An internal investigation led by a private law firm concluded that a majority of the men’s swimmers on the Fighting Irish’s varsity team participated in an illegal betting pool. Investigators determined that the team engaged in wagering amongst themselves, and commonly bet on their individual performances and meet outcomes.

In order to ensure that this behavior ends and to rebuild a culture of dignity, respect, and exemplary conduct, we have decided to suspend the men’s swimming program for at least one academic year,” said Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua.

The NCAA prohibits student-athletes from participating in sports betting, regardless of whether it’s through legal sportsbooks in regulated sports betting states or through an offshore operator. College players are additionally banned from participating in betting pools and other social betting activities like Super Bowl squares.

There was no proof that any members of the women’s or diving teams partook in the betting.

Coaches Unaware

The Notre Dame probe didn’t turn up any evidence that men’s swimming coach Chris Lindauer was aware of the team’s betting activities. The investigators reported that no one on Lindauer’s staff was also in on the game.

“The review found that the staff was not aware of gambling or the scope and extent of other troubling behaviors because team members effectively concealed such behaviors from the coaches and staff through concerted efforts,” Bevacqua said. “According to the review, when the staff became aware of certain isolated incidents of unacceptable conduct, they treated them seriously and professionally.”

Bevacqua became Notre Dame’s athletics director in June 2023. He previously served as chair of NBC Sports and the CEO of the PGA of America?

Costly Outcome

Notre Dame’s decision to ban its men’s swimming team for one year comes with detrimental costs. The Fighting Irish finished the 2023-24 season ranked 11th in the nation and was expected to compete for a national title this winter with seven incoming transfers.

With the team banned from competition for a year, NCAA rules allow players to transfer out of Notre Dame. However, any forthcoming suspension the NCAA places on individuals for participating in the betting pool would follow them to their new school.

The NCAA is reviewing Notre Dame’s men’s swimming ban and working with school officials to determine if specific player suspensions are warranted.

“The national office is aware that Notre Dame has declared several student-athletes ineligible in light of potential violations of sports betting rules,” an NCAA spokesperson told the media. “We continue to work with the school as it determines what occurred. The NCAA does not comment on specific eligibility cases due to student privacy laws, and we have no further comment at this time.”

The post Notre Dame Men’s Swimming Team Suspended for One Year Over Betting Pool appeared first on Casino.org.

In March, Neff pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges – specifically, destroying evidence, tampering with witnesses, and providing false statements to the FBI. This was in connection to a federal investigation into irregularities surrounding a Southeastern Conference game between Alabama and LSU played on April 28, 2023.

This information would have been gold dust to a gambler betting on the game, which LSU ran out winning 8-6.

Bohannon had been Alabama’s coach since 2018, earning an annual salary of $500K. It’s not known why he shared the information or whether he expected to profit from Neff’s activities.

Cat Out of the Bag

Were it not for Neff’s conspicuous ineptitude, the world may have never heard of the conspiracy. Shortly before the game began, Neff turned up at the sportsbook at Ohio’s Great American Ballpark, home to the Cincinnati Reds, and attempted to place $100K on LSU.

This aroused suspicion because there was very little betting traffic on the game. Moreover, the proposed bet was far greater than the sportsbook’s limit on NCAA games.

“Holman is out for sure … lemme know when I can tell LSU … Hurry,” Bohannon had written, according to the filings.

‘Gamed the System’

Neff placed an additional bet on the game with a competing sportsbook and shared the information with at least four other gamblers, according to federal court documents.

Bert Eugene Neff is a professional gambler,” said assistant US attorney Edward Canter in court documents. “Faced with a federal grand jury investigation, he worked to game the system.

“The defendant destroyed evidence, tampered with witnesses, and provided false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Canter added. “He did not do this once. He did it on dozens of occasions, and he did so for the greater part of a year.”

The post Bungling Gambler in Alabama Baseball Insider-Betting Scandal Sentenced appeared first on Casino.org.

Twenty-six Iowa and Iowa State athletes sued the state in April. They argue that the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) used warrantless searches and other unconstitutional techniques.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent prosecution, the athletes’ lives, collegiate careers, and future opportunities were “severely upended,” according to the lawsuit.

The athletes were found to have placed bets while under the legal age of 21 using online sportsbook accounts belonging to friends or family members, which added identity theft charges to the rap sheet.

Most pleaded guilty, paid a fine, and dealt with the consequences for their careers. Four fought the charges and were successful.

‘No Expectation of Privacy’

In their motion to dismiss, lawyers for Iowa argued that 11th Amendment immunity shielded the state from prosecution. The amendment limits the ability of individuals to sue states in a federal court if they are not citizens of that state.

Meanwhile, the athletes who gambled on other people’s accounts had “no reasonable or actual expectation of privacy in gambling accounts they didn’t own,” according to the filings.

“Here, plaintiffs’ own rules violations caused their suspensions and related injuries,” they argued. “Plaintiffs should not gain from their own illicit activity.”

Misuse of Software

DCI agents used tracking software supplied by geolocation company GeoComply to pry into the students’ betting habits on college campuses.

The software is used by online gambling operators to ensure they are only taking bets from users located within the borders of the state in which they’re licensed.

GeoComply made the software available to law enforcement agencies to detect “hotspots” – areas where a large concentration of bets was occurring – so agencies could monitor potential money laundering or other fraudulent activity.

DCI agents also violated some of the students’ Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, according to the lawsuit. These athletes were told during interviews, falsely, that they weren’t under criminal investigation and weren’t read their Miranda rights.

The post Iowa Files to Dismiss College Athlete Suit Alleging Botched Betting Prosecutions appeared first on Casino.org.

After fulfilling two four-year terms in Massachusetts, Baker was appointed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) president in December 2022 and assumed the position in March 2023. Baker was initially supportive of college sports betting, as such gambling has been credited for increased television ratings, fan engagement and interest, and subsequent revenue for the governing body of college sports.

The NCAA leader, however, has repeatedly taken issue with legal, regulated sportsbooks offering player props involving student-athletes. Such wagers deal with an individual player’s performance.

Props Scorned by NCAA Boss?

Baker believes props make players susceptible to harassment from unruly bettors and could jeopardize the integrity of the NCAA’s competitions. Speaking recently with Bryan Fischer of FOX Sports, Baker said the quick and vast expansion of legal sports gambling in the US might not have been in the best interests of college sports and student-athletes.

I wish sports betting had just stayed in Las Vegas,” Baker declared in rather surprising comments.

Before the US Supreme Court ruled in May 2018 that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 violated anticommandeering interpretations of the US Constitution, single-game sports betting was limited to Nevada. Other states like Delaware had parlay sports betting that required bettors to bet on multiple games through a single wager.

While many states have banned or amended their sports betting regulations to prohibit player props on college sports, the lines remain in several jurisdictions. It’s Baker’s most worrisome component of the ongoing expansion of the legal college sports gambling industry.

It all has to stop,” Baker declared. “So far, we’ve managed to work with four states to shut down prop betting on college sports.” Those states include Ohio, Maryland, Louisiana, and Vermont.

Player props on college athletes remain allowed in Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The prop permissions in Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey don’t allow prop bets on college athletes playing for schools based in those states.

NCAA Settlement

Last month, the NCAA and the power conferences — the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 — announced a settlement that resolved three federal antitrust cases.

Beginning in 2025, universities will be allowed to pay up to $20 million a year to college athletes. The governing body said the settlement is “a road map for college sports leaders” to “ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students.”

The post NCAA President Charlie Baker Has Change of Heart Regarding Sports Betting appeared first on Casino.org.

So wrote Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Agent Christopher Adkins in a 2023 email to two colleagues investigating underage gambling on college campuses.

Adkins was right that the case would bring attention to the DCI’s Sports Wagering Unit, but not in the way he might have hoped.

In a lawsuit filed last week in the Des Moines federal court, 26 Iowa and Iowa State athletes claim their rights were violated and reputations tarnished during the DCI investigation, which obtained evidence using warrantless searches.

DCI agents misused geolocation tech provider GeoComply’s Kibana tracking software to spy on betting habits without reasonable suspicion that a crime was taking place, per the lawsuit. This was an illegal violation of the plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights, it asserts.

Geo-Snooping

GeoComply made Kibana available to law enforcement agencies for use in detecting “hotspots” – areas where a large concentration of bets was occurring – as part of an effort to combat fraud.

When the company discovered the DCI was using it to snoop on college dorms, it kicked the agency off the platform.

“Many [plaintiffs] have had their athletic careers ended due to the State of Iowa’s unconstitutional use of GeoComply’s Kibana software. It is our hope that through the civil action, we can help these young men put their lives back on track and gain a measure of justice for the violation of their rights,” states the lawsuit.

‘So Be It’

A slew of internal DCI emails obtained by lawyers for the athletes reveal that the agency’s motive for launching the investigation was to improve the status of its Sports Wagering Unit in the eyes of “the powers that be.”

They also reveal the contempt the DCI held for the athletes and their careers.

“If they get suspended or get a scholarship taken away, so be it,” Adkins wrote on February 2, 2023.

It wasn’t until a month later that the idea the investigation might be unconstitutional was brought up.

It’s going to be a controversial issue for us to be able to articulate what leads an investigator to search specific locations for accounts based on the absence of a complaint or lead,” wrote special agent Chris Swigart in an email to special agent Troy Nelson.

“Fourth amendment issues are going to be challenged when we are arbitrarily picking locations we want to randomly locate account information from,” Swigart added.

It appears that the issue had not occurred to Nelson, who replied: “Hmmm, very interesting. Yeah, I’ll have to think through that.”

Charges Dismissed

The investigation?led to charges?against 25 athletes and student managers, largely for underage gambling. Several athletes were also charged with felony identity theft because some bet using accounts that belonged to other people, such as their mothers or girlfriends.

Most pleaded guilty,?paid a fine, and faced the consequences for their careers. But some, like Eyioma Uwazurike, who was drafted from Iowa Sate to the Denver Broncos, before being suspended indefinitely by the NFL, fought the charges.

All remaining charges were dismissed without prejudice by a state court judge on March 1, 2024.

The post Iowa College Betting Scandal: Internal Emails Shed Light on Botched DCI Probe appeared first on Casino.org.

In a civil lawsuit filed Friday in the Des Moines federal court, 26 Iowa and Iowa State athletes claim their rights were violated and reputations tarnished during an investigation by Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) that used warrantless searches.

Because of the DCI’s “illegal” investigation, the athletes’ lives, collegiate careers, and future opportunities were “severely upended,” according to the lawsuit.

Among those athletes was Eyioma Uwazurike. After playing for Iowa State from 2017 to 2021, Uwazurike was drafted by the Denver Broncos.

On March 1, 2024, a state court judge dismissed all charges against Uwazurike without prejudice.

