Legal & compliance Archives

January 11, 2023

Virginia bill introduced capping tax deductions for bonuses

A bill has been introduced in the Virginia Senate limiting tax deductions for bonuses and promotions.

Senate Bill 1142 – introduced by Democratic state senator Jeremy McPike – would amend the existing code of Virginia definition of adjusted gross revenue. Under current law, “adjusted gross revenue” means gross revenue minus four specified deductions.

The proposed amendment would change the first deduction which allows for allows for operators to deduct all bonuses and promotions from gross revenue. It would seek to impose a cap on the amount that can be claimed beginning at 2.5% of the total wagered by the player in 2023-24, lowering to 1.75% by 2026.

This would have the effect of potentially raising the tax burden on sports betting operators in Virginia, since it is adjusted gross revenue, not gross revenue which is subject to the state’s 15% gaming tax.

Read the full story on iGB North America

January 11, 2023

South Carolina amendment would let legislature legalise betting and igaming

A South Carolina Representative has put forward a bill that would amend the state constitution, allowing the legislature to legalise varying forms of gambling – including sports betting.

The passage of the amendment would not legalise forms of gambling itself. Instead, it would permit the South Carolina legislature to do so.

Titled the South Carolina House Joint Resolution 3095, the bill was introduced in the state House yesterday (10 January) and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary. It is sponsored by Representative Todd Rutherford.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

January 11, 2023

Number of players on Malta-licensed sites hits record high in H1 2022

The number of players gambling with Malta-licensed operators hit a new high in the first half of 2022, after declines in the previous year.

The number of active player accounts with Malta-licensed operators rose by 8.7% year-on-year after a decline in 2021, to 19.3 million. This exceeded the previous high of 19.0 million recorded in the last six months of 2020.

The rise was mostly due to a record 8.9 million new accounts being created.

Much of the rise was due to higher numbers of younger players, with the portion of players aged between 18 and 24 rising to almost 25% of the total player base. In addition, the Malta gaming sector was found to have contributed €573m in gross value added for the half-year, or 8.0% of the Maltese economy. The gross value added total was up 12.4% from the first half of 2021.

The sector also employed 10,861 people as of June 2022, almost 600 more than a year earlier.

“The resilience of the Malta gaming industry during these trying times is largely att..

January 9, 2023

Gaming bill filed as Texas gears up for 2023 legislative session

The Texas legislature will consider a bill that would amend the state’s constitution to legalise casinos at a limited number of locations and set the stage to permit sports betting.

The proposed law – Senate Joint Resolution 17 – would devise the framework for a new body named the Texas Gaming Commission, which would supervise legalised gambling in Texas.

Casino gambling would be authorised at a “limited number of destination resorts and facilities” with the proceeds going towards tax relief and funding for education and public safety.

The amendment’s author is Houston-based state senator Carol Alvarado, a Democrat who initially pre-filed the bill on 14 November 2022.

Read full story on iGB North America

January 6, 2023

Ohio fines BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings $150k for ad violations

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announced it is seeking a $150,000 (£126,000/€143,000) fine each from BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings for advertising violations.

According to the regulator, the three operators, or their affiliates, all ran sports betting ads on multiple platforms that were in violation of both Ohio law and administrative rules relating to advertising and promotions.

“The sports gaming industry has received multiple reminders of the rules and standards for advertising and promotions, yet continues to disregard Ohio law,” said OCCC executive director Matthew Schuler. “These repeated violations leave the Commission no choice but to pursue administrative action to bring operators into compliance. The Commission takes responsible gambling seriously – and expects the industry to value the same.”

Read the full story on iGB North America

January 6, 2023

Kentucky bill for online betting, poker and fantasy introduced

A bill that would permit online sports, poker and paid fantasy competitions in Kentucky has been introduced in the State House in the current legislative session.

House Bill 106 was introduced on 5 January 2023 and sponsored by representatives Derrick Graham, Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts.

If passed, the bill would add 26 amendments to the current law and enact 13 new sections related to online sports, poker and fantasy gambling.

The bill would enable sports betting to be provided by online operators as well as allowing racing tracks to partner with online brands.

A licensed track can only partner up with one online operator, which can provide systems for gambling both on track and online.

Tracks may also offer sportsbooks at two separate locations that it owns or leases within 60 miles of the racing grounds that are not attached to the land of the track.

Sports that would be allowed to be gambled on include the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, NASCAR, MLS, NCAA, NAIA and other nation..

