Massachusetts is set to launch its sports betting market in a week. This has raised the question of athlete safety as certain people fear that disgruntled bettors might target pro players and their families.

The Players’ Association Demands Action

As the concerns grow, the Players’ Association, a union representing the United States’ biggest sports leagues, asked Massachusetts’ Gaming Commission to take player safety in mind in its regulations.

The association said that it would be content with any measure that provides pros sports players with the necessary protections. It proposed solutions such as barring aggressive people from betting or stopping sports betting on a certain sport altogether.

This Monday, the issue was discussed in depth.

Steve Fehr, special counsel to the NHL Players Association, noted that the sports industry is wholly dependent on players and must protect them. He said that the Players’ Association does not ask for funds, only for the Gaming Commission to make things safer and fairer.

Harassment by angry punters may vary in nature. Oftentimes, such people would send threats to a sports professional on social media after losing a big bet. Sometimes, however, they may go further and harass the player’s relatives or even assault them in real life. In 2018, for example, a fan threw a beer at Tyreek Hill during a Patriots game – an incident that is currently being provided as an argument for imposing extra regulations to ensure players’ safety.

David Foster from the National Basketball Players Association noted that more betting brings increased tension, anxiety and anger. Because of that, it is important to enforce discipline.

Extreme Harassment Is Rare but Safeguards Must Be Implemented

The Players’ Association added that extreme bettor behavior tends to be rare. Even so, it is important to have safeguards and the certainty that the Gaming Commission would intervene if needed.

Association representatives believe that the commission may have to cancel games only on very rare occasions that are more of an exception rather than a rule, if at all. Despite that, it is important to have certain safety measures to discourage unruly behavior. In addition, such measures may encourage athletes to speak up when they are being harassed.

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien believes that the most important thing is to ensure that sportsbooks are responsible and take a stance against unruly bettors. She added that she is happy that there is enough awareness of the problem to lead a productive discussion on it.

Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein said that it is “paramount” to make sure that no bettor is in a position to intimidate sports players, league officials and their families. She believes that the commission should work on the regulation language and prioritize player safety. Judd-Stein noted that licensed sportsbooks are also going to be a part of these efforts.

The Gaming Commission has so far been inclined to agree with the Players’ Association’s proposals but is uncertain whether it can legally impose any of the proposed measures. Representatives promised to look into the matter and see if they can add anti-harassment measures to the local sports betting regulations

PredictIt, the popular futures exchange tied to political events, has until February 15 to close all existing markets and shut down, putting an end to the legal availability in the US of bets on political events.

Violation of Terms

Established in collaboration with the Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand, PredictIt is now facing the dire reality of permanent closure, reported The Washington Post.

“They grew to a point where they violated the terms of the letter,” a spokesman for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory body overseeing such types of trading markets, told the reporting media in an email.

The political betting exchange, albeit illegal in the US, was allowed to operate as an exception for non-commercial purposes after the CFTC had issued to Victoria University of Wellington a “no-action” letter, stating that the exchange should only continue as an “academic exercise” and the university should not profit from it.

“The Chairman did meet with representatives of Victoria University and others at their request to hear them out,” the spokesman continued outlining that “the reality is that the university did not operate its market in compliance with the terms of the No-Action Letter.”

PredictIt founder, John Phillips, filed a lawsuit against the CFTC when the exchange was shut down in August arguing that the regulator’s move was “arbitrary and capricious” and the watchdog did not provide any feedback to justify its actions to close the site after years of operation. PredictIt was founded in 2014.

Gamification of Politics

Phillips also argued that the site that makes its data publicly available to allow dozens of research institutions to benefit from it for studies of microeconomics and political behavior, serves educational purposes as it inspires people to pay closer attention to politics.

The reality is that authorities are concerned with the gamification effect on the political system that is exacerbated by gambling on the outcome of political events. Some people even consider that allowing gambling on elections could encourage the corruption of democracy as those who work in politics may be privy to inside information.

Shutting down PredictIt will be detrimental to thousands of outstanding bets which are due to settle after the February 15 deadline day but it can be prevented if the US Fifth Court of Appeals in Louisiana issues an injunction to keep all current markets open.

If PredictIt is shut down permanently, the interest in gambling on politics creates a market niche that will always be filled with alternatives, even if some of those alternatives may not be quite legal such as an offshore crypto exchange that only requires users to be outside of the US to place their bets.