Unconstitutional Searches

The problem was DCI agents were using geolocation tech provider GeoComply’s Kibana tracking software to pry into students’ betting habits on college campuses.

GeoComply allows online gambling operators to ensure they are only taking bets from users located within the borders of the state in which they’re licensed. The company made Kibana available to law enforcement agencies for use in detecting “hotspots” – areas where a large concentration of bets was occurring.

He did this, by his own admission, without a warrant or any evidence that underage gambling was occurring, according to his deposition at the criminal trial.

DCI Banned from Kibana

Law enforcement must establish “probable cause” – a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed before they can obtain a search warrant. Otherwise, they’re in violation of a suspect’s Fourth Amendment rights, which protects individuals against unreasonable searches.

When GeoComply discovered the DCI was misusing Kibana, the company kicked the agency off the platform.

DCI agents also violated some of the defendants’ Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, according to the lawsuit. Some who were later charged were told during interviews, falsely, that they weren’t under criminal investigation and weren’t read their Miranda rights.

‘Get Lives Back on Track’

Most athletes pleaded guilty, paid a fine, and dealt with the consequences for their careers. Uwazurike, along with fellow Cyclones football players Isaiah Lee and Jirehl Brock, and wrestler Paniro Johnson, fought the charges and were successful.

The lives of these young men have been disrupted and altered in ways still yet to be fully seen,” the athletes’ attorneys said in a statement.

“Many of them have had their athletic careers ended, due to the State of Iowa’s unconstitutional use of GeoComply’s Kibana software. It is our hope that through the civil action, we can help these young men put their lives back on track and gain a measure of justice for the violation of their rights,” he added.

The lawsuit names the State of Iowa, DCI director Paul Feddersen, DCI assistant director David Jobes, DCI special agent for sports wagering Troy Nelson, and special agent Brian Sanger, among others. It seeks unspecified monetary damages from the state.

The post Iowa College Athletes Sue for Damages Over Botched Illegal Gambling Probe appeared first on Casino.org.

The NCAA Fan Fest coincides with the men’s Final Four each April. Fan Fest is typically held in a large convention center and allows fans to play interactive games, purchase apparel, eat and drink, and meet athletes and celebrities.

The West Hall is a $1 billion facility and the newest component of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was completed in late 2020.

The older halls of the Convention Center, which is owned and operated by the LVCVA, are amid a $600 million renovation. The North, Central, and South halls are being modernized and refreshed, and a new parking lot is coming outside of Central Hall atop a Vegas Loop station.

Citywide Event

Unlike Las Vegas’ hosting of Super Bowl LVIII in February when the NFL championship game’s Fan Experience was held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which is within walking distance of Allegiant Stadium, planning officials are distancing the Final Four and Fan Fest. The reason is to alleviate the heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic that was experienced during February’s Super Bowl on the Strip’s southern end.

The goal, planning reps said, is to make the Final Four a citywide event that stems from the southern end of Strip up north to downtown’s Fremont Street.

The Final Four games will all be played inside Allegiant, the home of the NFL Las Vegas Raiders, which will be modified to host college basketball. The games will have a capacity for more than 70K fans.

Long Road to Vegas

The NCAA opposed hosting major events in Southern Nevada for decades because of the city’s widespread sports gambling. After the US Supreme Court struck down a federal law in May 2018 that limited single-game sports betting to Nevada, a landmark ruling that allowed nearly 40 states to have legal sports gambling, college sports’ governing body eased its opposition to Las Vegas.

At the forefront of player safety is the NCAA’s wish to prohibit player prop bets on individual college athletes. Most states ban oddsmakers from allowing such wagers, but Nevada continues to allow bettors to bet on lines like how many points Purdue center Zach Edey will score in a single game.

The post Las Vegas Final Four Sites Picked, Mandalay Bay Convention Center Ditched appeared first on Casino.org.

New Jersey already prohibits college player props involving athletes enrolled at universities based in the state. State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic) wants to restrict all such wagers, regardless of whether they involve a college athlete in the Garden State.

“Proposition bets have led to a rise in the harassment of student-athletes and have threatened the integrity of college sports,” Corrado said on Monday in introducing her bill.

I have heard about many individuals who have been the victim of online harassment because they didn’t perform to the expectation of a bettor. This legislation will ban player-specific prop betting in New Jersey, which will help curb that appalling behavior, and make college athletic events safer for all participants,” Corrado continued.

Corrado’s Senate Bill 3080 would prohibit “sports wagering licensees from offering player-specific proposition bets on college sports.” The bill hasn’t yet been assigned to a Senate committee for initial review.

Prop Problems

Player-specific prop bets allow bettors to gamble on an individual player’s performance. An example would be how many points Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark might score in a single game.

States are adhering to Baker and the NCAA’s calls. Regulators in Ohio, Maryland, and Louisiana this year amended their sports betting rules to exclude player-specific prop bets.

Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Wyoming are the only remaining sports betting jurisdictions where college player props are fully allowed.

Purdue center Zach Edey, whose men’s team lost the national championship on Monday night, told The Athletic that he’s threatened “all the time” by bettors. The 7’4″ center says he doesn’t let the incessant threats get to him.

People have been hating on me since my sophomore year,” Edey explained. “What do I care if Billy who put 30 bucks on the game is mad at me?”

Another one of college basketball’s most recognizable figures, University of North Carolina star Armando Bacot, said this month during the NCAA March Madness tournament that he’s faced plenty of online threats. The outgoing Tar Heels forward opined that the expansion of sports betting has gotten “a little out of hand.”

Bet Popularity?

When the Ohio Casino Control Commission announced changes to its sports betting catalog in February that removed college player props, Executive Director Matthew Schuler said such bets account for only about 1.5% of the state’s sports betting action.

The American Gaming Association says legal sportsbooks last year took $119.8 billion in bets. One and a half percent of that massive number equates to nearly $1.8 billion in wagers. ?

The post New Jersey Bill Filed to Prohibit College Player Props at Sportsbooks appeared first on Casino.org.

The women’s tourney concludes this afternoon when South Carolina and Iowa — both one seeds — give the public and newly interested lady hoops fans the game everyone wanted.

Oddsmakers and the betting public think Clark has a tall task at hand.

The Hawkeyes are 6.5-point underdogs at most books to South Carolina. The Gamecocks are heavy favorites, with the moneyline at -310. A winning $100 straight bet on the South Carolina line would net just $32 and change.

You can’t ask for anything better,” Clark said of the championship coming down to the tournament’s two highest seeds.

The women’s title game will likely break television viewership records for women’s sports. Iowa’s last two games have each set ratings records, with the Hawkeyes’ win over UConn in the Final Four pulling in an audience of 14.2 million viewers. ??

Clark Rarely an Underdog

Iowa enters the final game as an underdog for the first time in the 2024 tournament. It’s for good reason.

South Carolina has been the top team throughout the regular and postseasons. The undefeated 37-0 Gamecocks are led by 6’7″ center Kamilla Cardoso.

Iowa’s 2023-24 record is 34-4. The Hawkeyes also had a close postseason call when they narrowly defeated UConn in the Final Four 71-69 that included a controversial last-second call against the Huskies.

Clark’s storied career, which includes the most points in Division 1 men’s or women’s history at 3,921 points, culminates today. The title would be a most fitting exit.

I think that would be the cherry on top,” Clark said. “That’s something you get to share with your teammates. But at the same time, it would be for every Iowa women’s basketball player that has come before us.” ??

The over/under for Iowa-USC is 160.5 points. ?

Huskies Favored on Men’s Side

The men’s tournament wraps up tomorrow night in Phoenix when top-seeded UConn (36-3) takes on another No. 1 seed in Purdue (34-4). UConn is favored by 6.5 points and is at -275 on the moneyline. The over/under is at 145.5 points.

Oddsmakers are reporting that the bulk of the money and tickets are on UConn. The Huskies are the defending national champions and looked nearly unbeatable in the second half against Alabama last night in the Final Four.

The Purdue-UConn matchup is another title game many basketball fans wanted.

A win for Purdue would mark the Boilermakers’ first national title. A UConn victory would mark the program’s sixth national title and would make the Huskies the first back-to-back national victors since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

UConn-Purdue tips tomorrow at 9:20 pm EST.

The post South Carolina and UConn Favored in NCAA Title Games Against Iowa, Purdue appeared first on Casino.org.

Clark wouldn’t be defeated by the Tigers for a second consecutive year. She dazzled the packed crowd on Monday night to finish with 41 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds in outdueling her rival Angel Reese.

Iowa’s 94-87 victory sends the Hawkeyes to the Final Four for a second consecutive year. ?

Unprecedented Action

Oddsmakers are happy Clark remains in the NCAA tournament, as Monday night’s game against LSU shattered records.

The Iowa-LSU rematch that included two of the game’s most recognizable stars, Clark and Reese, was much anticipated. The hype bled to sports betting where oddsmakers said the game was unprecedented in terms of wagering.

FanDuel said Iowa-LSU was its biggest event ever for women’s sports.

We have seen an incredible uptick in betting on women’s sports as fans show unprecedented interest, and we look forward to seeing how fans engage during the Final Four,” Karol Corcoran, senior vice president and general manager of FanDuel Sportsbook, told CNBC.

Fanatics Sportsbook told Casino.org that the Iowa-LSU showdown garnered over two times more tickets and money than all other women’s March Madness games this year. The game also attracted more money than several marquee men’s games, including North Carolina-Alabama, Kansas-Gonzaga, and Kentucky-Oakland.

DraftKings said the Iowa-LSU battle dominated its Monday night. The women’s nightcap between the University of Connecticut and the University of Southern California also gained a flurry of action.

BetMGM also reported that Iowa vs. LSU was its most bet women’s sporting event ever.

“It was a special night for the game and for the sportsbook as we saw record handles in both pregame and live in-play action,” said Seamus Magee, BetMGM’s trading manager.

Title Might Be Short-Lived?

Iowa-LSU’s claim to being the most bet on women’s event ever might not last long.

The Hawkeyes and UConn Huskies meet in Cleveland on Friday for the NCAA Women’s Championship Final Four. Clark will go up against another major star in Paige Bueckers.

ESPN Bet has Iowa favored by 2.5 points, and the over/under at 162.5 points. The moneyline is UConn +120 and the Hawkeyes favored at -142.

Most states where sports betting is legal prohibit player props involving college athletes. So, most bettors won’t have the option to bet on how many points Clark or Bueckers might score on Friday night.

The only states that continue to permit college player props for individual games — not season-long futures — are Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Wyoming.

The post Led by Caitlin Clark, Iowa-LSU Elite Eight Showdown a Slam Dunk for Sportsbooks appeared first on Casino.org.

