A few years have passed since the US Supreme Court deemed PASPA unconstitutional, allowing states to legalize sports betting under their own rules. Since 2018, when PASPA was struck down, many states have legalized and introduced sports wagering, creating a new stream of tax revenue and establishing competitive markets that also protect the consumers.

While many US states, by now more than 30, have legalized and introduced some form of sports wagering, efforts in Texas are still ongoing. Legislative efforts via HJR 102 and House Bill 142 (HB 142) seek to legalize the activity. Ultimately, it would be up to the voters to give the green light and if the proposals gain further traction. Given this happens, an amendment to the constitution will be up for a vote by Texas residents in November.

Now, the Texas House State Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on the topic. Supporters and opponents of the gambling expansion spoke on Wednesday, each presenting their positions. Aside from the hearing on HB 142 and HJR 102, the proposals are yet to be voted on by the Committee before gaining further traction.

Legalization of Sports Wagering Expected to Bring Benefits

The Sports Betting Alliance, represented by Scott Ward, is one of the organizations supporting the legalization of sports wagering. Ward noted that there is a continuously growing sports betting market in Texas that operates illegally.

He confirmed that sports betting operators are prepared to offer regulated sports betting that is safe for consumers. Ward noted that the industry is aware that there is a significant “demand for illegal sports betting in Texas,” but at the same time, he acknowledged that there is also a strong demand for safe and legal sports betting activities in the state.

“It’s being done in the shadows, with bookies and offshore accounts, with no regulation, no protections for privacy or data, no monitoring, and certainly no recourse for anyone to be held accountable if something goes awry with a placed bet in the state of Texas.“

Rep. Jeff Leach

Rep. Jeff Leach, the sponsor of HB 142, also acknowledged the importance of a legal sports betting market. He flagged that the activity is already available and happening in Texas, and has been, in the last decade, but via illegal outlets. Leach warned that illegal sports betting poses a risk for the players and this doesn’t apply to their money only, considering that participating in illegal betting is deemed as a criminal activity.

According to him, the illegal activity poses a significant threat to the users as it is lacking data, monitoring or privacy protection. However, Leach said that this can change thanks to the new proposal that gives a chance for the lawmakers to “implement smart, safe and efficient oversight over the sports wagering industry and activities” in Texas. Last but not least, he predicted that with the right set of rules, a sports betting bill can deliver benefits for the consumers and raise revenue for the state.

Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) has announced that it has successfully secured licenses in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. According to the company, it was handed an Online Sports Wagering Operator License in the former state and a full Interactive Gaming Manufacturer License in the latter.

GiG explained that the first of the two licenses, issued by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, will see the company launch its Crab Sports brand in May. The group explained that Crab Sports will leverage its parent company’s extensive experience in launching new brands in complex regulated markets to establish itself as a player-favorite sportsbook in the Old Line State.

Maryland’s online gambling market is still young, having been launched less than a year ago. The early entry poises Crab Sports for success, making GiG’s new license an important development.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board provided GiG with a full license that will allow the company to eventually launch its brand via a partnership with one of its existing North American partners.

The new licenses will help the company expand its continuously growing US presence. The company entered the local market five years ago and has existing licenses in New Jersey and Iowa. GiG noted that its expanding US footprint and its steady operations in Ontario cement its position as a tier 1 platform and sportsbook provider in North America.

GiG’s Leadership Is Thrilled

GiG executives commented on the major development.

Claudio Caruana, general counsel for Gaming Innovation Group, said that the company remains focused on expanding in regulated markets. As a result, his team is “understandably pleased” with the confirmation of two licenses in two new states, Caruana said.

Regulation will continue to drive the industry in North America, as markets mature, allowing us to support and protect operators and their customers, establishing suitable, robust frameworks for sustainable growth.

