Betting News – Page 131 – FairOdds Network

November 23, 2022

Massachusetts receives 15 applications for sports betting licences as deadline passes

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has completed the application process for new sports betting licences in the state, with 15 operators having put forward submissions.

The deadline to apply for a licence passed at 2pm local time on 21 November, with the MGC receiving three applications for Category 1 licences, five for a Category 3 licence tethered to a Category 1 licence, and six were received for stand-alone Category 3 licences.

An additional Category 3 licence application to be tethered to a Category 2 licence was also submitted, while the MGC noted that Category 2 licences, which only current horse tracks or simulcast facilities are eligible for, will be accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline.

Read the full story on iGB North America

November 23, 2022

Swedish monopolies carving out their place in the market

In the second part of Daniel O’Boyle’s deep dive into the changing role of Sweden’s gambling monopolies, ATG CEO Hasse Lord Skarplöth and Svenska Spel CEO Patrik Hofbauer discuss how their businesses have evolved since re-regulation.

When the new Gambling Act came into force in 2019, Svenska Spel and AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) face licensed competition online for the first time. They underwent many changes themselves.

2019: a new era for Swedish gambling regulation

For Svenska Spel the changes were mostly aimed at preventing the business from using its former monopoly status to gain an unfair leg-up in online betting and gaming.

Sweden launched its regulated gambling market in January 2019

This necessitated major changes, Hofbauer recalls.

“The biggest change was to adjust the whole organisation and operations to be in line with the re-regulated gambling legislation. Today Svenska Spel operates as a group with three separate business areas.

“And an important factor in that was c..

November 22, 2022

Louisiana online sports betting handle hits record $219.0m in October

Players in Louisiana spent a record $219.0m (£184.1m/€213.2m) betting on sports online during October, while the state also reported a nine-month high for retail wagering.

October’s online handle was 3.8% higher than the previous record of $211.0m, which was set in February of this year – the first full month of legal online betting in the state – and also 24.4% above the $176.0m spent by consumers in September.

However, despite higher player spending, revenue from online wagering was 4.1% lower month-on-month at $26.0m, compared to $27.1m in September.

Read the full story on iGB North America

November 22, 2022

BetRivers and Gambling.com Group reveal Maryland launch plans

Rush Street Interactive-operated BetRivers and affiliate business Gambling.com Group have both announced they will fully launch in Maryland when the state’s legal sports betting market opens tomorrow (23 November).

BetRivers commenced a short soft launch yesterday (21 November), with this to also run for a period today, prior to the operator launching in full tomorrow subject to final regulatory approvals.

The online launch will support the operator’s retail sportsbook, which opened in Baltimore in August following the legalisation of in-person betting in December last year.

Read the full story iGB North America

November 22, 2022

Betsson’s TonyBet secures online gambling licence in the Netherlands

TonyBet has become the 24th online gaming operator to secure an internet gambling licence from Dutch regulator de Kansspelautoriteit.

The licence will enable TonyBet to offer online casino games, sports betting and horse racing wagering to players across the Netherlands.

TonyBet is yet to confirm the domain name under which it will operate in the country, but it was confirmed that the licence will run for a period of five years, from 15 November this year to 14 November 2027.

Licences in the country are awarded under the Netherlands’ remote gambling act (KOA), which came into force on 1 April 2021. Last month, One Casino Limited also secured a licence from de Kansspelautoriteit to operate in the country.

TonyBet is based in Riga in Latvia and is already live in a number of other countries such as Canada, Spain, Estonia and Malta.

Last month, TonyBet also extended its offering into its native Latvia after securing approval from regulators in the country.

November 22, 2022

TonyBet secures online gambling licence in the Netherlands

TonyBet has become the 24th online gaming operator to secure an internet gambling licence from Dutch regulator de Kansspelautoriteit.

The licence will enable TonyBet to offer online casino games, sports betting and horse racing wagering to players across the Netherlands.

TonyBet is yet to confirm the domain name under which it will operate in the country, but it was confirmed that the licence will run for a period of five years, from 15 November this year to 14 November 2027.

Licences in the country are awarded under the Netherlands’ remote gambling act (KOA), which came into force on 1 April 2021. Last month, One Casino Limited also secured a licence from de Kansspelautoriteit to operate in the country.

TonyBet is based in Riga in Latvia and is already live in a number of other countries such as Canada, Spain, Estonia and Malta.

Last month, TonyBet also extended its offering into its native Latvia after securing approval from regulators in the country.

November 22, 2022

Industry slams NYT sports betting coverage

On Sunday, the New York Times (NYT) published an article on sports betting lobbying efforts, which has been criticised by industry trade groups and individuals as including “several mischaracterisations”.

Titled “Cigars, Booze, Money: How a Lobbying Blitz Made Sports Betting Ubiquitous”, the article makes the argument that the gambling sector “got their way with lawmakers after showering them with donations, gifts and dubious arguments”.

This assertion has been criticised by a number of US-based trade organisations, who pointed to the already stringent regulatory environment and the industry-wide commitments to responsible gaming.

Criticised by trade bodies

In a statement published on LinkedIn, the American Gaming Association (AGA) said that the NYT had made “several mischaracterisations” in the article, and emphasised that there is a high standard for obtaining gaming licences in the US.

“As unapologetic advocates for our industry, the AGA engages with the New York Times and any..

November 22, 2022

DraftKings hack affects $300,000 in customer funds

DraftKings’ co-founder and president of global technology and product, Paul Liberman, has released a statement confirming that a mass hacking has taken place on a number of customer accounts affecting $300,000 (£252,745/€291,742) in funds.

The hack was first reported by sports betting insights site Action Network. In the article, customers said that hundreds of dollars had been withdrawn from bank accounts that had been linked to their DraftKings accounts.

In addition, customers’ two-factor authentication had been rendered useless as the hack had allowed their phone numbers to be changed.

Read the full story on iGB North America

November 22, 2022

PressEnter announces management buyout

The senior team at PressEnter Group, the igaming operator formerly known as BetPoint, is to take charge of the business through a management buyout.

Terms for the buyout have been agreed with PressEnter’s existing investors.

Chief executive Lahcene Merzoug and a team of senior executives will then take control, with Merzoug named the operator’s executive chairman once the deal completes.

Management said PressEnter, who operate online casino brands such as 21.com, JustSpin, NeonVegas Casino, NitroCasino, UltraCasino and RapidCasino, in addition to the XLBet sportsbook, offers “significant growth potential”.

New chapter for PressEnter

“The management team sees this as a new chapter for the business and will be reviewing existing strategies and processes to maximise new opportunities, grow the business and focus on the company’s core strengths,” PressEnter said.

Lahcene Merzoug will become executive chair of PressEnter following the buyout

“The management team has worked hard fo..