The abuse, Bacot says, extended to this year’s NCAA March Madness tournament. Bacot’s University of North Carolina Tar Heels, a No. 1 seed in the West Region, lost last week to No. 4 Alabama by two points.

The 24-year-old Bacot capped off his five-year career at UNC with over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

It wasn’t enough for some sports bettors.

Social Media Threats?

Bacot said after UNC’s upset loss to Alabama that he heard from many infuriated sports bettors who gambled on him claiming more rebounds than the 10 he grabbed, and UNC winning the Sweet 16 matchup.

I thought I played a pretty good game,” Bacot said after the defeat. “But I looked at my direct messages and I got over 100 messages telling me I suck and stuff like that because I did not get enough rebounds.”

UNC’s loss was put on R.J. Davis’ shoulders by college basketball analysts. Davis, who passed Michael Jordan on the UNC all-time scoring list in February and was the Tar Heels’ leading scorer this season, shot four for 20, including zero for nine from behind the arc.

Bacot says he was still the scapegoat for many angry sports bettors.

“I understand the fans being mad, but it’s annoying at times,” Bacot said. “I think [sports betting] is a little out of hand. I get the point of it. You bet a lot of money on something, and you’re one pick away, and somebody messes up.”

NCAA Action

The NCAA and its president, Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts who signed that state’s sports betting bill into law, are working to curb player threats such as the ones Bacot faced. Baker’s focus is convincing state gaming regulators where sports betting is permitted to prohibit player props involving student-athletes.

“We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes, so that’s why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement,” Baker said last month in announcing the NCAA’s latest responsible gambling campaign, “Draw the Line.”

The NCAA men’s March Madness tournament is down to the Final Four. The University of Connecticut, the defending champion, has the shortest odds of winning the national title at -195. A $100 winning bet on those odds nets $51 and change.

Purdue is at +205 and Alabama and North Carolina State are at +1600. ?

The post UNC Hoops Star Armando Bacot Says Bettors Levied Threats on Social Media appeared first on Casino.org.

Several analysts chimed in on the matter on Thursday. That was a day after shares of the online sportsbook operator and rival Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT), the parent company of FanDuel, slumped on news that NCAA President Charlie Baker said the organization wants to halt prop bets on college athletic events to bolster integrity.

Rather, he views the specter of higher taxes on online sports betting as potentially more concerning to the young industry.

Other Analysts Defend DraftKings

With New Jersey policymakers floating a plan to potentially raise taxes on iGaming and sports betting, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) saying more federal oversight of how operators target “high-value” bettors is needed, this week’s news flow for DraftKings, Flutter, and the industry at large has been negative.

However, Wall Street is still in DraftKings’ corner. JPMorgan told clients that Wednesday’s sell-off was overdone, while reiterating an “overweight” rating and $55 price target on the stock. That implies upside of 21% from Thursday’s close.

Of the 32 analysts with ratings on DraftKings, 24 grade the stock the equivalents of “strong buy” or “buy.”

A Different View

JMP Securities analyst Jordan Bender had a somewhat different take on the college prop betting ban. In a note to clients on Thursday, he pointed out that in 2023, college sports drove $1.6 billion of revenue for regulated U.S. online sportsbook operators, while accounting for about 15% of the overall handle.

He added that with prop wagers increasing in popularity, $200 million in revenue could be at risk, based on 2023 figures, if a ban is enforced.

At the end of the day, bettors will find a way to wager on events and players, and we believe the effort to ban individual player betting will likely only push players back offshore, while we estimate over 50% of wagers today are in the United States,” wrote Bender.

He did note that the mix of player prop bets on college games is lower than what’s found on professional sports.

The post DraftKings Would Feel Little Impact from College Prop Betting Ban, Say Analysts appeared first on Casino.org.

In late trading, both stocks were lower by more than 6% — slides hastened in part by NCAA President Charlie Baker floating a plan to ban prop betting on college games.

The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game — issues across the country these last several days show there is more work to be done,” Baker said in a statement.

Baker, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, appears to be alluding to the NBA’s newly launched probe into suspect betting patterns involving props on Toronto Raptors’ basketball player Jontay Porter.

Propositions, or props, are popular with sports bettors, including clients of DraftKings and Flutter’s FanDuel. That’s because the wagers provide avenues for wagering on something other than sides or totals. Prop bets are also frequently included as parts of same-game parlays, which are increasingly profit-drivers for gaming companies.

Blumenthal Letter Also Pinches DraftKings, Flutter

Shares of DraftKings and Flutter were also pinched by reports that federal regulators could seek more oversight regarding how online sportsbook operators may be targeting problem bettors.

“Instead of using this data to identify and proactively offer help, such as self-exclusion and treatment services, gambling operators have prioritized profits over people,” wrote the Senator. “I urge you to leverage the data you collect to identify problem gamblers and proactively provide these individuals with services, such as a confidential advisor, to help them access treatment.”

Blumenthal added that he wants operators to cease marketing and promotional efforts aimed at compelling “high-value” bettors “to continue spending money through exploitative bonuses, credits, and enticements.”

‘Overreaction’ in Stocks Could Be Opportunity

While shares of DraftKings and Flutter were clearly hampered by the Blumenthal letter and the NCAA news on Wednesday, some analysts believe the sell-off was hastily born. The “overreaction in the stocks” could be a buying opportunity, according to research firm Craig-Hallum.

Acknowledging that the Blumenthal letter and Baker’s plan to halt prop bets are cases of “unfortunate timing,” Jefferies believes Flutter “sits in a relatively better position to address the topics of increased tax, VIP scheme scrutiny, and a potential ban on college betting.”

The post DraftKings, Flutter Hammered by Blumenthal Letter, NCAA Prop Bet Ban Idea appeared first on Casino.org.

Titled “Draw the Line,” the initiative seeks to better educate students about participating in sports betting. The campaign debuted on social media this week during the tipoff of the March Madness tournaments.

“Draw the Line” is aimed at college students and includes a toolkit for universities and colleges that provides resources to assist those who seek help.

The American Gaming Association expects the 2024 March Madness brackets to attract over $2.7 billion in legal bets, many of which will be placed by college students. An NCAA study last year found that 67% of 18- to 22-year-olds residing on college campuses had bet on sports whether legally or illegally.

Sports betting is everywhere — especially on college campuses — so it’s critical student-athletes get the real story about how it can impact them,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker.

Baker is supportive of legal, regulated sports betting but has campaigned for stronger student-athlete protections like prohibiting oddsmakers from offering prop bets on an individual player’s performance.

“We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes, so that’s why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement. The NCAA is doing more than ever to protect the integrity of the game and arm student-athletes with the truth about sports betting,” Baker added.

Portnoy Bets Big

While he presumably has the bankroll to comfortably make such a wager, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy made a big bet on the men’s March Madness tournament. The businessman and social media personality revealed this week on X that he has $600,000 riding on the University of Connecticut to cut down the nets at State Farm Stadium in Glendale near Phoenix.

The businessman, who sold Barstool to Penn Entertainment for north of $500 million only to buy it back for just $1 after Penn encountered regulatory concerns because of Portnoy, acknowledged that the large bet should probably have a larger return.

+360 is not great odds but at the same time great odds. Yes, I am worried that everybody is picking them,” Portnoy said.

Portnoy placed the bet with DraftKings. Penn folded on its Barstool Sportsbook in favor of utilizing the ESPN brand for its sports betting business in a deal worth $1.5 billion.

Portnoy also has $25,000 on the longshot New Mexico Lobos to win it all. The bet would net $575,000 if the unlikely scenario happens.

Brackets Busted

Portnoy certainly isn’t alone in thinking the Huskies are the team to beat. ESPN’s Tournament Challenge reported that nearly 25% of the brackets have UConn going all the way.

Mathematicians say the odds of someone completing a perfect bracket are about one in 9.2 quintillion.

The post NCAA Launches Responsible Gaming Campaign During March Madness Basketball appeared first on Casino.org.

The business media and financial services conglomerate invited Wall Street titans and leaders from across the United States to pony up $20K each to participate in the charity March Madness tournament. For the $20K buy-in, participants get to fill out a men’s and women’s college basketball tournament bracket.

Bloomberg reports that this year’s “Brackets for a Cause” attracted 58 participants for a total purse of $1.16 million.

Unanimous Picks

This year’s outcome on the women’s tournament might see many participants tied, as every single entry has top-seeded South Carolina and Iowa reaching the Final Four.

The Gamecocks finished the regular season as the country’s top women’s hoops program after going a perfect 32-0. The Hawkeyes, also a March Madness No. 1 seed, have commanded equal media attention for Caitlin Clark’s historic season.

100% of brackets have both teams making a run to at least the final four,” Bloomberg reported.

Forty of the 58 entries have the Gamecocks cutting down the nets inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, where the women’s Final Four will be played April 4-7. Oddsmakers agree that South Carolina is the heavy favorite for the national championship. DraftKings has the Gamecocks at -140.

For a second year in a row, the majority of participants think the South Carolina women’s team will hoist the trophy after only having lost one game — to Iowa — in the last two seasons. Just 14% think Iowa, led by NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark, will win the title,” Bloomberg continued.

Iowa is on eight entries, Norte Dame is on three, and LSU, UConn, and Stanford are on two. USC is on just one, belonging to Apollo Global Management’s Jay Clayton.

On the men’s side, 30 of the 58 entries have the University of Connecticut winning it all for a second consecutive year. DraftKings also likes UConn, as the Huskies possess the shortest odds at +340.

UNC and Houston are picked on eight brackets each, Purdue is on four, Tennessee is on three, and Arizona is on two. Yale, Auburn, and Kentucky are each on one.

Kentucky is already finished after the Wildcats’ shocking upset to Oakland. Ares Management boss and NBA Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler had Kentucky going all the way.

2023 Results

Bain Capital’s Stephen Pagliuca, who co-owns the NBA Boston Celtics, was last year’s winner on the men’s side, and used his winnings to support the Reform Alliance.

On the women’s side, Carlyle CEO Harvey Schwartz and Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson tied for first, and Rocket Companies Chairman and NBA Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert came in third. They respectively supported the nonprofits One Mind, Catalyst, and NF Forward.

The post Odds Good Bloomberg NCAA Charity Tournament Will Have Multiple Winners appeared first on Casino.org.

Schuster’s was the final prosecution resulting from an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) probe that ensnared 25 Iowa college athletes on similar charges. It has been widely criticized for the methods used to gather evidence.

Warrantless Searches

The cases against six athletes facing more serious felony identity theft charges for gambling on their girlfriends’ or relatives’ accounts were withdrawn earlier this month by prosecutors in Story County.

Schuster, who was prosecuted in Johnson County, received the same penalty as the 18 others who pleaded guilty to underage gambling charges.

