Dhruv Rathee, a popular YouTuber, has recently tweeted that he would release a video to discuss how an online betting app has become the main sponsor of the Indian cricket team. His tweet attracted the attention of many sports fans who were eager to hear his opinion on the matter. The YouTuber’s tweet has been provoked by the recently signed sponsorship deal between Dream 11 and the country’s national cricket team.

The YouTuber has decided to use psychological tactics instead of directly discussing fantasy sports platforms. Rathee’s tweet reveals that he considers fantasy sports a form of gambling. The YouTuber went even further by calling these gambling apps “trashy”. His tweet suggests that online betting apps are sponsors of the Indian Premier League teams and they would advertise their gambling services during cricket events.

An online betting app will now be the main sponsor of Indian Cricket Team.

My next video will be about such trashy apps.

— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) July 1, 2023

The YouTuber, however, has presented things in a very subjective way. According to him, online betting apps will sponsor the national cricket team. However, India’s cricket team has signed a sponsorship deal with the fantasy sports platform Dream 11. In India, fantasy sports are legal because they are considered games of skills.

All luck-based games, however, are illegal, and advertising illegal gambling activities is punishable. Besides, the YouTuber did not mention the names of the betting apps operating against the law. Rathee pointed out that he did not specify the names of the apps because of possible copyright claims.

Fantasy Sports are Legal in India Because They are Seen as Skill-Based Games

Before selecting the sponsor for India’s cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had explained that companies offering real-money gambling would not be allowed to participate in the bidding process. An undeniable fact, however, is that numerous illegal offshore betting apps have emerged on the Indian market and are promoting themselves through celebrities and surrogate brands.

But the BCCI made the right decision in selecting Dream 11 as the main jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team because the app was declared legal by the Supreme Court. Besides, fantasy sports apps have been determined to be games of skill by various high courts. Lumping online gambling apps and fantasy sports platforms together is simply wrong and misleading.

On Saturday, the BCCI announced that it signed a three-year deal with Dream 11, under which the fantasy sports platform would be the new sponsor for the India cricket team, replacing the ed-tech platform Byju’s. The BCCI unveiled that the Dream 11 logo would appear on cricket players’ kits for the first time during the West Indies vs. India Head-to-Head Test matches, scheduled to kick off on July 12 in the Caribbean.

On Friday, Ohio lawmakers voted in favor of a proposal to increase the sports betting tax rate to 20%. The move aims to boost Ohio’s sports betting tax revenue by $100 million to $315 million annually. Of that revenue, 98% would go to sports educational programs, while the remaining 2% would be directed to the Problem Sports Gaming Fund. The tax increase was included in the state’s $85.8-billion budget for fiscal year 2024-2025.

The budget bill became effective on Saturday after Governor Mike DeWine signed it into law. In April, the House presented its version of the budget bill, which did not include a sports betting tax increase. But in June, the Senate passed the budget bill after introducing several amendments to it. The revised version of the bill included a provision, under which state sports betting operators would be taxed at a 20% rate. The idea to double the sports betting tax was initially suggested by Governor DeWine in his version of the budget bill this February.

However, DeWine’s proposal did not gain traction among legislators immediately. But in June this year, members of the Senate decided to include DeWine’s tax hike proposal in the budget bill in a bid to maximize revenues from the recently-launched sports betting market. As expected, House members opposed the sports betting tax increase, claiming it might have a negative impact on the industry. However, the budget bill passed the Senate on a 25-6 vote and the House on a 67-30 vote on Friday last week.

The Recent Tax Hike Raises Concerns among Sports Betting Operators

As of January this year, online and retail sports betting is legal in Ohio. The gambling regulator, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), initially licensed 16 online sports betting platforms and 13 land-based sportsbooks. Some of the most popular online sportsbooks that operate in the Buckeye State are Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Currently, 18 online sportsbooks cater to the needs of Ohioans.