In 2017, PAGCOR gave Global ComRCI a consultancy agreement worth PHP 26 billion ($477 million) for monitoring the revenues of licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and ensuring that they were paying the appropriate amount of tax. However, it has recently been exposed that Global ComRCI is not registered in the Philippines and did not present accurate documentation in its proposal.

Calls for Investigation into PAGCOR’s Allocation Procedure

The problem of PAGCOR awarding the contract to Global ComRCI was brought to light by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, during a hearing exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the POGO industry.

Previous hearings have revealed the loss of PHP 9.1 billion ($166 million) in POGO taxes due to substantial differences in industry gross gaming revenue (GGR) figures between PAGCOR, the Bureau of Internal Revenues, and the POGOs themselves.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Global ComRCI collaborated with a bank that is also unlicensed in the Philippines, Soleil Chartered Bank (SBC), to prove that it met PAGCOR’s capital requirements.

This revelation has raised significant concerns and has prompted calls for an investigation into PAGCOR’s allocation process, as well as for stricter regulations to be put in place to ensure that proper due diligence is conducted when allocating contracts of this nature. The incident has also raised questions about the broader POGO industry and its ability to self-regulate and comply with tax laws.

Gatchalian Criticizes PAGCOR’s Effectiveness

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns about PAGCOR’s effectiveness in enforcing laws and regulations on POGOs. He specifically highlighted the cases of two companies, Brickhartz Technology Inc and MOA Cloudzone Corp, that have been implicated in kidnappings but continue to operate. Despite Brickhartz being fined, PAGCOR has yet to receive a report on the actions taken against MOA Cloudzone Corp.

Gatchalian expressed doubt about PAGCOR’s ability to handle crimes with urgency and effectiveness, arguing that leniency and a conflict of interest may be at play. He has called for POGOs to be banned, stating that they pose more risks than benefits. However, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr has stated that it is unlicensed operators that are breaching local laws.

This is not the first time Gatchalian is breathing down PAGCOR’s neck. In November, the senator called for the restructuring of PAGCOR. Gatchalian argued that the current model of operation poses a conflict of interests, as PAGCOR both manages and regulates gambling activities in the country.

Currently, PAGCOR owns and runs nine casinos and operates 32 satellite casinos in the Philippines, while at the same time acting as the gambling regulator in the country.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is determined to explore the idea of developing a voluntary Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Code of Good Practice. This comes as a result of the upcoming requirement for listed companies to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) starting in 2024. 

MGA: Determined to Add More Transparency and Sustainability to the Sector 

The CSRD is aimed at ensuring that gaming companies transparently disclose all relevant information regarding the risks, opportunities, and impacts of their activities on society and the environment. MGA’s announcement regarding the code of good practice comes after the authority published its amendments to its Player Protection Directive at the start of the year.

The new code would serve the needs of licensed operators in the online gaming industry preparing for the upcoming ESG legislation, in a desire to also potentially derive the perks connected to managing a “sustainably conscious operation.”  

The fresh code will establish the common priorities for ESG in the industry while considering the exact requirements of key stakeholders to cut their impact on society and the environment. All this will be done while improving Malta’s reputation as a premier jurisdiction for gamblers. As part of MGA’s initiative, the authority has also released a survey with all licensees who are crucial in the process of turning the gaming industry into a much more transparent and sustainable sector.

The Birth of the ESG reporting Platform 

The continuously growing awareness in regard to ESG-related topics has been triggered by a large number of investors, consumers, and employees who started to understand the full impact of gambling companies on both the environment and society. 

This convinced Maltese government officials to create and launch a dedicated voluntary ESG reporting platform. The platform is meant to stimulate companies to make their ESG performance known to the public in an attempt to attract more investments in growing sustainable businesses.

While the MGA has expressed its content regarding the “consistent progress of the gaming sector” and acknowledged the excellent work done by reporting licensees using the ESG platform, the authority feels that more needs to be done for operators to stay at the forefront of innovation. 

The MGA expressed its confidence in a larger number of gaming companies “taking concrete actions towards becoming more sustainable.”  The authority feels that by choosing to report their efforts, companies will bring positive changes in the sector and help improve the overall perception of the public. 

Last September, MGA released its regular annual report, reflecting on a troubled and eventful fiscal year while acknowledging the gambling sector’s ability to record substantial growth. 

MGA’s chief executive officer Dr. Carl Brincat explained the organization managed to successfully navigate all challenges while coming out stronger and more robust. 

ESA Gaming, a provider of innovative casino games, has made a foray into Nigeria thanks to a deal that will see it supply the gaming and sports betting operator betBonanza with content.