As part of his plea deal, Schuster admitted to placing a bet in August 2020, when he was 18 years old. He also placed around 2,000 bets on FanDuel from February 2021 to February 2023. These included wagers on 10 University of Iowa men’s basketball games while he was student manager, according to the original criminal complaint.

Kicked-Off Kibana

According to defense lawyers in the Story County cases, the DCI gained access to geolocation tech provider GeoComply’s Kibana tracking software.

This was part of a “purely administrative” investigation. The probe was into whether sites like DraftKings and FanDuel were ensuring that bets were being ring-fenced inside the state in compliance with state gambling law.

GeoComply cut the DCI’s access to its software in January for “exceeding the intended outlined scope of its Kibana access-and-use privileges,” according to court documents.

Liberties ‘Infringed’

Meanwhile, DCI Special Agent Mark Ludwick testified in a pretrial deposition to defense attorneys. He said he told Iowa State defensive lineman Isaiah Lee before an interview that he wouldn’t face criminal prosecution. After Lee admitted to placing bets in the ensuing interview, Ludwick said he was congratulated by his superior, Special Agent in Charge Troy Nelson, for obtaining “a confession.”

The DCI has defended its investigation, claiming it did nothing wrong. But others aren’t buying it.

“Basic liberties were infringed upon,” Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands told The Des Moines Register earlier this month. “That shouldn’t happen in this country. It shouldn’t happen in the state of Iowa.”

The post Guilty Plea Signals End to Iowa’s College Betting Probe appeared first on Casino.org.

The 2024 NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments tip off Tuesday night with the men’s First Four games. The women’s bracket gets underway on Wednesday with the First Four play-in contests.

The men’s Final Four will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

LSU, which was entangled in a scuffle near the end of their SEC title match with South Carolina, is third at +750. Texas and Stanford round out the top five at +1500.

Record Action

The American Gaming Association (AGA) expects U.S. adults to legally wager a record $2.72 billion on this year’s men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments. The anticipated record is due to heightened interest in the women’s game and more legal sports betting outlets today than ever before.

At this time last year, five fewer states allowed bettors to place legal, regulated nontribal sports bets. Since last year’s March Madness, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Nebraska, and Vermont all joined the commercial sports betting industry.

As each state goes online, we’re seeing that migration of Americans from the illegal marketplace to the legal marketplace, and that’s driving demand,” said Cait DeBaun, the AGA’s vice president of strategic communications and responsibility.

While the NFL Super Bowl is the most-bet single game each year in the U.S., March Madness is the largest betting event. Along with the estimated $2.72 billion in legal bets on the college hoops tournaments this year, the AGA believes another $15 billion will be bet through unregulated channels like bookies, offshore sportsbooks, and among friends via bracket challenges.

Clark Effect Fueling Surge

Fox Sports disclosed earlier this month that its women’s basketball coverage this year out-rated its men’s games.

The women’s games averaged 981K viewers, while men’s games attracted an average of less than 950K viewers. Fox covered a record 14 women’s games and about 40 men’s games.

Women’s hoops television ratings were up 60% year over year, Sportico reported.

ABC/ESPN, which is televising the women’s March Madness tournament, is hoping for a deep run by Iowa. The Hawkeyes begin their pursuit of their first NCAA title (they finished runner-up last year to LSU) on Saturday on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

The women’s Final Four will be played in Cleveland at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The post March Madness Expected to Generate $2.72B in Legal College Hoops Bets appeared first on Casino.org.

The early days of online sports wagering are living up to expectations in the Tar Heel State, according to GeoComply. The geolocation company conducted more than 5.3 million geolocation checks in North Carolina during the first 48 hours of legal mobile sports betting.

By comparison, Virginia’s online sports betting market recorded slightly more than 2 million geolocation checks. Virginia has been live with sports betting since January 2021.

It’s early, but North Carolina is already delivering on lawmaker expectations when they legalized sports betting last year,” said GeoComply SVP of Compliance Lindsay Slader. “The state’s well-structured approach to mobile sports betting safeguards consumers and opens up significant revenue streams. With March Madness around the corner, we are excited to see continued growth.”

The NCAA tournament is one of the most wagered-on events in the U.S.

There’s another metric showing North Carolina emerging as a competitor to neighboring Virginia’s online sports market. That’s the nearly 370K active online sports betting accounts created in the first two days, compared to Virginia’s 134K active sports betting accounts.

SportsBooks in Full Court Press

North Carolina became the 30^th state, in addition to Washington, D.C., to offer online sports betting, and sportsbooks were ready. As reported previously by Casino.org, eight sportsbook operators began registering players on March 1.

Each of the sportsbook operators paid a $1 million licensing fee.

Expect this to be the most-bet March Madness in BetMGM history,” said John Ewing, BetMGM’s PR manager.

The University of North Carolina was the most-bet team to win March Madness during the first 24 hours of online sports betting in the Tar Heel State, according to BetMGM. The first bet in North Carolina history was placed by a person who bet $100 on UNC to win the tournament.

Cooper’s office also used the occasion to release a video of the bet with a tagline that reads, “Bet Responsibly, North Carolina.”

Who’s Live in North Carolina?

North Carolina law dictates that all sportsbook operators must partner with an existing Carolina sports team, venue, and/or Native American tribe.

The state’s eight operators and their partners include:

• Bet365 with the Charlotte Hornets
• BetMGM with the Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Caesars with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
• DraftKings with NASCAR
• ESPN BET with the Quail Hollow Club (PGA Tour)
• Fanatics Betting and Gaming with the Carolina Hurricanes
• FanDuel with the Carolina Panthers and PGA Tour
• Underdog with the Sedgefield Country Club (PGA Tour)

North Carolina is taxing the operators 18%, and state officials say the money will be used to help fund everything from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, youth sports, state universities, and gambling addiction services.

The post Basketball-Crazy North Carolina Welcomes Online Sports Betting appeared first on Casino.org.

Clark, the six-foot-tall guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, is a Des Moines native. During her final regular season game on Sunday, Clark surpassed “Pistol” Pete Maravich to become the highest-scoring basketball player in NCAA Division I history.

Clark has shot more than 38% from behind the arc during her career, making 509 of her 1,332 three-point attempts. She’s shot 86% from the foul line, making 762 of 890 free throws. Her regular-season career averages concluded with more than 28 points a game on 46.5% shooting, with seven rebounds and eight assists.

Betting Benefit

Dubbed the “Caitlin Clark Effect,” women’s college basketball witnessed a surge in interest this year amid the 22-year-old’s record-setting final season at Iowa. Viewership is up and tickets for Iowa games soared into the thousands of dollars.

U.S. sportsbooks revealed this week that the media hysteria surrounding Clark resulted in a surge in bets on women’s college basketball.

“We’ve seen massive growth in betting on women’s college hoops this year,” said BetMGM Senior Trader Seamus Magee. “Caitlin Clark has been a catalyst.”

Unfortunately for sportsbooks, as the NCAA March Madness women’s college basketball readies to tip-off, player prop bets, like how many points Clark will score, are prohibited in most legal sports betting states. Player props in college sports have recently come under scrutiny for possibly jeopardizing the safety of student-athletes.

Such wagers on a college player’s performance are now allowed only in Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C. North Carolina sportsbooks are also likely to include college player props when they go live online on March 11.

Maryland and Ohio recently amended their sports betting rules to prohibit player props on college athletes. Tipico Sportsbook Head of Trading Sunny Gupta isn’t concerned about the reduced availability of those bets.

“College basketball player props represented less than 1% of the college basketball handle in 2024 when player props were allowed in Ohio. I anticipate our overall handle targets to largely be unaffected,” Gupta said.

NCAA Favorite

Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked No. 3 in the nation after finishing the regular season 26-4. South Carolina (29-0) is the unanimous AP No. 1.

Iowa’s championship odds are the second-shortest behind the Gamecocks at -115. LSU is also at +800.

The post Caitlin Clark’s Historic Season Fuels Rush of Bets on Women’s College Hoops appeared first on Casino.org.

Maryland was in the minority among the nearly 40 states that permit gambling on sports in allowing bettors to make wagers on a college athlete’s performance. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) has confirmed that it amended its sports betting rules to prohibit such wagers. The updated regulation went into effect on March 1.

“Maryland’s sportsbook operators were directed to stop taking college player prop bets,” an MLGCA spokesperson told Covers, which first reported the news.

The decision brings Maryland in line with other states that have disallowed these wagers to protect college athletes against potential harassment. The intent is to focus college sports wagers on the teams rather than on the individual athletes,” the state comment added.

Maryland is home to retail and online sports betting. Retail sportsbooks operate at five of the state’s six brick-and-mortar casinos, and at professional sports stadiums and licensed retail sports betting locations. Marylanders can also access 12 online sportsbooks.

Player Safety

The list of states allowing college player props is now down to just four — Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., also allows such wagers. Ohio was another state where college player props were allowed until the state’s gaming commission amended its rules last month.

Online sports betting in North Carolina is to commence next week on March 11. Currently, the state’s sports betting regulations don’t prohibit individual bets on college athletes.

Baker, who signed Massachusetts’ sports betting bill into law while governor, says college player props expose student-athletes to a higher threat level for online abuse. He’s fielded complaints from players, coaches, and university administrators that player props have subjected team personnel to heckling. Baker says prop bets are “one of the parts I worry about the most.”

While player props on college sports are no more in Maryland, most college props regarding teams are still allowed. Sportsbooks can also still offer college player props on season-long awards like the Heisman Trophy.

Reporting Tool

During his “State of College Sports” address in January, Baker said a focal point of the college sports organization is strengthening sports betting laws across the country to create a safer playing field. The NCAA has additionally contracted the Signify Group, a data science firm, to leverage its Threat Matrix software.

An NCAA poll of Division 1 athletics programs concluded that about 10% of student-athletes have been harassed online or in person by someone looking to gain an upper hand on a sports betting wager.

The post Maryland Sportsbooks Ditch Most College Player Props After Regulatory Change appeared first on Casino.org.

Cyclones football players Isaiah Lee, Jirehl Brock, and Eyioma Uwazurike, and wrestler Paniro Johnson were charged last year, along with 21 other Iowa college athletes, with offenses related to underage betting.

Last week, lawyers for the four defendants filed a motion to suppress evidence. They said it was obtained via warrantless searches conducted by Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

DCI ‘Misused’ GeoComply Software

Defense attorneys alleged that the DCI had used geolocation tech provider GeoComply’s Kibana tracking software to pry into students’ betting habits at an Iowa State dorm. The accusation was made in new filings submitted to the Story County District Court.

This had been done without a warrant or “any tips, complaints, or evidence that underage gambling was occurring,” the lawyers wrote.

