Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at the Northeastern University School of Law has supported Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) last week in introducing the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalized gambling.

The SAFE Bet Act is the first federal legislative initiative to address the vast public health implications of mobile sports betting since sports betting was legalized in 2018. When the SAFE Bet Act is enacted, federal standards will be set to create a safer and less addictive betting environment. While still allowing the freedom for those who wish to participate, these standards will include addressing advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence issues.

PHAI’s President and Northeastern University Distinguished Professor of Law, Richard Daynard, said: “PHAI’s mission is to serve the greater good by seeking big ideas to advance public health and justice. That is why we’re fully dedicated to playing a leading role in work to bring about a comprehensive public health response to the looming crisis presented by the out-of-control gambling industry.”

“The gambling industry is following a playbook developed by the tobacco industry and this is a direct threat to public health. At PHAI, we will work tirelessly to address this threat and protect public health. Supporting the SAFE Bet Act is part of this effort,” Daynard added.

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PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb said: “It is my desire to play an important role in national and international efforts to develop and implement a public health approach to regulating the gambling industry and online gambling. At PHAI, we utilize a wide range of resources—including litigation and advocacy—to protect public health. It has become apparent that the gambling industry and its partners act with conscious and reckless disregard for public safety. Collaborating with Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal to create the SAFE Bet Act is one part of how PHAI will bring a public health response to the gambling industry.”

“As the Director of Gambling Policy with the Public Health Advocacy Institute it is my role to develop comprehensive public health strategies and advocacy efforts to address the looming crisis being caused by the unprecedented expansion of the gambling industry and online gambling. The ‘responsible gaming’ model of industry self-regulation is unethical and an abject failure. At PHAI, we will help lead a growing movement to expose the failures of the gambling industry’s responsible gaming model. In doing so, we will develop and help implement a series of comprehensive public health reforms designed to regulate the gambling industry, prevent harm, and protect individuals and families. It is a privilege to support Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal as we work to advance the SAFE Bet Act,” said Dr. Harry Levant, PHAI Director of Gambling Policy.

“Since their inception, sports and sporting events have been a chance for family, friends, and strangers to gather together in celebration of beloved teams and athletes in a great American pastime. But now, every single moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity. That resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has in turn enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives. We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction. Our SAFE Bet Act gets the job done and gives sports back to the American people,” Congressman Tonko said.

At the press conference, Senator Blumenthal said: “Right now, states have legalized gambling, but they failed to protect citizens against those excesses, abuses, and exploitations. State regulation is faint-hearted and half-baked. That’s why we need a national standard–not to ban gambling–but simply to take back control over an industry that is out of bounds.”

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Esports betting in the United States is a yet to be fully tapped, and with more regulatory progress the total market and opportunity in esports continues to grow.

It’s why at PandaScore, we recently acquired our first license in the lucrative American market, in the esports-friendly state of Colorado. The move is a strong signal of our ambition in the US, but it also sets out our methodology for solving the uncertainty problem that US esports betting currently suffers from.

Supplier licensing should lead the way

The unknowns about what markets and lines can be offered are a key piece of the puzzle in many jurisdictions. Uncertainty around the legislation means operators are tentative to jump in with both feet. At PandaScore, we’re helping operators navigate US esports betting regulation on a state-by-state basis, so they can make business led decisions in markets with right balance of stability and opportunity.

Except for a few states, esports betting regulation is relatively  new: there’s not a great deal of precedent to work from, and its quickly evolving nature means there’s likely more work to be done in the future. We plan to be at the forefront of making sure that esports betting works for the whole ecosystem: operators, suppliers, regulators and the betting public.

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The regulatory framework across the country may be shifting at different paces, but almost all states are going in one direction: expansion.

Esports suppliers have a duty to show operators the way and give them the tools, knowledge and expertise to make the right decision. We don’t believe in going all guns blazing, but entering markets with some certainty around esports in a considered fashion.

We can be more confident that those specific markets are built for esports, with Colorado being PandaScore’s first step for several reasons.

Why Colorado

When deciding which market to enter, we consulted heavily with our customers and whittled it down to states that had the right mix of commercial opportunity, solid regulatory environment and straightforwardness in licensing.

Since regulating esports, Colorado has had a friendly framework for esports. The catalogue for regular betting includes a wide range of esports titles based on approved games and tournaments by the publisher or regulator – which follows some similarities to how traditional sports betting is structured.

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The process itself was simple and clear, with clear terms and commercials that promote investment, entrepreneurship and innovation – all key ingredients for growing new markets and ambitious organisations to build new audiences.

Colorado is the natural next step in PandaScore’s service-minded, client-first approach. There’s already a generation of bettors who are seeking out esports betting products, esports suppliers need to be the source of knowledge and expertise that helps guide and amplify the esports ambitions of their clients.

