Legal Archives

December 4, 2023

DeSantis team requests to dismiss petition against betting in Florida

Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ office has formally requested the state's Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit challenging sports betting in the state ahead of its scheduled expansion this week.

Attorney-general Ashley Moody claimed the petition brought by pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates is “unjustifiable”. The submission defended the state’s gambling compact between the Florida authorities and the Seminole tribe, which was signed in 2021.

Last month, the Seminole tribe, which has the exclusive right to offer gambling in Florida, re-launched its Hard Rock Bet service in the state.

Among the reasons Moody puts forward for the dismissal is the more than two years West Flagler took to submit its petition, following the signing of the gambling compact. Moody also argues that West Flagler’s petition for writ of quo warranto fails to meet legal standards.

Finally, Moody argues the petition is incorrect to claim sports betting is “casino gambling” as defined in th..

December 1, 2023

North Carolina approves online sports betting licence applications

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission has approved applications for sports betting licensure, with operators able to begin applying for licences in the state.

Online sports betting operators, as well as associated sports betting suppliers and providers, can now submit applications. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission will review any applications put forward.

The approval takes North Carolina a step closer to launching its legal sports betting market. Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law in June, officially legalising wagering.

However, a launch date for the market has not yet been confirmed. Commission chair Ripley Rand said this will depend on a number of factors, primarily how long the application process takes.

Rand said the Commission will need to review all applications and supporting information. It will also need to complete background checks and analyse all internal control details before it can set a launch date.

The Commission has 60 days to r..

November 27, 2023

Brazil’s upcoming vote: Everything you need to know

Brazil's Senate plenary could vote to legalise sports betting and online casino on Wednesday (29 November). Ahead of the vote, we bring you all you need to know about the journey so far.

Before we delve into the complex legal history of sports betting in Brazil, let’s start off with last week’s key step.

Last Tuesday (21 November), the industry was waiting eagerly for Brazil’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) to vote on whether to greenlight sports betting and igaming through Bill 3,626/2023. This was delayed by one day on the request of senators, according to Senado Noticias.

The bill will now head to the Senate Plenary this Wednesday (29 November)

The CAE’s eventual approval on Wednesday 22 November gave the thumbs-up for the bill to move to the Senate plenary. This session will now take place this Wednesday (29 November). If the plenary vote goes in the bill’s favour, sports betting and igaming will officially be legal in Brazil.

Importantly, the outcome at the CAE confirm..

November 22, 2023

Brazil sports betting tax rate set at 12% as attempt to remove igaming fails

A reduced 12% tax rate for Brazil sports betting was confirmed after the country's Economic Affairs Commission (CAE) approved Bill 3,626/23 today (22 November) while an attempt to remove igaming from the legislation was rebuffed.

The approval of the bill text by the CAE greenlights the bill to go to the Senate plenary. The Senate plenary vote will take place on 29 November, during which sports betting – alongside igaming – could be given the all-clear in Brazil.

If the Senate alters the bill text, it will go back to the Chamber of Deputies for review. The lower chamber approved Bill 3,626/2023 in September.

However it faced opposition from senators including Eduardo Girão and Carlos Portinho. Attempts to remove igaming from the legislation also failed during today’s session, after online casino was unexpectedly added to the sports betting bill in September.

The vote was set to take place yesterday before it was postponed by the CAE. According to the Senate agency on Senado Not..

November 20, 2023

Florida Supreme Court rejects West Flagler motion to block Hard Rock Bet

The Florida State Supreme Court rejected a motion from pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates to suspend Hard Rock Bet and its online sports betting offering in the state.

West Flagler filed the motion earlier this month to stop Hard Rock Bet from offering sports betting in Florida. The motion requested the court to expedite the exercise of its all writs in the jurisdiction to immediately suspend online sports betting.

West Flagler argued the suspension should last until a final ruling on its petition for writ of quo warranto.

This came after Hard Rock Bet, which is operated by the Seminole tribe, launched in Florida on 7 November. Early access was available to customers who bet previously with the operator and members of Hard Rock’s loyalty scheme.

However, in a blow to West Flagler, Florida’s State Supreme Court on Friday (17 November) rejected this request. The decision was announced in a short notice released by the court.

“The ‘Motion to Expedite Consideration..

November 14, 2023

Australia lower house passes credit card gambling ban bill

The Australia House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s parliament, has passed a bill that would introduce a blanket ban on using credit cards for online gambling.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 was submitted in September. It seeks to ban credit cards and other credit-related products, as well as digital currencies.

Introducing the bill has led to significant debate in parliament, with several amendments being filed to alter the bill. However, these were ultimately unsuccessful and the bill passed today (14 November) with support from both major parties in Australia.

The bill will now move forward to the Senate, the upper house of parliament in Australia, for further debate.

Breaking down the credit card bill

Aside from the ban on credit products, the bill includes a host of other measures that would come into effect.

These include heavy fines for operators that do not enforce the ban. Licensees in Australia could face..