GeoComply provides its technology to online gambling operators to “ring-fence” betting within a state’s borders to ensure they comply with local law.

Last month, the company kicked the DCI off its software for “exceeding the intended outlined scope of its Kibana access-and-use privileges,” according to court documents.

“Due to this newly discovered evidence, the State no longer believes further prosecution in this matter is in the interests of justice,” prosecutors wrote Friday.

Probable Cause

Law enforcement officers must establish “probable cause” – a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed — to obtain a search warrant. Otherwise, they could be in violation of a suspect’s Fourth Amendment rights, which protects individuals against unreasonable searches.

Defense lawyers also claimed DCI agents violated some of the defendants’ Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. That’s because the individuals were told, falsely, that they weren’t under criminal investigation during interviews and weren’t read their Miranda rights.

The coercive conduct and promises of leniency by the officers make any statements made involuntary, against free will, and contrary to Defendant’s constitutional rights,” according to defense filings.

ESPN reports that the four athletes, none of whom are currently playing for Iowa State, have been advised by their attorneys to pursue legal action against the state.

The post Iowa State Betting Scandal: Case Against College Athletes Implodes appeared first on Casino.org.

The investigation led to charges against 25 athletes and student managers. These were largely for underage gambling and identity theft, because some players bet using accounts that belonged to other people, such as their mothers or girlfriends.

Now, lawyers for some of the players want evidence gathered using GeoComply’s Kibana software to be thrown out of court. That’s because it amounted to unconstitutional “warrantless searches.”

‘Warrantless Searches’

GeoComply technology allows online gambling operators to ensure they are only taking bets from users located within the borders of the state in which they’re licensed.

Presumably, the tech company initially agreed to share its technology with law enforcement because it can help tackle online crime, such as identity fraud and money laundering, through geolocation detection.

In a previous filing, Van Plumb — who represents Iowa State defensive lineman Isaiah Lee and defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike — accused DCI agent Brian Sanger of employing AI technology to place a GeoFence around the students’ dorm. He did this without a warrant or “any tips, complaints, or evidence that underage gambling was occurring,” Plumb wrote.

Law enforcement officers must establish “probable cause” to obtain a search warrant if they want to avoid violating the Fourth Amendment, which protects Americans against unreasonable searches.

‘Rights Violated’

Lawyers for the students also accuse the DCI of violating their clients’ Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. That’s because many were told, falsely, that they were not under criminal investigation when questioned by agents. They also failed to read them their Miranda rights.

The coercive conduct and promises of leniency by the officers make any statements made involuntary, against free will, and contrary to Defendant’s constitutional rights,” the lawyers wrote.

Last month, a DCI spokesperson defended the agency’s use of GeoComply software and the evidence it gathered through using it.

“The evidence was obtained in a constitutionally permissible manner,” the spokesperson said. “Ultimately, it is up to the courts to decide. We want to reassure Iowans that the Department always strives to scrupulously uphold the laws and constitutions of the United States and the State of Iowa.”

The post GeoComply Blocked Iowa Cops Investigating College Betting appeared first on Casino.org.

On the request of Gov. Mike DeWine (R) and the NCAA, the state gaming regulator concluded that banning wagers on a college athlete’s performance will reduce incidents of students being harassed by bettors unhappy with their play.

I have determined that good cause supports the NCAA’s request to prohibit player-specific bets because this request will safeguard the integrity of sports gaming and will be in the best interests of the public,” said Matthew Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

The OCCC has given its physical and online sportsbooks just a week to remove player props from their boards. Such bets will become prohibited effective March 1.

Sportsbooks that continue to offer odds like how many points an Ohio State University basketball player will score after March 1 will face regulatory fines and penalties.

NCAA Celebrates Decision

Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA and a former Massachusetts governor who signed the state’s sports betting bill into law, says player props have caused student-athletes much distress online. College athletes have reported receiving threats on social media and have faced heckling and even physical abuse in person.

Baker thanked the OCCC for removing player props involving college athletes.

“Today’s decision by the Ohio Casino Control Commission to prohibit player-specific prop bets on collegiate competitions marks a significant step in the protection of student-athlete well-being and game integrity,” Baker said in a statement. “I thank the commission for recognizing the serious threats posed by prop bets and implementing controls to help safeguard student-athlete mental health from the risks of sports betting harassment and abuse.”

The OCCC said its regulated sportsbooks took about $104.6 million in NCAA player props last year. That represented less than 1.5% of the overall money wagered.

Ohio sportsbooks can still offer college team props, with one example being how many assists a team might make during a basketball game.

Offshore Concerns

Ohio sportsbooks opposed banning college player props. The operators claimed such a regulatory prohibition would entice bettors seeking to make those bets to offshore sportsbooks. Such online betting sites are not regulated, as they operate illegally and are not accountable for complying with Ohio law.

Schuler wasn’t convinced bettors who have made college player props would move to offshore sportsbooks as a result of the change.

The contention by the sports gaming operators that an outright ban on player-specific prop bets on the performance of college athletes will drive those bettors in that market to wager with illegal operators suffers from a faulty assumption,” the OCCC lead wrote.

“The operators are assuming that all those in the market to make these bets will go to illegal operators or bookmakers to place bets if the NCAA’s request is approved. The operators failed to provide any factual basis to support this assumption,” Schuler added.

The post Ohio Sports Betting Rules Amended To Prohibit College Player Props appeared first on Casino.org.

Player props involve bets on an individual’s performance. An example would be if a running back will run for a certain number of yards during a game.

In Massachusetts, state gaming regulations prohibit collegiate player props. The stipulation is designed to protect student-athletes and limit the likelihood of college players being threatened or harassed by bettors unhappy with their performance.

The bulk of the bets were reportedly made during the 2023 college football season. It wasn’t disclosed how much money the book kept on the illegitimate handle.

Hearing Forthcoming

The five-member MGC voiced their displeasure in learning that one of the state’s sportsbook operators was seemingly unaware of a major regulation of the commonwealth’s sports betting industry.

Prop bets on students is a statutory violation here in Massachusetts. It’s a conversation that’s starting to happen across the nation as to whether it’s appropriate,” said MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein. “Massachusetts got this right. I know I’m personally interested in resolving this matter as quickly as possible for the protection of student-athletes.”

Judd-Stein’s comments were likely a reference to NCAA President Charlie Baker, who served as the governor of Massachusetts and signed the state’s sports betting law, calling for legal sports betting states to ban player props. Baker said in November that player props are “one of the parts I worry about the most” regarding sports gambling.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) recently came out in opposition to college player prop bets. He called on his state gaming regulatory commission to amend its rules to ban such wagers. Just six states, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, and Wyoming, along with Washington, D.C., allow college player props.

BetMGM is the retail and online sportsbook co-owned by MGM Resorts International. The company runs the sportsbook at MGM Springfield and leverages that brick-and-mortar relationship to take bets via the internet in Massachusetts.

Previous Violations

This isn’t the first time BetMGM incurred a regulatory mishap in Massachusetts.

BetMGM told state gaming commissioners that an employee had accidentally labeled Harvard as being in Connecticut. Bets on the Ivy League program were allowed for about 21 hours before other staff noticed the error.

The post Massachusetts Regulators Say BetMGM Violated Player Prop Ban appeared first on Casino.org.

In late January, the NCAA submitted a request to the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) asking the state gaming regulator to amend its sports betting rules to prohibit player props involving college athletes. The nonprofit organization regulating athletics at over 1,000 colleges and universities believes college player props threaten student-athletes safety.

On Friday, DeWine issued a statement in agreement.

One year into sports gambling in Ohio, we have seen a marketplace develop where a number of bad actors have engaged in unacceptable behavior by making threats against student-athletes in Ohio and across the country,” DeWine wrote. “By amending rules to focus bets on the team and away from individual athletes, I believe we can improve the marketplace in Ohio and better protect student-athletes from unnecessary and potentially harmful threats.”

Baker, in a January 31 letter to the OCCC, which regulates casino sportsbooks and their third-party online sportsbook platforms, said “sports betting without appropriate controls poses real risks to the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of collegiate competition.” Those risks, Baker explained, are heightened by individual player props.

Regulator Fielding Comments

The OCCC acknowledged receipt of Baker and DeWine’s letters in support of amending the state’s permissible Event and Wager Catalogue. The regulator said it would accept comments from its licensed sportsbooks on the subject until February 12.

DeWine and Baker’s support deals only with college sports, not professional sports. Both men said university officials had told them about college athletes being “harassed” by bettors via social media.

During his January “State of College Sports” address, Baker highlighted the importance of student-athlete safety in the wake of expanded sports gambling. Baker announced the NCAA’s contracting of the Signify Group and the company’s Threat Matrix tool to study, detect, and respond to online abuse and threats against players, coaches, and officials.

The NCAA’s embrace of legal sports gambling is on the condition that such wagering doesn’t jeopardize the integrity of the sports it sanctions. Baker and NCAA brass believe player props leave the door open to bad actors looking to fix an outcome, or threaten, harass, or assault a player who doesn’t perform as they wish.

College Player Prop Legality

Nearly 40 states have legal sports betting, with nearly all allowing bets on college sports. Despite the NCAA’s stern opposition, many states continue to allow college player props.

Along with Ohio, permissible college player prop states include Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., sportsbooks can also facilitate college player props.

College player props are also allowed in Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, so long as the players included in the prop don’t play for colleges in those states.

The post Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Supports Ending College Player Prop Bets appeared first on Casino.org.

That means any college that wants to employ the disgraced coach must first justify to the NCAA why he deserves to be hired. He would then be suspended from baseball for the first five seasons of his employment. The order all but precludes Bohannon from coaching college baseball in the near future.

Bohannon was fired by Alabama in early May following reports of suspicious betting activity around his team’s April 28 game against LSU in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission issued an “emergency order” to its licensed sportsbooks to immediately stop taking bets on University of Alabama baseball.

Incompetent Accomplice

The NCAA confirmed Thursday that Bohannon informed Bert Neff, an obscure youth baseball coach from Mooresville, Ind., of an injury to Alabama pitcher Luke Holman that ruled him out for the game against LSU. Alabama lost the game, 8-6.

Had it not been for Neff’s conspicuous ineptitude, the world may have never heard of the conspiracy. Shortly before the game, Neff approached the sportsbook at Ohio’s Great American Ballpark, home to the Cincinnati Reds, and attempted to place $100K on LSU.

Staff were immediately suspicious because the market on the game had received very little traffic, and the proposed bet was far in excess of the sportsbook’s limit on NCAA games.

In an effort to persuade staff to accept the bet, Neff insisted that it was “for sure going to win,” adding that “if only you guys knew what I knew,” according to NCAA filings. Unable to contain himself, Neff proceeded to show sportsbook staff the messages from Bohannon about the injury to Holman.