Some operators claim that smaller sportsbooks may have to leave the market due to the recent tax hike. Former state Rep. Dan Dodd commented on the sports betting tax increase that the state might lose millions of dollars in licensing fees because many operators would prefer to stay away from Ohio. Americans for Tax Reform referred to the recent tax increase as “tax risk” and explained that the state’s revenue would not increase under the new tax rate because the number of active operators is expected to decrease.

At the moment, 40 states offer legal sports betting. Of all those states, only 10 have a sports betting tax rate of 20% or more, with Ohio being among them. Only New York, Delaware, and Rhode Island tax sports betting operations at a rate of 50% or more, while the average across the country is 13%.

After postponing the implementation of a gambling advertising ban several times, the rule prohibiting most forms of gambling commercials finally became effective on July 1. Under the new rules, radio and television commercials, as well as gambling adverts in public spaces, such as billboards, bus stations, cafes, and inside gaming venues, are prohibited. The ban also extends to print adverts.

From July 1 of next year, gambling companies will be prohibited from sponsoring TV events and programs, while gambling sponsorships in sports must end by July 2025. The new rules also come with specific restrictions regarding affiliate advertising. While the country has introduced a ban on untargeted gambling advertising, such commercials are allowed within on-demand streaming services, social media, or via email.

The Dutch gambling regulator has explained that the objective of the regulations is to reduce the number of people below the age of 24 who see such adverts by 95%. However, it is still unclear who and how exactly would ensure operators and advertisers abide by the new rules. The country’s gambling watchdog, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), announced it would issue guidance for operators regarding the new advertising standards.

The authority expressed hopes that licensed operators would take matters into their own hands and ensure they comply with the gambling advertising ban. The Dutch regulator, however, did not forget to remind operators to observe the law. This April, KSA Chairman René Jansen explained that self-regulation is important to prevent excessive gambling advertising, but relying entirely on businesses to ensure they comply with the new advertising standards may not be a successful approach.

Industry Self-Regulation May Prove More Efficient Than Fines, According to Dutch Minister for Legal Protections

The country’s gambling watchdog has previously announced that it would be wary when enforcing the new advertising measures. The decision to leave matters into the operators’ hands made many anti-gambling politicians ask the minister for legal protections, Franc Weerwind, whether self-regulation is a smart move. The minister explained that this might turn out to be more effective than imposing hefty fines. KSA has confirmed that it oversees how the new advertising rules are implemented.

Only a few months after the Netherlands opened its gambling market to foreign casino operators, the Dutch online gambling trade associations VNLOK and NOGA introduced self-regulation guidelines, also known as the Advertising Code for Online Games of Chance.

Under the country’s advertising code, gambling commercials could last a maximum of 30 seconds. Besides, the maximum number of gambling adverts during a given advertising session is three. Moreover, operators must not include messages encouraging irresponsible gambling, must inform players about responsible gambling practices, and limit the range of sign-up bonuses on offer.

The Netherlands was expected to introduce a gambling advertising ban as of January 1 this year. But the decision to implement the prohibition was postponed several times because some provisions of the legislation had to be clarified. A curious fact is that the country rolled out its plans to ban gambling adverts shortly after Belgium announced that it would ban gambling advertising on July 1.

Code enforcement officers forced a Middle Eastern restaurant in Sterling Heights to cease operations after it allegedly organized various illegal gambling activities for its visitors, which violated its agreement with the city. This is not the first time the venue was ordered to cease operations because it purportedly offered illegal gambling.

The owner of Tarboosh Cafe on 17 Mile Road west of Ryan Road once again faces accusations by city officials. He is expected to attend a hearing, scheduled for this August, during which the city’s Planning Commission is to determine whether or not concerns of illegal gambling taking place until early in the morning inside the restaurant are reasonable.

Chairman Pashko Ujkic said a hearing was initially scheduled for June this year when the Planning Commission had to determine whether or not the property complies with its conditional permit and operates as a restaurant or is used as a gambling venue. At a June 14 meeting, commissioner Parmpreet Sarau explained that the Planning Commission was presented with materials, which proved the cafe violated its conditional permit granted in July 2022.