January 5, 2023

Missouri sports betting bill introduced

A bill that would permit sports betting in Missouri has been introduced in the state house as the current legislative session begins.

House Bill 581 was sponsored and introduced on 4 January 2023. It was sponsored by representative Phil Christofanelli.

If passed, the bill would repeal three sections of the current law and enact seventeen new ones related to sports gambling.

The bill would enable land-based casinos to offer sports betting as well as to partner with suppliers to offer sports gambling online.

Number of sports betting operators in Missouri

Each land-based casino can partner up with three online sports gambling brands , with a limit of six online partners for companies that own multiple casinos.

The proposed amendments would also allow Missouri-based sports teams to partner with a digital sports gambling provider to launch an online service. Sports teams to qualify must play in the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, WNBA or NWSL.

The state has multiple sports teams that would..

January 5, 2023

Massachusetts approves Barstool betting license, but will also investigate brand

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has voted to approve Penn Sports Interactive and its Barstool brand for a sports betting license, but only under certain conditions, including cooperation with an investigation.

The decision followed multiple public meetings between Penn representatives and the MGC where the commissioners grilled the Barstool-operator on several items. Among the topics under discussion was concerns over the Barstool brand and its controversial founder David Portnoy.

In particular, there were questions over the connection between the Barstool Sports, a media organisation founded by Portnoy, and the Barstool Sportsbook, the Penn-owned betting platform.

[Read full story on iGB North America]

January 5, 2023

Genius and SoftConstruct resolve data rights legal dispute

Genius Sports has resolved its legal dispute with BetConstruct subsidiary SoftConstruct over data rights by reaching a joint settlement.

Under the agreement, SoftConstruct will purchase a multi-year licence to supply data from Genius through both its BetConstruct and FeedConstruct channels.

The new licence also will acknowledge Genius’s ownership of database rights.

“Genius invests significant time, resource, and expertise in creating and developing market-leading technology and databases to collect and supply sports data products across the industry,” Genius Sports’ chief commercial officer Jack Davison said.

“We are delighted that the SoftContruct team have recognised this value and we look forward to working in partnership with them as we move forward.”

SoftConstruct’s chief executive Armand Pinarbasi added: “This deal enables us to service our customers with the best data. We can now look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in the years to come.”

Another Genius dat..

January 4, 2023

Bill proposed in Connecticut to ban greyhound racing

A bill has been proposed in the Connecticut General Assembly that would ban both greyhound racing within the state, as well as stop operators simulcasting racing from out-of-state locations.

Proposed House Bill 5042 – put forward by two Republican and one Democratic legislators – currently has been referred to the committee of public safety and security.

The individuals who proposed the bill are Representative Klarides-Ditria from the 105th district, Representative D’Agostino from the 91st district and Senator Somers from the 18th district.

Read the full story on iGB North America

January 4, 2023

SkillOnNet & Bet-at-home get German slots licences as new regulator takes over

SkillOnNet and Bet-at-home have become the latest operators to be licensed for online slots in Germany, as its federal regulator takes full control of gambling in the country.

The licence issued to SkillOnNet enables the provider to offer online slot games across all of its brands in Germany.

Bet-at-home, meanwhile, was granted a licence for online slot games alongside an extension of its sports betting licence.

SkillOnNet has said that it will be focusing on using its German-facing brand, DrueckGluek.de, which has established a presence in the country since 2015 since gaining a licence to operate in Schleswig-Holstein under the old regulation system.

Michael Golembo, sales and marketing director for SkillOnNet said: “Having the official German licence means SkillOnNet players will be part of a fully regulated experience, feeling more confident, safe and secure, many for the first time.

“It’s also a recognition that we meet the high standards of the German licensing regime and are..

January 3, 2023

Ohio launches legal sports betting

Legal sports betting has launched in Ohio, with a number of major brands going live on 1 January.

Ohio set out a 1 January 2023 launch date for sports betting in a bill agreed by conference between both houses of its legislature.

Among the operators going live in the state on launch day were national market leaders, FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings, European businesses Bet365 and Tipico and startups Betr and Prophet.

Ohio is set to represent a major opportunity to operators and suppliers as the seventh-most populous US state, with 11.8 million residents.

“Today marks a monumental day of growth for both BetMGM and the sports betting industry,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “Ohio is home to thousands of passionate sports fans, who now have the opportunity to enjoy first-hand the excitement and benefits of wagering with BetMGM.”

Read the full story on iGB North America

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Tag: Legal & compliance