“Holman is out for sure … lemme know when I can tell LSU … Hurry,” Bohannon had written, according to the filings.

Federal Charges for Neff

On Wednesday, Neff pleaded guilty to federal obstruction charges in connection with the incident — specifically, destroying evidence, tampering with witnesses, and providing false statements to the FBI. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250K.

According to federal court documents, Neff placed an additional bet on the game with a competing sportsbook and shared the information with at least four other gamblers.

Bohannon, who hasn’t spoken publicly about the incident, had been Alabama’s coach since 2018, earning an annual salary of $500K.

The post Ex-Alabama Baseball Coach in Betting Storm Gets De Facto Ban appeared first on Casino.org.

Launched in September, the Sports Bar & Fanatics Sportsbook at the downtown arena could lose as much as $750K by July 1, according to local news reports.

Just three months after opening, the new operations had already seen a loss of more than $280K as of December, the Hartford Business Journal reported.

Officials blame the losses in part on the fact the operation is new. Many customers visit the sites only if they attend a concert or a sporting event, officials claim.

Reliance on UConn Teams

The University of Connecticut basketball and hockey teams sometimes play in the XL Center. The UConn men’s basketball team is now highly ranked and won last year’s NCAA championship.

Michael Freimuth, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority, told Hearst Connecticut Media, “Especially on nights that the UConn men are playing, you can’t get into the sportsbook.”

In addition, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation changed its athletic wager vendor to Fanatics in December, leading to a slowdown in action as the changeover was taking place, Hearst Media reported.

“Fanatics signage and branding went up just a few weeks ago, and their presence throughout Connecticut will help recognition at the XL Center, as well as other locations,” the Connecticut Lottery Commission said in a statement. “Though current revenues are lower than initially projected, sales have increased month-over-month throughout the football season and should continue to increase as awareness and the customer base develops.”

Waiting for Renovations

Officials hope planned improvements at the XL Center will help drive attendance at the venue. The XL Center is likely to undergo as much as a $100M renovation, including the addition of luxury club seating and more general admission seats. That will be done by moving the stage and improving the loading dock.

No pro sports franchises have played at the XL Center since the NHL’s Whalers left in 1997.

On a related matter, UConn has yet to build an on-campus football stadium for its struggling football team. Home games are currently played at Rentschler Field, an off-campus facility in East Hartford, Conn.

The post Sportsbook, Sports Bar at Hartford’s XL Center Losing Money appeared first on Casino.org.

Van Plumb is the attorney for former Iowa State defensive lineman Isaiah Lee, who faces aggravated misdemeanor charges after betting against his team in a 2021 football game. The charges specifically relate to Lee’s alleged efforts to conceal his identity while placing the bets on DraftKings using his mother’s account.

Plumb also represents the Cyclones’ Eyioma Uwazurike, who allegedly used an account registered under his girlfriend’s name to place bets.

AI Geofence

Plumb accuses DCI agent Brian Sanger of employing AI technology to place a GeoFence around a University of Iowa dormitory in an attempt to gather evidence about underage gambling. He did this without a warrant or “any tips, complaints, or evidence that underage gambling was occurring,” according to the filing.

Law enforcement officers must establish “probable cause” to obtain a search warrant. This means there must be a reasonable suspicion that an identified suspect has committed a crime or that a search would turn up evidence.

Plumb notes that two of Sanger’s superior officers initially pumped the brakes on the investigation before changing their minds and allowing it to proceed.

‘Can’t Remember’

During Sanger’s deposition last week, the agent admitted he could “not remember why he decided to conduct the warrantless searches, but [said] that he was concerned about things such as people infiltrating Iowa’s sports team to gain insider information or match-fixing,” according to Plumb’s filing.

“Special Agent Sanger chose to use software that allowed him to access people’s private information without a warrant, which raises Constitutional issues involving illegal searches and seizures,” Plumb said in an e-mailed statement to WHO-TV.

The post Iowa College Athletes in Gambling Scandal Snared by ‘Warrentless Searches’ appeared first on Casino.org.

Sports betting is legal in almost 40 states. While Baker has acknowledged that the expansion of regulated sportsbooks in the US has been beneficial for collegiate sports, the former Massachusetts governor who signed the state’s sports betting bill into law says the organization must continue to implement player protections.

Sports betting is basically everywhere, especially on campuses. And the harm it can cause is real,” Baker said. “Every conversation about the team, the competition, and the health and well-being of their teammates is not just chatter anymore, but currency for some and inside information for others.”

Baker revealed the NCAA is working with the NFL to develop a program to better educate coaches and student-athletes on the challenges posed by sports betting. Baker said he’s also reaching out to his former gubernatorial colleagues to make sure states have adequate laws to protect student-athletes from harassment.

Online Abuse in Focus

The NCAA last month contracted the Signify Group to leverage the company’s Threat Matrix tool to study, detect, and respond to online abuse and threats made against players, coaches, and officials. Threat Matrix uses artificial intelligence to monitor social media channels, including X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, for abuse and threats in over 35 languages.

“Engaging Signify to monitor NCAA championships reflects our resolute commitment to college athlete safety and well-being,” Baker said last month. “This is a first-of-its-kind project in college sports focusing on online abuse and threats while arming social platforms and law enforcement to take action to protect thousands of student-athletes and all championship participants.”

Tennis’ global governing organizations announced a similar partnership with Threat Matrix in December. Since a tennis player can singlehandedly throw a match, tennis’ governing bodies say the sport is ripe with rogue bettors seeking to tempt a player to fix a game through harassment and threats made via the internet.

Sports Betting Increases Engagement

Baker said sports betting has overall been good for the NCAA and the collegiate sports it sanctions. The NCAA president beamed when presenting metrics showing how sports betting has helped increase fan engagement.

The NCAA in 2023 gained over a million new followers on its social platforms, which created four billion impressions and 263 million engagements. Those numbers are more than doubled from 2022.

Baker highlighted the exceptional growth in women’s sports, specifically women’s basketball and volleyball. The president said the NCAA’s most recent media deal with ESPN, which was over three times richer for the NCAA than the same deal it struck with the sports media conglomerate 14 years ago, will allow the organization to begin considering revenue distribution units for women’s basketball teams that participate in March Madness.

The post NCAA President Stresses Student-Athlete Safety as Sports Betting Continues to Expand appeared first on Casino.org.

Before Monday night’s College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, sportsbooks reported relatively split action on Michigan and No. 2 Washington (14-1, Pac-12). Though oddsmakers with BetMGM, DraftKings, and BetRivers reported taking more money on the Wolverines than the Huskies for the championship game, preseason futures markets rendered the night’s liability to be about equal.

FanDuel was a rare sportsbook that took more action on Washington, with 55% of the tickets and 51% of the money on the underdogs. The book kept all of that action.

Big Bets, Big Losses

BetMGM reported taking a $100K spread bet on Washington before kickoff. That six-figure wager was retained by the house after the Huskies were trampled by three touchdowns.

Sportsbooks also won a bounty of bets and money on Michigan taming Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. One of the more popular player props was Penix throwing for more than 297.5 yards. Michigan limited the star quarterback to just 255 passing yards.

BetMGM said Michigan running back Blake Corum scoring the first touchdown (+275) was its most popular player prop. Those bets also stayed with the book after Michigan running back Donovan Edwards broke for a 46-yard score run in the first quarter.

Sportsbooks also fared extremely well on the over/under, on which bettors heavily took the over. The consensus was 56.5 points. The 34-13 outcome easily stayed under. BetMGM said 60% of the bets and 69% of the money was on the over.

Harbaugh’s Swan Song?

There’s rampant speculation that Jim Harbaugh has coached his final game with the Michigan Wolverines. A scandal-ridden season that included Harbaugh being subjected to a three-game suspension for the program’s alleged spying on rival teams to steal their signs is expected to be the storied coach’s last in the NCAA.

Harbaugh was asked about his future in the immediate aftermath of returning Michigan to the throne of college football.

I just want to enjoy this,” Harbaugh said. “I hope you can give me that. Can a guy have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future? Like I said the other day, yeah, I hope to have a future. I hope there’s a tomorrow, a day after tomorrow, a next week, a next month, a next year.”

As for whether Michigan’s title should have an asterisk because of the cheating allegations, Harbaugh said, “These guys are innocent.”

The post Michigan Wolverines National Championship a Split Decision for Sportsbooks appeared first on Casino.org.

BetMGM told Casino.org Monday morning, hours ahead of the 7:30 p.m. EST kickoff, that Michigan is commanding both its tickets and handle.

The Wolverines, the sportsbook relayed, are responsible for 53% of the bets placed on the title game and 56% of the overall money wagered. Michigan is spotting Washington 4.5 points on the spread.

Michigan beat Alabama in their CFP semifinal matchup in a 27-20 overtime Rose Bowl thriller that covered the spread for Wolverines backers. Washington outlasted Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl. The Huskies were 4.5-point underdogs against the Longhorns.

Before the 2023-24 college football season kicked off, Michigan was 10/1 (+1000) to win the title and Washington was at 30/1 (+3000).

Notable Bets

BetMGM says its largest bet on Monday night’s college football championship game is $100K on Washington being spotted 4.5 points. The sportsbook also has an outstanding $4,000 futures bet placed on the Huskies in September on +2000 odds that would net $80K with a Washington win.

Bettors are anticipating a big night for Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. BetMGM says one of its most popular player props tonight is Penix throwing for more than 297.5 yards (-115).

There’s also much anticipation for Michigan running back Blake Corum to score the first touchdown of the game (+275) and to score a TD at some point during the game (-350). The Corum lines are BetMGM’s two most popular props.

Legal Sports Betting States

For the first time in college football history, the NCAA title game will include two schools from states where sports betting is legal in some form.

Michigan is home to both in-person and online sports betting, while sportsbooks are permitted in Washington at the state’s tribal casinos. Bettors in Washington must physically visit a tribal sportsbook to place a legal sports wager on the Wolverines-Huskies showdown.

Nationwide, there are 37 states plus Washington, DC that offer legal sports betting. Twenty-eight of those states and DC permit sports betting online, so long as bettors are physically located within the state.

Though Michigan and Washington fans will be able to place a legal sports bet in the schools’ home states, that isn’t the case at the national championship venue in Houston, as Texas continues to prohibit legal sports betting. NRG Stadium, home of the NFL Houston Texans, plays host to the biggest college football game of the year.

The post Michigan Favored for CFP National Championship, but Big Bets on Washington appeared first on Casino.org.

Oddsmakers told Casino.org before the CFP semifinals that the winner of the Michigan-Alabama showdown in the Rose Bowl would presumably be the favorite in the title game.