Claudio Caruana, general counsel, GiG

Marcel Elfersy, Gaming Innovation Group’s chief commercial officer, also commented on the matter. He noted that the new licenses in markets that he called “very attractive” create many new opportunities for the company. Elfersy added that his team is thrilled to foray into Maryland and Pennsylvania.

We’re excited about the possibilities these new states provide, starting with the launch of Crab Sports in Maryland in May on our PAM and sportsbook.

Marcel Elfersy, CCO, GiG

2022 was a record-breaking year for GiG, which is now available in more than 30 markets. The company’s tech is built around easy configuration and event-driven architecture and fueled by agile solutions that are tailored to operators’ needs.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) continues its fight for fraud-free tennis. Two days ago, the regulatory body announced the provisional suspensions of two tennis players who have committed a myriad of breaches.

The players in question are the American player Alexandra Riley and the Slovenian player Nastja Kolar. The two of them, the ITIA said, have breached the rules outlined in the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) 15 and 25 times respectively.

All of the breaches were recorded between 2015 and 2020. As a result of these TACP violations, the regulator said, Riley and Kolar have been provisionally suspended from the sport. As of March 14, 2023, the two players are unable to compete or even attend any sanctioned tennis events that are organized or recognized by the tennis governing bodies.

The decision was made by independent anti-corruption hearing officer Ian Mill KC who discovered the breaches. The ITIA noted that provisional suspension was granted under section G.4.a of the TACP 2023, which states the following:

In the event that the Covered Person is found liable of one or more of the charges against them and sanction is not determined at the same time as the decision on liability, the AHO, either of the AHO’s own volition or on an application by the ITIA, must impose a Provisional Suspension pending the final decision on sanction.

TACP excerpt

In due time, the ITIA will decide on the definitive sanctions to impose on Riley and Kolar.

ITIA Continues to Protect Tennis from Fraud

The ITIA, which was founded in 2021, remains committed to protecting professional tennis’ integrity from various violations such as illegal betting and match-fixing. Unfortunately, Riley and Kolar are not the only players to be sanctioned by the regulator in recent times.

In February, the ITIA presented Younes Rachidi with a lifetime ban after uncovering a whopping 135 match-fixing violations. This was the highest breach count by a single player ever and demanded a strict response. Rachidi fixed matches alongside two fellow players who were also suspended from competing professionally for life.

This ruling followed the suspension of the French player Sherazad Refix. Luckily, Refix had breached the rules no more than two times and was banned for only four years.

In January, Mariska Venter, a 26-year-old wheelchair tennis player from South Africa, accepted a temporary suspension after her doping probe turned positive. She will remain suspended until the matter is resolved.

The iconic guitar, synonymous with the international entertainment brand Hard Rock, will soon be arriving on the Strip in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. Earlier this week, Clark County officials greenlighted the design for the new guitar-shaped tower that is expected to emerge at the Mirage, likely replacing the volcano site.

The guitar-shaped tower will be a hotel offering some 600 rooms for guests. Additionally, the new tower would feature restaurants, gaming space and other amenities, spanning nearly 40 floors in height. The Clark County Commissioners’ vote that greenlighted the guitar-shaped tower happened on Wednesday. The permits for the plan and re-design of the Mirage confirm that the existing tower will remain. However, next to it, a new 660 feet tall guitar-shaped tower would be built.

“Clark County Commissioners just approved permits and designs for the plan on the current site of the Mirage Las Vegas volcano. The existing tower will remain and a new 660 feet tall guitar-shaped tower with 600 suites will be built,“

reads a statement released by Clark County

The Company Plans to Revamp the Mirage

It was back in December when Hard Rock International (HRI), secured approval for the acquisition of the Mirage from MGM Resorts. The company agreed to acquire the property in a deal for $1.08 billion, which was initially announced late in 2021.

Although HRI hinted at plans to revamp the property, the entertainment giant confirmed that those plans would not impact its operation and it won’t be closed. At the time, the company noted it has “no current plans to cease operation of The Mirage and any reporting to the contrary is inaccurate.”