BetBonanza Secures Content from ESA Gaming

As a fast-growing company, betBonanza is always looking to enhance its content offering by adding more games. In addition, the company realizes the importance of innovation and is always looking to secure the most novel titles for its platform.

Under the agreement, ESA Gaming will power the operator’s Nigerian offering with many games, including its hit EasySwipe series. The EasySwipe games are lightweight titles that are well-suited for mobile devices, making them perfect for the Nigerian market.

The content that betBonanza will receive includes performers such as Wild Vegas, Fruitz&Spinz, Basketball Mine and Goal Mine. In addition to that, betBonanza will receive access to the acclaimed Rocket Racers game, which is ESA Gaming’s first crash-style title.

BetBonanza was founded in 2019 and has quickly cemented itself as one of the top online bookmakers in Nigeria. This growth can be attributed to the operator’s dedication to providing its customers with a rich selection of slots, casino table games, instant titles and crash-style experiences.

The addition of ESA Gaming titles to betBonanza’s already strong content lineup will further bolster the company’s popularity, helping it grow in the Nigerian market. ESA Gaming, on the other hand, will get to further expand its African footprint.

ESA Gaming Is Bullish on Growing Its African Presence

BetBonanza’s chief operating officer, Gatis Licitis, commented on the new agreement, saying that his company will continue adding more new titles to its casino offering. Licitis said that the company could not find a better partner than ESA Gaming and applauded the company’s products for their quality.

Their (ESA Gaming’s) titles offer fantastic cross-sell opportunities, and the quick-fire nature resonates well with our customers. We look forward to working together to further gain ground in the Nigerian market.

Gatis Licitis, COO, BetBonanza

Meanwhile, Thomas Smallwood, ESA Gaming’s head of marketing, reaffirmed his company’s intention to expand in Africa. He noted that ESA Gaming is bullish on promoting its EasySwipe portfolio in the region, believing it is perfectly suited for local players’ preferences.

Smallwood praised betBonanza as a strong brand that is emerging as a leading Nigerian gambling company. The head of marketing concluded that the provider is happy to bring its titles to the operator’s platform and excite its growing customer base.

GamblingNews recently had the pleasure of talking with Smallwood about the potential of the African iGaming market. To learn more about ESA Gaming’s vision, click here.

The target is just £6,000 shy of the expected sum, and a number of prominent companies participated in the backing of the zone, designed to spread awareness about problem gambling and how businesses stand to benefit from tackling the issue on an industry level.

Consumer Protection Is Now an Indelible Part of ICE’s Identity

Among the companies donating were prominent leaders, such as IGT, Betsson, Greentube, and Kindred Group, along with Flutter, all of which pledging more than £5,000. Les Ambassadeurs contributed another £10,000. The backers of the event’s Consumer Protection Zone have raised more than £186,000 in the past four editions of the event, demonstrating that the industry as a whole is taking problem gambling more seriously than ever before.

Clarion Gaming’s director of industry insight and engagement, Ewa Bakun, welcomed this opportunity and said that the zone was first introduced in 2018 and hosted eight exhibitions. Now, things have been scaled up as consumer protection remains the core focus of businesses in 2023.

This year’s edition will feature more than 20 exhibitors, including charities, treatment facilities, and various not-for-profit entities, all of which are reunited in their goal of ensuring that consumers are safe and protected. Others will include responsible gambling tool providers, commercial organizations, and more.

The Consumer Protection Zone plays a crucial area and has been recognized by the 2022 Global Regulatory Awards for its contributions towards improving the overall informational landscape about problem gambling.

Commenting on the latest edition of the Consumer Protection Zone, Betsson Group Head of Sustainability Jonna Danlund said that the initiative is shaping up as an important way to educate and raise awareness about the issue. Danlund added:

We believe that it is essential for the industry to work together to promote responsible gaming and showcase the work that is being done as it is fundamental for the long-term sustainability of the industry and the well-being of our customers.

Betsson Group Head of Sustainability Jonna Danlund

Flutter head of safer gambling strategy Lisa O’Connor was equally pleased with the opportunity to back the Consumer Protection Zone another year. The dedicated zone plays a crucial role in informing industry leaders and stakeholders about the latest developments, innovations, and opportunities in the area of safer gambling and player protection.

“It is a real focal point for many guests attending the event, and its continued success demonstrates how important Safer Gambling is to colleagues in the industry,” O’Connor said.