The Wolverines and coach Jim Harbaugh managed to outduel legendary coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide in a 27-20 overtime thriller. Harbaugh had big praise for his quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, after he led the Wolverines to fourth quarter and game-winning drives in OT.

This is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan college football history. He’s got a long way to go to get to where Tom Brady eventually got to, who is the GOAT, but in a college career, there’s been nobody at Michigan better than J.J.,” Harbaugh declared.

Washington might have an even better QB. Michael Penix Jr. dazzled in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 430 yards on 29/38 passing and two touchdowns in what’s being labeled as one of the more dominating performances in CFP history. He also ran for 31 yards.

The Huskies’ defense managed to fend off an improbable last-minute comeback to win, 37-31, over No. 3 Texas (12-2, Big 12).

“I got the best playmakers on the outside. So, they make it easy,” Penix said humbly.

Michigan Early Favorite

Michigan and Washington will battle for the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy next Monday, January 8.

ESPN Bet, Penn Entertainment’s rebranded sportsbook through a $1.5 billion partnership with ESPN, installed the Wolverines as a 5-point favorite. DraftKings and BetMGM opened Michigan spotting Washington 4.5 points, while others had it even shorter at 3.5 points.

BetMGM says almost 70% of the money it’s taken on the title bout since the game was determined late Monday night has been on Michigan. About 60% of the tickets are on the underdog Huskies.

The over/under for the big game opened at 55.5 points. Almost 80% of the early bets and 94% of the money have been on the over.

Oddsmakers Fare Well

The CFP Semifinals on New Year’s Day were largely success stories for oddsmakers.

BetMGM also said a $205,500 preseason futures bet on an Alabama championship was officially retained by the house.

Washington’s victory wasn’t quite as profitable, as BetMGM reported that 59% of the handle was on the Huskies. The blueblood Texas program was an early favorite of the public. But late money from sharps came in on the Huskies to tilt where the books were rooting.

Monday’s contest will feature the Big Ten vs. the Pac-12. But come next season, Washington will become part of the Big Ten.

The post Michigan Opens as 5-Point Favorite vs. Washington in College Championship appeared first on Casino.org.

From Sept. 1 through Dec. 26, sports betting advertising spending on television jumped 10% to $237.8 million, according to estimates from EDO Ad EnGage. The research firm did not note whether the increase in TV ad spending by sportsbook firms was attributable to new entrants, such as ESPN Bet and Fanatics, more expenditures by incumbents, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, or a combination of the two.

Sports gambling impressions were up 52% to a total of 20.7 billion — up from 13.6 billion a year ago, primarily due to airings more than doubling (to 59,81) versus 26,950 airings the year before,” reports Wayne Friedman for MediaPost.

The rise in TV ad spending by gaming companies during the Sept. 1 through Dec. 26 makes sense, because football is the most wagered-on sport in the U.S., and several operators are looking to promote newer offerings, such as in-game wagers and same-game parlays (SGPs).

Sportsbook Operators Ad Spend Changing

While linear TV broadcasts of sporting events and dedicated sports networks such as ESPN make for predictable avenues for sports betting advertising, that landscape is shifting.

Sportsbook operators are also increasingly doling out for ads on non-sports networks, extending a theme that took shape in earnest earlier this year.

“Sports gambling TV ads have also seen a significant surge on non-sports TV networks, including TBS (3,270 airings); FXX (3,010); truTV (3,130); Discovery Life Channel (2,160); and American Heroes Channel (4,960), to name a few,” noted Friedman.

Other Winners, Losers in Sportsbook Ad Spending

For the Sept. 1 through Dec. 26 period, sportsbook operators spent less on ESPN than they did in the year-earlier period. But that could be attributable to ABC also broadcasting Monday Night Football, as well as some widely viewed college football games. Walt Disney Co. owns both networks.

Fox and NBC, which broadcasts Sunday Night Football, also saw reduced ad spending by sportsbook companies over the past four months. On the other hand, CBS, perhaps with some help from SEC football, proved sturdy on that front.

“For this year, CBS appears to be a steady?TV network?in the category, with its Sunday NFL afternoon programming at $31.9 million — coming in at second place in the category to Prime Video. CBS?is?virtually unchanged from $31.5 million a year ago,” concluded Friedman.

The post Sportsbook Operators Boosted Ad Spending During Football Season appeared first on Casino.org.

Just hours before kickoff in Albuquerque, “a large US sportsbook” contacted independent integrity monitoring firm US Integrity to report its concerns. These included the unusually large amount of money wagered on the game by numerous new accounts that had apparently been opened solely for that purpose – typically a red flag.

UNLV opened as a 10.5-point favorite. But by kickoff six days later, had jumped to a 16.5-point favorite. The Rebels easily covered the spread, thrashing the Lobos, 56-14.

Something Fishy

New Mexico fired head coach Danny Gonzales on November 26 after four seasons with the team. That decision had nothing to do with the investigation, and everything to do with the teams’ recent performance record, New Mexico athletic director Eddie Nu?ez told Action Network. Nu?ez admitted he was notified about the suspicious bets on or around November 11.

The whole staff was adamant they didn’t see anything (suspicious),” Nu?ez said. “They were all pissed off we lost so bad … We looked around and looked into it, and there was nothing different (than any other game), except getting our ass kicked.”

“The University of New Mexico is aware of an ongoing review by US Integrity of our Nov. 4, 2023 football game against UNLV,” Nu?ez said Wednesday in a more formal statement. “We are cooperating fully with the Mountain West conference. To date, there is no indication of any misconduct, and we look forward to the conclusion of the review.”

Similarly, UNLV head coach Barry Odom told Action Network he saw nothing in any player’s performance that suggested there was anything fishy going on.

College Betting Scandals

Several recent scandals have brought collegiate games, and the betting markets on them, into hard focus. These have included charges against four football players from Iowa State and three from the University of Iowa for betting on their own games.

Meanwhile, in May, the University of Alabama fired its head baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, allegedly for leaking inside information to a gambler about an injury to his star pitcher.

Many states that have legalized sports betting don’t permit wagering on NCAA games because of concerns that young, poorly paid athletes could be vulnerable to corruption.

The NCAA prohibits athletes, coaches, and staff from participating in sports wagering activities, and from “providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.”

The post New Mexico vs. UNLV Game Probed After Suspicious Betting Patterns appeared first on Casino.org.

This week, the Ohio Casino Control Commission sent letters to former coach Brad Bohannon and Indiana businessman Bert Neff II. The notes informed them that they are going to be placed on the Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List.

The commission’s letters recount allegations that Bohannon gave Neff nonpublic information about an Alabama baseball game and that Neff attempted to place bets based on that information.

“Your presence in a sports gaming facility or participation in the play of sports gaming poses a threat to the interests of the state,” OCCC Executive Director Matthew T. Schuler wrote in separate letters to the two men, dated November 14.

The letters cite an April 28, 2023, incident involving the University of Alabama baseball team. Bohannon, then the team’s head coach, “shared information not available to the general public … for the purpose of participating in sports gaming.”

‘A Threat to the Interests of the State’

Bohannon allegedly told Neff that Alabama’s star pitcher, Luke Holman, wouldn’t start that day’s game against Louisiana State University, according to earlier press reports.

Neff, a youth baseball coach from Mooresville, Ind., was allegedly texting with Bohannon via the messaging app Signal while he was standing at the sportsbook window in April. His son is a pitcher at the University of Cincinnati but wasn’t believed to be involved in the alleged scheme, according to press reports. Two other members of the UC baseball staff were fired in May, allegedly for being aware of it.

Appeal Possible

The Ohio ban isn’t yet in effect, and the two men will have an opportunity to appeal the decision and plead their case before the commission if they wish. An appeal must be filed within 30 days.

The Commission has initiated the process of adding Brad Bohannon and Bert Neff, Jr. to Ohio’s Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List, as their presence and/or participation in sports gaming poses a threat to the interests of the state and the effective regulation of sports gaming,” Schuler said in a statement this week. “Bohannon and Neff are entitled to due process, including a hearing if they choose, and any final action pertaining to the Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List will occur at a public Commission Meeting.”

The commission halted betting on Alabama baseball in the immediate wake of the scandal. But that order expired Wednesday, ESPN reported.

Bohannon was fired from the University of Alabama in May of this year.

The post Ohio to Ban Former Alabama Baseball Coach From Sportsbooks appeared first on Casino.org.

Baker served two terms as governor of Massachusetts where he signed the state’s sports betting bill into law before joining the NCAA effective March 1 of this year. Baker has embraced legal sports betting in college sports unlike his predecessor, Mark Emmert, who retained his anti-sports betting position after the Supreme Court in May 2018 struck down a federal law that allowed states to dictate their own laws on such gambling.

Though Baker understands how regulated sports betting has strengthened the financial position of the NCAA and generated new revenue for athletics departments, college sports’ top regulator is worried about player proposition bets. In a player prop, the bettor stakes a wager on an individual outcome like, “Will Player A miss his first two free throws?”

What I’d really appreciate is if you could just miss your first couple of free throws this week — it won’t affect the outcome of the game, but it would really help me,” Baker explained of a hypothetical discussion between a player and a person trying to influence a game.

“Prop betting … is one of the parts I worry about the most,” Baker added in his interview with CBS News.

Not every legal sports betting state permits oddsmakers to offer college player props. In fact, most do not. At least some college player props are allowed in Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, DC, and Wyoming.

Reforms Focused on Safeguarding Players

Baker says the NCAA is working closely with sportsbooks and state legislators on possible sports betting reforms across the nation. His focus is on ensuring that student-athletes aren’t being targeted by rogue outside interests seeking to fix or throw a game.

Baker says monitoring prop bets for fraud is also more difficult than over/under and moneyline bets because even a small prop wager can sometimes return a big payout. And with the college basketball season underway, and more than 5,800 Division 1 men’s basketball games being played, closely monitoring player props is a herculean task.

Banned Persons List

Baker is encouraging state lawmakers and gaming regulators overseeing legal sportsbooks to consider implementing a “prohibited bettors list.” The catalog would include people who have a history of harassing players or team officials.

But perhaps more damning to the public’s perception of college sports integrity hangs with how the current scandal surrounding the Michigan Wolverines football program plays out.

Michigan responded by telling Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti that he lacks the authority to penalize Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh under the sportsmanship policy and cautioned the conference in its review of the allegations.

“The conference should act cautiously when setting precedent given the reality that in-person scouting, collusion among opponents, and other questionable practices may well be far more prevalent than believed,” the letter read, as reported by the Associated Press.

The post NCAA President Charlie Baker Calls for Sports Betting Reforms appeared first on Casino.org.

The NCAA’s policy recommendations come as universities and leagues grapple with the growth of sports betting and the varying patchwork of rules in the more than three dozen states where it is now legal.