Still, considering the construction works needed for the revamp of the property, HRI did not rule out a short temporary closure of the property. However, if that happens it may be at some point in 2024 and only given that the construction works require it.

The latest approval now marks another major milestone for Hard Rock as it allows the company to get closer to introducing a guitar-shaped tower that will likely become one of the landmarks in Las Vegas.

Sports Handle reported that Washington D.C. has allegedly taken a step back in problem gambling services as the Mayor, Muriel Bowser, seeks to eliminate all funding for the service. 

Mayor’s Budget Cuts Threaten Progress Against Problem Gambling, Warns Lobbyist

Although the Mayor’s office has not made any comments on the motive behind the cut, lobbyist Brianne Doura-Schawohl believes the move will set Washington D.C. back in tackling problem gambling.

Doura-Schawohl highlighted that although the funding was meager compared to an acceptable amount, it would have been better than nothing. The city has not allocated any of the funds it was expected to have received after the legalization of sports betting in late 2019, and the $200,000 in the budget that the mayor seeks to eliminate would have been the only problem gambling funding in the city.

The legislation in the city is clear that the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is supposed to fund addiction prevention, treatment, and research to create safety nets for those who may develop gambling problems. The DBH has yet to spend the $200,000 it had devoted to problem gambling, which has been in its account for over two years. Although the DBH claimed that there were no satisfactory quotes, Doura-Schawohl stated that the request for quotation (RFQ) was not adequately advertised and was only open for two weeks.

D.C. Residents’ Calls to Gambling Helpline Increase by 109% as Funding Cut Looms

Lobbyist Brianne Doura-Schawohl further discussed that there were 4,892 calls, texts, and chats made by Washington D.C. residents to the National Problem Gambling Helpline in 2022, while 3,623 calls were made in 2021, representing a 109% increase from the previous year. However, after the cut, the lobbyist fears that she will have no funds to fight for problem gambling services in the city.

The move is not the first time that the city has gutted funding meant for prevention and treatment services. After sports betting was legalized in the city with a promise that $7 million would be earmarked for early childhood and violence prevention, the funds were instead moved to the general fund. 

City Administrator Rashad Young explained that it was a better way to approach the policy as it allowed resources to flow to the general fund for funding decisions. However, D.C. Council Member Robert White criticized the move, calling it a classic bait-and-switch tactic.

The Reno property did not disclose the winner’s full name but identified them as Jessy R. Jessy placed an $8 bet and was about to stop playing when fortune struck and that $8 was turned into the six-figure payout.

Jackpots and Privacy Go Hand-in-Hand It Seems

Jessy reportedly spent 10 minutes playing on the machine when the jackpot fell, to his befuddlement. The game, Wheel of Fortune High Roller video slot by International Game Technology, is one of the most popular jackpot slots not just in Reno, but on most gambling floors across the United States.

This was the first time that Jessy R. has ever played at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, making the memory all the more vivid. Jessy preferred to pose for a photo while covering his face with a hat, glasses, and a mask. However, you can tell that Jessy is probably a Los Angeles Lakers fan judging by his cap.

Of course, Jessy is not the only person to have grabbed a juicy jackpot from the venue. Another anonymous player managed to win $1.25 million playing the slots at the location back in January. They were playing the Buffalo Diamond slot when the jackpot hit. Besides Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, there have been more jackpot winners in Nevada over the past weeks.

A lucky winner on Wednesday won $100,000 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. On Tuesday, a Mega Jackpot dropped at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino with another winner leaving with $193,487 from Mississippi Stud Poker. Then again, last week a person won $101,375 at the Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

Most of these people have chosen to remain anonymous, although this is not always the case. Many players actually love sitting for the photo-ops after, but it mostly seems to be the people who enter the seven-figure territory. Anonymous or not, jackpots seem to be falling all over Nevada!