November 8, 2023

West Flagler files motion to suspend Hard Rock Bet in Florida

Pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates has filed a motion in Florida's Supreme Court to suspend Hard Rock Bet and its online sports betting offering in the state.

Hard Rock Bet, which is operated by the Seminole tribe, launched in Florida yesterday (7 November). Early access is available to players who bet previously with the operator and members of Hard Rock’s loyalty scheme.

However, the launch has been met with a legal challenge by West Flagler. A motion filed with the Florida Supreme Court requests it to expedite the exercise of its all writs jurisdiction to immediately suspend online sports betting.

West Flagler says the suspension should last until a final ruling on its petition for writ of quo warranto.

West Flagler: suspension the “only remedy”

“This launch was not previously announced and came as a surprise,” West Flager said. “On 1 November, the tribe announced that commencing 7 December it was commencing the games authorised by the 2021 compact at its..

November 6, 2023

India government orders blocking of 22 betting websites

Indian authorities have issued blocking orders against 22 betting apps and websites it says have been operating illegally.

Full details of those operators blocked by ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) were not disclosed. However, MeitY confirms that both Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro face blocking orders.

MeitY says it is taking action following investigations by the enforcement directorate (ED) against illegal betting app syndicate. The ED also carried out several raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, with these revealing unlawful operations.

The investigations have led to the arrest of several individuals. These include Bhim Singh Yadav, who currently works for the Chhattisgarh police. Yadav was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship as well as electronics and information technology in India, says the local Chhattisgarh govern..

November 3, 2023

Oklahoma governor sets out legal sports betting plans

Kevin Stitt, the governor of Oklahoma, has set out proposals to legalise online and in-person sports betting in the US state.

Oklahoma is one of only 15 states yet to regulate sports wagering. However, Stitt’s proposal could open the door for the state to open a legal market.

Plans are at an early stage, but Stitt has set out how the market could work in Oklahoma.

Retail betting would be limited to federally recognised Indian tribes, in line with a state-tribal gaming compact. Stitt said in-person wagering revenue would be taxed at a rate of 15%.

As for mobile betting, Oklahoma would award licences for operators to offer this form of betting to players. Licences would cost an initial $500,000 (£409,795/€470,463), plus an annual renewal charge of $100,000.

Mobile licence-holders would be able to accept sports bets from anywhere inside the state of Oklahoma. They would also be subject to a higher tax rate than retail operators, with this set at 20% of revenue.

“I promised Oklahoman..

October 26, 2023

Italy’s Sandro Tonali handed 10-month ban

Italian international footballer Sandro Tonali has been banned for at least 10 months after being found to have broken betting rules.

The Newcastle United player was handed an 18-month disqualification according to a statement issued by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The ban is initially only imposed in Italy, but will almost certainly be extended globally by Fifa, possibly before this weekend. The ban will be reduced to 10 months should Tonali, who claims to be a gambling addict, complete an eight-month rehabilitation plan.

Under an agreement reached with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Tonali has also been handed a €20,000 ($21,000/£17,500) fine.

Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July, was found to have breached article 24 of the CGS, the FIGC’s Code of Sports Justice. This article forbids professional footballers from placing bets on events organised by FIGC, UEFA and Fifa.

Tonali is one of three Italian internationals who have been under investiga..

October 26, 2023

US Supreme Court denies West Flagler’s motion to stay

The US Supreme Court has denied West Flagler Associates' motion for a stay, giving hope to Florida's Seminole tribe for a sports betting relaunch in the Sunshine State.

Chief Justice John Roberts denied the motion to stay yesterday (25 October), which was described by the official Supreme Court blog as an “emergency application for stay”.

Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, said in a statement that he agreed with the court’s decision.

“I agree that the stay application should be denied in light of the DC Circuit’s pronouncement that the compact between Florida and the Seminole tribe authorises the tribe to conduct only on-reservation gaming operations and not off-reservation gaming operations,” he said.

“If the compact authorised the tribe to conduct off-reservation gaming operations, either directly or by deeming off-reservation gaming operations to somehow be on-reservation, then the compact would likely violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, as..

October 17, 2023

Italian footballer suspended for seven months amid illegal betting scandal

The Italian Federal Prosecutor's Office has handed Juventus footballer Nicolò Fagioli a seven-month suspension for betting on football events.

Reports about Fagioli emerged last week, claiming he placed bets with an unlicensed gambling site. Italian Football Federation (FIGC) rules state athletes found betting on the sport can face bans of up to three years.

Two more Italian national team players, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa player Nicolo Zaniolo were later revealed to be under investigation and withdrawn from selection.

According to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Fagioli has reached an agreement with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. This is in line with article 126 of the CGS, which allows the subject of an investigation to apply for a reduced sanction. Fagioli will also be fined €12,500 (£10,849/$13,239)

Further reports today (17 October) say that Guiseppe Riso, Tonali’s agent, confirmed that he had a gambling addiction. Henry Winter, chief fo..

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Tag: Legal