Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has backed Texas to legalise online sports betting in the state’s next legislative session. 

Christie helped pave the way for sports betting liberalisation across the US by bringing the Supreme Court case that led to the repeal of PASPA.

The case was fought and won by prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who Christie hired to argue the case for states to make their own decisions on sports betting. Olson died last week at the age of 84.

After Missouri became the 39th US state to legalise sports betting in some capacity, attention has quickly turned again to the big three states of Texas, California, and Florida.

“I think it’ll happen in Texas in the next legislative session,” said Christie, speaking to Covers.com. The next session is due to commence in Texas on January 14, 2025.

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Christie is less confident about California, however, where competing sports betting ballots failed in 2022 amid a bitter dispute and lobbying war between online operators and local tribes.

California is seen as essential to the future prospects of US sports betting operators, given its size and wealth and dramatic impact on the country’s total addressable market (TAM).

“I don’t know about California,” said Christie. “This really takes gubernatorial leadership, and Gavin Newsom has got to decide if this is one of the issues he wants to lead on.

“Without gubernatorial leadership, the legislature won’t do it because they’re pulled like taffy in too many directions by too many different interests. Without the governor pushing for it, I just don’t think it’ll happen.”

Despite another potential setback in California, Christie has backed sports betting to penetrate pretty much every state eventually.

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“I really believe sports betting is inevitable to go just about nationwide, because people in America love their sports, they just do,” he said. “I think it is in the leagues’ best interests to grow their audience. The government gets some piece of the pie out of that which they enjoy, and the public seems to be pretty happy for the most part.”

Depending on expansion, US sports betting could, in theory, reach every state. It would then become a national issue, but Christie has warned the federal government not to interfere.

“Let the states handle it,” he said. “The states are doing fine. You haven’t heard of anything awful or irreversible happening since each state has been involved and they should have the ability to decide whether they want gambling or not.

“I don’t think the federal government should have anything to do with it and I don’t think they ever should have. I don’t think they have to be babysitters for the governors of the country.”

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has recently developed and adopted an official seal of approval, which all licensed sports betting operators in the state are now required to display on their digital platforms. The introduction of this seal represents a significant step in the MGC’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible and regulated gaming within the Commonwealth.

The seal is intended to serve as a clear signal to consumers that they are accessing a sports betting platform licensed and regulated by the MGC. By prominently featuring this seal, customers can easily distinguish between legal, licensed operators and unsafe, illegal alternatives.

“The MGC has spent considerable efforts ensuring that the operators licensed in the Commonwealth share our values and are committed to consumer protections and responsible gaming. Massachusetts residents who choose to gamble on sports deserve to know their data, personal and financial information are protected, and only the legal marketplace offers those protections. By locating this seal, users will be able to easily identify a legal sportsbook from an illegal operator,” said Commissioner Eileen O’Brien.

Offshore and unlicensed sports betting sites have been accessible to patrons across the US for years. However, with the legalization of sports wagering in Massachusetts, these offshore operators may attempt to present themselves as legitimate. Yet, they are not licensed by any state jurisdiction and do not comply with the same regulations and consumer protection standards as the legal market.

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The risks of using these illegal platforms extend beyond potential data breaches or financial losses. Unlicensed operators may refuse to honor winning bets, leaving consumers with little to no recourse. Illegal gambling activities are also often tied to other serious crimes. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has issued cease-and-desist orders to several major illicit operators. It will continue to monitor and take action against such unlawful activities in coordination with the MGC. The Commission would urge anyone looking for more information on illegal platforms to visit the website of the American Gaming Association.

This newly adopted seal serves as a visual reminder of the regulations in Massachusetts’s legal sports betting market. It enhances consumer protection and builds trust with members of the public who choose to engage in sports betting. By identifying the official MGC seal, customers can have peace of mind knowing they are accessing a fully licensed platform compliant with the Commonwealth’s laws and regulations.

Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces their partnership with Alpha Innovations, a provider of data center services. Under the agreement Internet Vikings will supply Alpha Innovations with VMware licensing through its VMware White Label solution.

Alpha Innovations, known for being a leading Managed Services Provider  including cloud computing, data storage, and backup, has chosen to partner with Internet Vikings, a member of the Broadcom Premier Partnership program. This membership highlights Internet Vikings’ capabilities in supporting large-scale and highly regulated environments.

Internet Vikings will provide Alpha Innovations with the essential VMware license, an asset for their cloud offerings. This addition enhances Alpha Innovations’ capability to set up and maintain regulated and compliant cloud environments while upholding their high standards.
“The added value of our licensing solutions and support services aligns perfectly with Alpha Innovations’ needs,” said Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder at Internet Vikings.

Douglas Tate, CEO at Alpha Innovations added, “As a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP), Alpha Innovations is always looking for ways to improve our service offerings. Our partnership with Internet Vikings is a win-win for our clients. By leveraging Internet Vikings’ VMware licensing solutions, we can offer our clients more flexible, scalable, and secure cloud solutions. This will ultimately help our clients achieve their business goals more efficiently and effectively.”

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Both companies are committed to maintaining a transparent and mutually beneficial relationship, demonstrating how data centers and hosting providers can collaborate to meet the licensing needs of the industry.