The venue in question has been operating as a restaurant on a special land use permit in the Briarhill Shopping Center. But according to code enforcement officers and members of the Planning Commission, the restaurant owners violated their agreement with the city by allowing gambling onsite. Although the restaurant boasts a lengthy menu, it offers much fewer dishes. Robert Hannosh, the restaurant owner, refused to comment on the issue.

The Panning Commission scheduled a hearing for June 14, giving Hannosh 30 days to hire an attorney and prepare a defense. But he waited until the last moment to find a lawyer. According to Planning Commissioner Brandy Wright, Hannosh’s attorney, Robert Berg, asked commissioners for a two-month postponement of the hearing so he could have time to examine the case and determine how to proceed.

The Restaurant Owner Uses Awkward Practices to Cover Illegal Gambling Operations

The Panning Commission allowed the restaurant to operate on a special land use permit, under which the venue is not allowed to offer gambling activities or host gambling machines. Moreover, no banquets or private parties can take place in the restaurant. Smoking is also banned inside the eatery. However, members of the Planning Commission allowed the venue to stay open until 2 a.m. during the entire week and all weekends.

According to records, the owner of the restaurant had the intention to apply for a liquor license. However, Hannosh has not applied for such a permit yet. Some time ago, the Sterling Heights Fire Department stated that it would not approve the restaurant’s license because it violated protection and safety requirements several times.

Last September, Hannosh obtained a certificate of occupancy. But since then, city officials have registered multiple cases of gambling taking place inside the restaurant. According to records, visitors had to pay a small entry fee and meet a food consumption requirement to engage in the gambling activities offered at the restaurant.

After several inspections of the restaurant, officers concluded that the customers of the venue were men, and women have never attended this place. Besides, little to no food was consumed, and there were no plates or silverware on any of the tables. According to officials, the venue covers gambling operations by charging patrons a small entry fee. Hannosh told inspectors that the men usually passed by to “hang out” and they never ordered food, and that is why he decided to make them pay a cover fee.

As of July, Hungarian banks will restrict all payments to offshore gambling and sports betting sites in a bid to crack down on illegal gambling. The Authority for the Supervision of Regulated Activities (SZTFH) has joined forces with Hungarian banks, which agreed to stop processing gambling transactions to unlicensed casinos and sportsbooks. Hungarians who use the services of illegal gambling sites will no longer be able to use their credit cards to fund their accounts and withdraw their profits, as implied in the authority’s statement.

In its statement, the authority also advised players to first check whether or not a given gambling site is licensed to operate in the country before joining it. Hungarian players can find a list of all licensed gambling and sports betting platforms on the official site of the Authority for the Supervision of Regulated Activities. According to the statement, Hungarians must play at licensed gambling sites, or else they may find themselves unable to cash out their profits. Besides, by playing at licensed gambling sites, players from Hungary can rest assured that their sensitive information will not be misused.

The Hungarian authority warned people that most offshore gambling sites also fail to comply with responsible gambling standards and often have no scruples and accept players under the legal gambling age of 18. This, on the other hand, may lead to increased problem gambling rates among young people. The Authority for the Supervision of Regulated Activities, which oversees the gambling industry, has never stopped fighting against illegal gambling activities. Penalties for individuals who offer illegal gambling activities vary from HUF 500k to HUF 1 million.

Hungary’s Gambling Watchdog Takes Serious Measures against Illegal Gambling Activities

This April, the gambling watchdog slapped an unnamed individual with a hefty fine of HUF 30 million ($87k) for illegally offering games of chance disguised as lotteries that offer high-value prizes, such as cars and properties. The SZTFH said that wrongdoers often claim that they give tickets to customers who buy a physical item.

However, Hungarian law stipulates that any luck-based game that provides players with the opportunity to win a prize and requires payment for entry fall under the category of gambling. Although such games are legal in Hungary, one must obtain a license from the Supervisory Authority of Regulatory Affairs to operate legally operate in the country.

The regulator also said that there are several signs that could help Hungarians recognize illegal games, such as the draw being canceled because a specific number of items have not been sold or the item players want to buy is more expensive than usual. The regulator also explained that anyone who regularly organizes gambling activities without having a license may end up in jail for up to three years. Advertising illegal gambling services in Hungary is also punishable. Promoting unlicensed gambling services can result in significant fines for all parties involved, reaching up to HUF 10 million.

