Sports

 

The Division I Council introduced a proposal that, if adopted in October, would change sports betting rules to permit student-athletes and staff members to bet on professional sports and refocus the Association’s enforcement efforts on college sports betting and behaviors that directly impact game integrity. If adopted, the change will be implemented only if Divisions II and III also vote to allow betting on pro sports.

The council’s introduction of the proposal, which comes after a directive from the Division I Board of Directors in April that the council adopt changes to sports betting rules, is not an endorsement of sports betting behaviors, especially for college athletes. The NCAA’s prohibition against betting on college sports would remain in place, as would the prohibitions against sharing information about college events with bettors. The NCAA also would continue to maintain its prohibition for NCAA championships  against advertising and sponsorships associated with betting.

“NCAA rules prohibiting sports betting at all levels were written and adopted at a time when sports gambling was largely illegal nationwide,” said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the council. “As betting on sports has become more widely accepted across the country, Division I members have determined that further discussion of these sports betting rules is warranted, particularly as it relates to the potential distinctions between betting on professional versus collegiate sports. Throughout our discussions, the council has remained focused on student-athlete wellness and educating student-athletes about the risks and potentially harmful impacts of betting.”

Current NCAA rules do not allow student-athletes or institutional staff to engage in sports betting at any level (professional, college or amateur) for any sports that have NCAA championships, and NCAA members have continually maintained that any betting by a student-athlete on his or her own team or own sport in college should continue to result in a permanent loss of any remaining collegiate eligibility. However, in 2023, Division I changed the reinstatement guidelines for student-athletes who participate in sports betting on professional sports to focus on harm reduction for problematic betting behaviors.

“Deregulating professional sports betting may provide schools an additional opportunity to implement harm-reduction strategies, which can be more effective and have long-term benefits not seen with abstinence-only approaches. Harm-reduction strategies include education, stigma reduction and acknowledging actual behaviors,” said Dr. Deena Casiero, NCAA chief medical officer. “By meeting student-athletes where they are, schools may be more effective at preventing, identifying and supporting student-athletes with problematic gambling behaviors. Regardless of the change, schools are encouraged to use the many sports betting resources already available.”

The recently released Harm Reduction Considerations for Gambling & Sports Betting in Collegiate Sports references available sports betting resources, including the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices. Additionally, more than 100,000 student-athletes, coaches and administrators have been reached through the NCAA’s education efforts with EPIC Global Solutions, and the NCAA has launched an e-learning module to educate student-athletes on problem gambling harms and the integrity risks associated with sports betting.

Several sports betting-related violations by staff members at NCAA schools have been resolved through the infractions process in recent years, and the enforcement staff is working on issuing Notices of Allegations in several ongoing cases that involve allegations of betting on professional and college sports by student-athletes and/or athletics department staff members at a handful of NCAA schools.

The proposed rule change would not be retroactive. If it is adopted, it would apply only to sports betting activities that occur after the effective date of the proposal.

“The enforcement staff’s sports betting-related caseload has significantly increased in recent years, and our staff — including our new sports betting integrity unit — has been effective in detecting and pursuing violations,” said Jon Duncan, NCAA vice president of enforcement.

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The Association prioritizes competition integrity, which is vital to college sports. The NCAA uses a layered strategy to respond responsibly to the rise in sports betting across the United States by monitoring over 22,000 contests per year, advocating for limits on  prop bets that pose heightened risks, reducing the potential for student-athlete abuse by aggrieved bettors, and creating greater transparency to assist with the timely investigation and resolution of integrity-related issues.

This layered approach includes the most recent agreement extension with Genius Sports to establish unprecedented betting restrictions on high-risk proposition bets. Sportsbooks licensing NCAA championship data must cooperate fully with NCAA investigations, including providing access to account data, financial history and geolocation records. This will allow the NCAA to work with the sportsbooks to gather detailed account information when harassers are identified to prevent repeat offenders from continuing to place bets across platforms, increasing safeguards to protect student-athlete mental health and well-being.

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Compliance Updates

Honolulu Mayor Signs New Laws Targeting Illegal Game Rooms

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Last Thursday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed into law three bills — Bills 11, 12 and 13 — each of which are related to illegal gambling in the county.

The first, Bill 11, sets requirements on “electronic amusement devices” in public establishments. Operators of the establishment are now required to obtain a permit from the Honolulu Police Chief to use such a device on the premises, or else forfeit the device.

The Police Chief could deny a permit application if the proposed location of the device “would be reasonably likely to result in an increase in criminal activity, vandalism, litter, noise or traffic congestion,” according to the bill. The bill also requires anyone with a permit to allow a police officer to enter the premises and inspect the device and other records.

Meanwhile, Bill 12 allows the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting to deny permit applications for properties that have been cited for a gambling-related public nuisance within the previous two years.

And Bill 13 allows landlords to request a police escort while inspecting a private property for nuisance claims, with the accompanying officers authorized to document law violations or unsafe conditions, and to warn people not authorized to be there to leave.

In tandem, the three bills are meant to clamp down on illicit gambling rooms, which often become hotspots for associated complaints of criminal behavior.

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