NCAA President Charlie Baker joined the organization this year after serving two terms as the governor of Massachusetts, and he has first-hand experience with establishing a sports betting program. As governor, Baker signed the Massachusetts law authorizing sports betting and appointed the program’s regulators. He has portrayed sports betting as a major opportunity for the NCAA since beginning in his new role.

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,” Baker said in a news release this week.

“Some states have great policies on the books to protect student-athletes from harassment and coercion and to protect the integrity of the games,” he added, “but as more states pass or amend laws, more needs to be done.”

Student-Athletes Targets of Harassment?

College athletes are frequently the target of harassment from gamblers. According to the NCAA, 72% of universities are dealing with gambling issues, and a comparable share of athletes are the targets of harassment from frustrated bettors.

As such, Baker is calling on gaming regulators to develop new systems to monitor for harassment or coercive behavior, and to refer such cases to law enforcement authorities.

Betting by student-athletes is also a growing problem, exemplified by ongoing scandals involving players at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

Limit Betting to 21+

In its recommendations, the NCAA is calling for states to require bettors to be at least 21 years of age and to dedicate funding for problem gambling awareness education directed at high-risk college students. Most states already require bettors to be 21, but a handful allow all adults to place a sports wager.

In New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, DC, and the newly legal Kentucky, anyone over the age of 18 can place a bet.

“We are in a time where student-athlete health and well-being is the main priority,” said Morgyn Wynne, vice chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “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.”

The post NCAA to Lobby States for Stricter Sports Betting Rules appeared first on Casino.org.

Hunter emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate for his iron-man play with Colorado as a cornerback on defense and as a wide receiver on offense.

Before the season began, Hunter was a long shot on the Heisman Trophy awards board at +15000 odds. When Colorado upset TCU in the first game of the season, Hunter saw his Heisman Trophy odds shrink to +2500.

Shedeur Sanders, the starting quarterback and son of head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, saw his Heisman odds jump to +3500 after he torched TCU for a school-record 510 passing yards. He led Colorado to a comeback victory against Colorado State in overtime when he engineered a 98-yard touchdown drive to send the game into overtime. He’s currently sixth on the Heisman board at +1800 odds.

Hunter Hospitalized with Liver Injury

Colorado and Colorado State met in an intrastate rivalry known as the Rocky Mountain Showdown, where the winner gets awarded the Centennial Cup. The two schools met for the first time in 1893 and there’s no love lost between Colorado and Colorado State.

Colorado dominated the rivalry with a 68-22-2 record. They had won the previous five times before last week’s matchup in Boulder.

Colorado State always had the little brother inferiority complex in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. But they weren’t going to be intimidated, even though they were +24 underdogs.

Colorado State eventually lost in overtime, 43-35, and proved Colorado haters were right in their assessment that the Buffs were overrated. Then again, Colorado lost Hunter in the first quarter to a gnarly injury.

Colorado State safety Hunter Blackburn drilled Hunter on a passing play. The late hit was flagged by officials, and it took Hunter a while before he got up from the turf.

Hunter was whisked away to a local hospital where he underwent X-rays and other imaging. X-rays were negative, but Hunter was diagnosed with a lacerated liver. He didn’t have to undergo surgery, but he was listed out for several weeks.

No one in the country that can fill Travis Hunter’s shoes,” added Sanders. “You’ve got to understand, he’s a unique player. One of a kind. He’s the best player on offense, the best player on defense. Thats just who he is — in the country, not just on his team.”

In nine quarters as a defender and cornerback, Hunter recorded six solo tackles and one huge interception against TCU. As a wide receiver, Hunter caught 16 passes for 213 yards and averaged 13.3 yards per catch.

Blackburn Receives Death Threats

Colorado fans weren’t shy about their disdain for Blackburn’s cheap hit on Hunter. Fans bombarded Blackburn with vitriol, including death threats. Blackburn had to deactivate his social media accounts because of a tsunami of hate and threats of violence.

“That’s absurd for people to be threatened,” said coach Sanders. “I don’t mind getting death threats. I get them every week. But a kid, it’s not good. He does not deserve a death threat over a game. At the end of the day, this is a game. Someone must win, someone must lose. Everybody continues their life the next day. Very unfortunate.”

Sanders said that he forgave Blackburn, and Hunter did the same.

Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game,” added coach Sanders. “He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty, you could call it he was just playing the game of football. But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.”

Hunter responded to the outrage on a recent livestream.

“(Blackburn) did what he was supposed to do,” said Hunter. “It’s football. Something bad is going to happen on the field sooner or later. You’ve got to get up and fight again.”

Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, who is also the son of coach Sanders, wasn’t in the forgiving mood, however.

“I really wanted to whoop that dude that did that to him, for real, after the game or something,” said Shilo Sanders. “If I see him just around here somewhere, he got to watch out. But that really made me mad, just seeing him try to play dirty like that. That was crazy.”

Betting Colorado at Oregon

Even though the Pac-12 is breaking up with teams migrating to the Big Ten and Big 12, including Colorado returning to the Big 12, the Pac-12 has several of the top teams in college football this season.

On Friday, the Colorado/Oregon line had moved to -22 in some offshore sportsbooks and in Las Vegas, like at the South Point.

Colorado is 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the point spread this season. The Oregon Ducks are 3-0 ATS this season.

Sportsbooks took a beating on Colorado in the first two weeks of the season. The Colorado/Nebraska game attracted more wagers than the entire slate of NFL Week 1 games. Sportsbooks booked a win last weekend when Colorado failed to cover in an overtime victory against Colorado State.

BetMGM reported that Colorado is the most-bet team at +21 in terms of total wagers, and Colorado is the biggest bet team in terms of money.

Ben Fawkes reported that there are significantly more moneyline wagers on Colorado at BetMGM than on any other college football game this weekend. Colorado is currently +600 on the moneyline and +21 with the point spread at BetMGM Colorado. The total in Colorado/Oregon is 70.5 over/under.

DraftKings reported that Colorado/Oregon is getting the most wagers in college football this weekend. The public loaded up on Colorado at DraftKings, with 81% of the bets on the Buffs at +21.

The post Colorado Buffs CB/WR Travis Hunter Not Playing Against Oregon, Could Miss Three Games appeared first on Casino.org.

The proposed men’s-only tournament would include teams from basketball power conferences, such as the Big East, Big 12, and Big Ten, according to Front Office Sports.?Teams from these conferences are currently in talks with Fox Sports, CBS Sports reported last week.

Fox Sports turned to these conferences about the tournament since they are already under contract with the network for other events.

The new tournament would take place every March, starting in 2024 or 2025, according to news reports. It would include 16 teams and run concurrently between the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight and Final Four games.

The teams would only be included if they didn’t qualify for the 64-team NCAA Tournament or turned down the 32-team NIT.

Rivalry Between Fox, ESPN

Because the NIT is broadcast by ESPN, the proposed Fox Sports tournament would lead to further competition between the networks.

News about the new tournament also comes as most of the PAC-12 teams have bolted to other conferences.

Vegas Tournament Could Destroy NIT

The NIT has taken place since 1938 and, prior to the 1960s, it was considered more important than the NCAA college basketball tournament. Teams participated in the NIT by invitation only. But the NIT has gotten less attention in recent years.

Things may get far worse for the NIT if the new tournament takes place in Las Vegas.

It will completely destroy the NIT tournament,” Dan Dickau, a former NBA player who more recently worked for ESPN, said on the Gonzaga Nation podcast. “And it’s going to create an even bigger gap between your haves and have-nots in college athletics.”

To lure players and teams, the proposed tournament would have a heavy focus on lucrative?name/image/likeness offerings, CBS Sports further reported.

Betting, Viewership

March Madness from the NCAA Tournament frequently leads to significant TV viewership and lots of sports betting.

But this year’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game attracted a record-low viewership. A reported 14.693 million viewers watched UConn defeat San Diego State, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Fox is also looking to make profits from sports betting. In August, shortly after FOX Bet was shut down, Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch was optimistic about the company’s future sports wagering prospects. The media giant has had recent discussions with unidentified gaming operators.

The post Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena Could Host Yearly Postseason College Basketball Tournament appeared first on Casino.org.

In a note to clients today, Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon estimated that college football wagering likely accounted for 30% of all football bets last week, with the NFL grabbing a 70% share. With substantial social and traditional media enthusiasm surrounding Sanders’ squad, the Buffalos were a hold problem for sportsbook operators in the first two weeks of the season, according to Beynon.

The ‘Deion Sanders effect’ ?continued for the second week in a row. In his first year as head coach of the University of Colorado, Deion has created a massive social media buzz around the team,” wrote Beynon. “As a result, their game against Nebraska garnered as many bets as the Texas/Alabama game in primetime.”

To the detriment of sportsbooks, Colorado easily covered the spread against Nebraska with the total going over (recreational bettors broadly prefer overs). That result came a week after Colorado won outright as 20.5-point underdogs at TCU.

Beynon observed that an estimated 80% of the betting public backed Colorado last week. Another problem for sportsbook operators was Texas moneyline exposure as the Longhorns upset Alabama on the road.

NFL Likely Helped Sportsbook Operators

While Deion Sanders’ Colorado team has been a thorn in the side of sportsbook operators for two weeks now, gaming companies made for some lost hold during the first week of NFL action.

“Our model estimates total sports betting market hold of 8% for the week of Sept 4–10, assuming a football hold of 8% and hold of 9% for all other sports,” added Beynon. “As a rule of thumb, every 100bps of hold above/below the long-term average adds/detracts ~14% (or 1,400bps) of incremental sports betting gross gaming revenue (GGR) growth.”

Last month in New York – the largest sports wagering market in the country — Flutter Entertainment’s (OTC: PDYPY) FanDuel was the hold leader at 10.3%, followed by BetMGM at 9.2%, according to Macquarie. WynnBET was third at 8.9%.

Q3 Hold Shaping Up Nicely

With less than three weeks remaining in the third quarter, it’s worth noting that the overall industry hold has been solid.

Market hold has been strong QTD (~10%), but with monthly volumes increasing ~70% seq in September, much is still to be determined,” said Beynon. “That said, we think the rise in popularity of NFL SGPs places somewhat of a floor on hold rates for operators that get heavy SGP volume. We also caution that last September had a very high market hold of almost 12% due to favorable game outcomes, so an expectation for sequential revenue growth again this year in 3Q may disappoint given volumes are usually slightly down 3Q/2Q.”

The analyst said pullbacks among sports wagering equities are buying opportunities. He has “outperformed” ratings on seven gaming equities, including sportsbook operators DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) and Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: RSI). His price targets on those names imply upside of 20% and 16%, respectively.

The post Deion Sanders’ Colorado Prime Pain for Sportsbook Operators, Says Analyst appeared first on Casino.org.