On Wednesday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) sent a letter to all sportsbook operators, announcing that they must stop all promotions aimed at retail customers by 5 pm on July 7. The regulator explained that providing sports betting rewards to people making non-gaming purchases significantly increases the risk of problem gambling among young people. The move comes shortly after Fanatics was ordered to stop offering sports betting promotions to merchandise buyers due to rising responsible gambling concerns.

All operators have to prove they have removed sports betting promotions targeting people who make non-gaming purchases by 5 pm on July 7, as per the OCCC letter sent to stakeholders on Wednesday. The regulator is open for comments on the new rules until July 12. Fanatics is a vivid example of a sportsbook trying to lure in new bettors by offering bonus bets to customers purchasing non-gaming products online. But Fanatics is not the only operator that uses this marketing strategy.

According to the regulator, BetMGM is another operator using this tactic. The company offers $50 in bonus bets to customers who deposit $5, and this advertisement pops up on a food delivery app. In an email to the media agency Sports Handle, OCCC Director of Communication Jessica Franks explained that many other companies target merchandise consumers by offering them bonus bets to try out the sportsbook.

Offering Sports Betting Promotions to People Who Make Non-Gaming Purchases May Lead to Increased Problem Gambling Rates

According to the regulator, such promotions would lead to the normalization of gambling activities because they target consumers who make non-gaming transactions. Usually, affiliate non-gaming companies offer sports betting bonuses to their customers following a transaction. In some cases, consumers may receive sports betting deals via email or another communication channel. The gambling watchdog also claims that such ads may exacerbate gambling problems.

According to the OCCC, sports betting promotions must be aimed at a specific group of consumers. That is why even if it did not prohibit operators from offering such bonus offers, it would regulate this marketing strategy to make it compliant with the existing advertising rules. For example, sportsbooks in Ohio must not advertise their services to individuals under the legal gambling age of 18.

Besides, operators are not allowed to send marketing materials to punters registered in the self-exclusion program. However, restaurants, delivery services, merchandise retailers, and all other affiliate non-gaming businesses cannot identify people who have opted out of gambling and sports betting because they do not have access to Ohio’s self-exclusion register.

Ohio’s gambling authority has invested a lot of effort to enhance player protection and fight against problem gambling. Since the beginning of the year, the OCCC has issued fines to prominent sportsbooks, such as BetMGM, Caesars, and DrafKings, for violating the state’s gambling advertising standards. Before sports betting went live in Ohio, Barstool Sportsbook appeared on the regulator’s radar because it allegedly targeted college students.

Earlier this week, Senate Bill 120 became law after New Hampshire’s Governor Chris Sununu signed the legislation, which aims to protect and maximize charitable gaming revenue. Under the new rules, charitable casinos can offer a maximum bet limit of $50 instead of $10, while buy-on and re-buy limits on tournaments will go from $150 and $250 to $2,500. Table stake limits also climb from $150 to $2,500. The changes will become effective as of July 1.

In New Hampshire, casinos must give 35% of their profits to charitable organizations. In recent years, the state has started loosening its gambling regulations, allowing casinos to extend their working hours and offer more gaming options. Thanks to the new rules, land-based casinos’ revenues have increased, benefiting receiving charitable organizations. In the 2022 fiscal year, the charitable gambling venues in the state donated nearly $15 million.

Senate Bill 120 is seemingly tied to Rep. Tim Lang’s Senate Bill 104, which sought to regulate online gambling and establish a college education scholarship fund. As reported by BonusInsider, the online gambling legislation initially failed to pass the Senate on an 11-12 vote. But Senate President Jeb Bradley immediately called a recess.

To help the bill earn lawmakers’ approval and appease concerns that online gambling would negatively affect charitable casinos’ operations, Lang also proposed Senate Bill 120, which convinced some lawmakers to change their minds. As a result, the two bills passed the chamber on third reading by voice vote and were sent to the House for consideration.