Service-minded approach, client-led growth

We bring operators into the licensing conversation from the outset, exploring the licenses most valuable to them and then leveraging our lean, efficient operating model to get it done.

We’ve proven we’re serious about the US market, and that we can get a license efficiently, so if an operator desires a specific jurisdiction, we base our decisions on the revenue potential, give them a clear, no-spin picture of the market, and put in the hard work of licensing to provide our services in the US.

Player age verification as a mandatory service

A huge part of that no-spin picture is addressing the concern and risk around player age verification in esports. Compliance is paramount for suppliers and operators alike, so knowing the requirements from state to state is essential.

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PandaScore has been offering player age verification for years and is well established on this front thanks to years of servicing jurisdictions like Australia and Sweden. We already have an API that clients use for peace of mind, and are beefing it up as a standalone service intended to support regulators and governing bodies to ensure compliance, confidence and growth.

Suppliers need to lead from the front for US esports betting to succeed. It’s not just about having the best product – they need to be an expert on relevant regulation, genuinely serve the expansion interests of clients and be a truly safe pair of hands that actively supports and serves operators, bettors and regulators alike.

Author: Oliver Niner, Head of Sales at PandaScore.

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The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is warning the public that gaming scam calls are on the rise in Arizona and nearby states. These scammers are pretending to be affiliated with ADG, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the Indian Gaming Association, among many other organizations, in an effort to steal patrons’ personal information and hard-earned money. Other notable references include, but are not limited. to: the Indian Gaming Association, the Arizona Gaming Commission, the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, the New American Dream Foundation, the Publisher’s Clearing House, etc.

Legitimate organizations such as the ADG, its partner Tribal gaming regulators, and national gaming regulatory agencies will never call a patron to alert them of a “win” or “sweepstakes.” In addition, these legitimate organizations will never call a patron to alert them of delinquent taxes or fees owed to the State of Arizona or the Internal Revenue Service (“I.R.S.”). If someone claims to work for one of these organizations and makes any demands or threats relevant to the information above, they are a scammer. Keep your money safe and secure, pass the information along to others, and report the scammer immediately.

Arizona Attorney General’s Office – Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to Scams:

Verify Information: Before taking any action, hang up the phone and independently verify the legitimacy of the caller by directly contacting the organization they claim to represent by calling those organizations’ official listed phone number(s). Never use the contact details the caller provides call whoever they claim to represent directly. Scammers can mask numbers making it appear that a legitimate company or organization is calling you.

Be Skeptical: Always be skeptical of unsolicited calls, especially those asking for immediate action involving financial transactions. A government agency will never ask you to remove money from your accounts to send via bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards.

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Only Scammers Demand Payment in Cryptocurrency: No legitimate business is going to demand you send cryptocurrency in advance-not to buy something, and not to protect your money. That’s always a scam.

Secure Your Personal Information: Never share personal information like your social security number, bank account details, or passwords over the phone with unknown callers or give anyone real-time access to your computer. Never click on a link from an unexpected text, email, or social media message, even if it seems to come from a company you know.

Consult Trusted Individuals: Always consult with a trusted family member or friend before making any substantial financial decisions, especially those involving digital currencies like bitcoin.

Report Suspicious Activity: If something feels off, it probably is. Report the call to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Business, Government, or Job Impersonator Scams:

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In a business, government, or job impersonation scam, the scammer pretends to be someone you trust to trick you into sending them money. They might claim that there’s been fraud detected on your accounts and that your money is at risk. To resolve the issue, they may instruct you to send money or cryptocurrency. They might also tell you that there’s a legal problem, that you owe money, or that your accounts or benefits have been frozen as part of an investigation. They then advise you to buy cryptocurrency to fix the problem or protect your money. These are clear warning signs of a scam.

“You’ve Won” scams are a bit different. You may get a call, letter, email, or text saying that you have won. Perhaps it’s a vacation, cruise, lottery, or sweepstakes. They cannot wait for you to get your winnings, however, they advise that there are fees, taxes, or customs duties to pay. Then, they ask for your credit card number or bank account information. In some cases, they might even ask you to pay with cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If you pay a scammer or share your information, your financial and personally identifiable information have now been breached. There is no prize. Instead, you might even receive more requests for money, and more false promises that you’ve won big.

If you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, file a consumer complaint by visiting www.azeg.gov/consumer. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.

It is important to note that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) frequently educates the public about avoiding and reporting scams, such as “You’ve Won” scams. If you spot a scam, please report it to the FTC. Go online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261. Your report can help protect other people. By reporting fraud, you assist the FTC’s investigators to identify scammers and stop them before they can steal someone’s hard-earned money.

Additionally, if you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, get help from the FTC by visiting www.identitytheft.gov or by calling (877) 438-4338.

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ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. To report suspected illegal gambling activity, visit our website, call (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.