Lawmakers Amend Proposed Online Gambling Bill to Appease Cannibalization Concerns

Senate Bill 104 raised concerns that online gambling would negatively affect the revenues of the state’s land-based charitable casinos. Lang, however, argued that New Hampshire has already regulated online sports betting, but it has not affected charitable gaming revenue.

To ensure that the online gambling industry would not cannibalize charitable gambling venues’ revenues, lawmakers added an amendment to Senate Bill 104, under which online casinos would be allowed to offer only table games, such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. Charitable gambling venues, on the other hand, provide Lucky 7 electronic games and slot-like historical horse racing.

The online gambling bill also stipulates that the minimum age at which New Hampshire residents can gamble online is 18. Under the provisions of the legislation, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission will be the authority tasked with overseeing the online gambling market. The operators that will receive a license to operate in New Hampshire will be selected through a competitive bidding process. Moreover, online casinos must inform players about the location of the closest land-based charitable casino.

Kroy Biermann, former American football outside linebacker, has been sued over alleged casino debt of $52k, which he did not pay back. He reportedly accrued the gambling credit at the Baha Mar Casino in the Bahamas. According to a new lawsuit filed by Sky Warrior, the company that handles the credit lines at the Baha Mar Casino, Biermann took a $100k line of credit before a trip in November 2021 and never paid it back.

The former football star allegedly promised to repay his debts and assured the company he had the money in his SunTrust bank account. But the lawsuit claims that Biermann drew $52,000 in chip markers before leaving the casino but did not repay even a cent of his credit. Sky Warrior not only wants to get back the money it lent to the sportsman, but also recoup interest and attorney’s fees.

The news about Biermann facing a lawsuit over unpaid casino debt came just a few weeks after he accused his wife, Kim Zolciak, of having a gambling problem. After 11 years of marriage, Biermann and Zolciak separately filed for divorce in May 2023. The former NFL player claims that his soon-to-be ex-wife has spent a lot of time on gambling activities.

Owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, Baha Mar opened its doors in April 2017. The 1,000-acre resort features a gaming area, which occupies 100,000 square feet and offers over 1,000 slot machines and 119 gaming tables.

Kroy Biermann Claims His Wife’s Gambling Problem Destroyed Their Family

According to Biermann, Kim exhausted the family’s savings to fuel her gambling addiction and asked the court to force Kim to submit to a psychological test. The couple purportedly owes the International Revenue Service (IRS) over $1 million. Besides, Bierman has been sued for not paying lease payments on his expensive car.

It also became clear that Zolciak and Biermann are both asking for sole physical custody of their kids. Three years ago, Brielle Biermann, one of the couple’s kids, revealed in a tweet that she had to wait several hours in the car while her mother gambled.

In her post, Brielle Biermann explained that she was supposed to go out for dinner with her mother, but after a two-hour drive, they ended up in front of a casino in North Carolina. Kim’s daughter claims this happened in 2017 when she was 20. According to Brielle Biermann, her mother gambled until 3 am while she was waiting for her in the car.

The couple participated in a Bravo TV show called “Don’t Be Tardy” and revealed spicy details about their relationship. In Season 3, the former NFL player said that when he was in the Bahamas, he won a “quarter of a million dollars” and never came back.

Royal Caribbean International, which owns six of the world’s biggest cruise ships (also known as the Oasis-class vessels), has converted the jazz clubs aboard into smoke-free casinos with the help of the interior design agency Trimline while the ships were in service. Currently, three of the company’s cruise ships offer non-smoking gambling areas instead of jazz clubs aboard, including Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas.

All players who do not want to inhale toxic secondhand smoke while enjoying their favorite games are welcome aboard Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas. Although the “Jazz on 4” clubs located in each of the Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships were popular venues for live music, the company decided to transform them into smoke-free casinos due to the growing demand for smoke-free gambling areas.

The change happened during the ships’ latest sail and took approximately two weeks on each ship. Thanks to Trimline’s expert team of joiners, electricians, builders, decorators, IT specialists, and data experts, the work did not affect the cruisers’ onboard experience. Billy Morton, Trimline’s project manager, said that the results are impressive and will attract the attention of every gambler.

Is There a Smoke-Free Gambling Space Aboard the Other Three Oasis-Class Vessels?

Royal Caribbean’s decision to reduce the smoking areas onboard reflects younger cruisers’ preferences. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the number of U.S. adults who smoke has declined from 20.9% in 2005 to 11.5% in 2021. Besides, the company’s cruise ships are more oriented toward families, providing them with various amenities and awe-inspiring designs.

It is still unclear whether the company will modify the look of the other Oasis-class cruise ships. Aboard Symphony of the Seas, cruisers will find a jazz club on Deck 4. Wonder of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, which already features a non-smoking gambling space called “Golden Room” on Deck 4. The company’s newest Oasis-class ship is Utopia of the Seas, and it will be launched in July next year. The cruise ship features space called “Casino Royale Non-Smoking”.

Royal Caribbean owns a total of 25 cruise ships, with each featuring a gambling area called Casino Royale. The onboard casinos offer various slots and table games that will correspond to the preferences of high-rollers as well as risk-averse players. Cruisers can start gambling for real money once the ship is at least 12 miles away from the U.S. coastline. Wonder of the Seas is the cruise ship with the largest Casino Royale, hosting 456 slot machines, 27 table games, and a high-stakes poker room.

Yesterday, the Aurora City Council held a meeting and approved Penn Entertainment’s plans to relocate Hollywood Casino Aurora from Fox River to a high-traffic area near I-88 and Farnsworth Avenue, across from the Chicago Premium Outlets mall. The operator’s plan passed on a 10-1 vote, with John Laesch being the only one to vote against the proposal.

Since his election this April, he has always been against the idea of the city granting financial incentives and gifts of land to Penn Entertainment. In October 2022, the city gave $50 million to Penn Entertainment through bond issuance, supporting the company’s project to move the Hollywood Casino out of downtown.

The casino operator is expected to repay the money over the next 23 years from the increased property taxes the gambling venue is projected to generate. Under the company’s agreement with the city, Penn would have to compensate for the difference if the property taxes were not enough to cover the annual loan payment.

According to Laesch, taxpayers’ dollars should not be used to fund Penn Entertainment’s project even though the company has generated between $2.75 billion and $2.77 billion in tax revenues for the state each year over the last three years. He also added that the financing plan for the project would drain property taxes from the current district and divert them to other districts. The city’s chief financial officer, Christopher Minnick, argued that the project would not take away money currently paid to those districts. Instead, those districts would not get a share of the increased property taxes the gambling venue is expected to generate for the coming 23 years.

Penn Entertainment to Invest Millions in Moving Riverboat Casinos to Land

In 2022, Penn Entertainment rolled out plans to relocate its two riverboat casinos in Illinois to land-based locations in a bid to make them more accessible to visitors and remain competitive in the market. This May, the Illinois Gaming Board approved the company’s proposal, under which the Hollywood Casino Aurora will move from the Fox River to a land-based location.

The company will invest $360 million in the new gaming venue, which will host 900 slot machines, 50 gaming tables, and a Barstool sports betting facility. Besides, the complex will feature a 200-room hotel, bars, exquisite restaurants, a huge meeting space, and a convention center. Construction of the new gambling venue is unlikely to start before 2024 because Penn still needs to receive final approval on its construction plans and the venue’s design.

Initially, the land on which the Hollywood Casino Aurora will be located was zoned for business, wholesale, and manufacturing purposes. However, the Aurora City Council changed the zoning of the land and greenlit its conditional use for the planned development. The redevelopment agreement approved by the council allows Penn Entertainment to move its gaming venue from one taxing district to another.

Hollywood Casino Aurora opened its doors in 1993. Only three years earlier, the state implemented the Riverboat Gambling Act, which legalized riverboat gambling. But in 2019, state lawmakers introduced sweeping reforms to the existing legal framework, allowing riverboat casinos to operate on land upon receiving approval from the regulator. Rivers Casino was the first riverboat casino to secure a land-based casino license in Illinois.