On Wednesday, the Vermont Senate made some minor changes to a bill seeking to legalize online sports betting within the state and gave it preliminary approval. The legislative effort would allow up to six sports betting companies, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, to operate in the state. The measure would also establish a fund to collect revenue and fees from the sports betting market, with a portion of that money going towards programs aimed at curbing problem gambling.

Vermont Senate Introduces Amendments to the Sports Betting Legislation

On Wednesday, the Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill seeking to legalize online sports betting in the state after making slight adjustments to the legislation. During the session, experts warned Vermont lawmakers that online sports betting could be addictive and appealing to younger individuals. While presenting H.127 on the Senate floor, Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, explained that the bill had been designed with attention to preventing problem gambling.

The Senate decided to keep the House’s recommendation of Vermont taking at least 20% of the adjusted gross revenue that sports betting operators would generate in the state each year. However, the Senate introduced amendments regarding the operating fees that the state would charge each company.

The Senate bill proposes charging each operator a $550,000 fee once every three years, while the House suggested charging operators an annual fee based on the number of other companies in the market. The proposed fee would range from $550,000 a year for one operator to $125,000 a year for six operators.

According to Sen. Thomas Chittenden, D-Chittenden Southeast, the Senate Finance Committee hopes the proposed change would encourage sportsbooks to operate longer in Vermont. He also said that increasing fees for more companies could generate additional revenue for the state.

The Joint Fiscal Office estimated that the state would rake in around $2 million in revenue from legal sports betting in the 2024 fiscal year. The revenue would increase to roughly $4.5 million to $10.5 million in 2025, and start declining by around $10 million annually after that.

The Bill Provides for Hefty Fines on Unlicensed Sports Betting Platforms Operating within the State

Some lawmakers were worried that Vermont could be flooded with sports betting ads, which has happened in other states. To address this concern, the House Ways and Means Committee proposed a cap on the sports betting ad spending.

However, the Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee, including Senator Clarkson, believed it was best not to be too strict with agreements between the state and operators regarding advertising plans. As a result, the Senate has agreed to remove language from the House version of the bill that would limit sports betting operators’ advertising spending.

Under the provisions of the legislation, sports betting marketing materials should not target individuals under 21 years old. The bill also seeks to prohibit sports betting operators from advertising their services near college campuses.

An amendment to the bill introduced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday doubles the fines the state would impose on operators who run unlicensed sports betting. For a first offense, operators would pay a fine of $50,000. The fine for a second offense would be $150,000, and $300,000 for subsequent violations.

If the bill becomes law, it is expected that Vermont will have a legal sports betting market by January 2024.

During the weekend, a man from Florida entered and won a women’s poker tournament, which took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida. The 70-year-old man pocketed over $5k for emerging victorious in the ladies-only poker event. The incident sparked a debate over male inclusion in female sporting events. While some people take the issue of a man playing in a tournament for ladies in a lighthearted manner, others consider it a violation.

The Motives Behind the Man’s Appearance at a Women’s Event

This weekend, Dave Hughes from Florida appeared at a ladies-only poker tournament and secured a prize of $5,555 for his victory in the $250 buy-in Ladies No-limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) event. Of all 83 contenders for the big prize, 82 were women, and the last one was David Hughes. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that in the end, Hughes had to pit wits against Dayanna Ciabaton, defeating her heads-up.

Hughes’ presence stirred up the hornets’ nest. In a post on Twitter, professional poker player Ebony Kenney said that she offers a $300 bounty on him. Several others in the poker community matched Kenney’s bounty, which eventually exceeded $2,000 but remained unclaimed.

But not only Kenney criticized the appearance of Hughes at the women’s poker event. British professional Charlie Carrel commented that Hughes’ presence at the event is funny because everyone can identify themselves as a woman and gain access to spaces reserved for ladies.

Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson said via the media agency Poker News that she likes women’s poker tournaments, and the presence of men in such events spoils the entire idea. She explained that she would not appear at a men’s poker event as she would not qualify for it. Johnson also said that Dave Hughes was probably looking for attention, and that is why he appeared at the women’s poker tournament.

Why Men Appear at Women’s Sporting Events?

According to anti-discrimination laws, Florida casinos are not allowed to prohibit men from appearing at women’s events. Nevada casinos abide by the same law. But to prevent men from entering the World Series of Poker’s Ladies event, which is a $10,000 buy-in tournament, women get a 90% discount.

This is not the first time a man appeared at a women’s poker event and won the top prize. In 2009, Abraham Korotki, a former WSOP Circuit event champion won the $300 buy-in Ladies No-limit Hold’em event at the Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City. In 2007, former baseball player Jose Canseco made headlines when he and five other men wanted to enter a ladies’ poker event, which was held at the Commerce Casino in California.

Yesterday, WarHouse officials revealed their plans to commence construction on the new Lincoln and Omaha gaming facilities. WarHorse Gaming Lincoln’s next phase of construction will begin shortly after the Omaha facility construction starts in July this year. The completed facility in Lincoln is to host 870 slot machines, six to ten table games, and an expanded dining area.

The proposed casino at Omaha’s Horsemen’s Park is expected to start operating in June or July next year. Omaha’s gambling venue will feature 1,300 slots and 20 table games, 800 of which to be available after the first phase of the casino construction.

Casinos in Omaha and Lincoln to Provide Residents with Multiple Gaming Options

On Tuesday, WarHouse Gaming unveiled its plans to start construction work on its casino in Omaha in June this year and partially open its new gambling establishment in June or July 2024. Lynne McNally, Chief Executive Officer of Nebraska Horsemen, thanked Omaha citizens for their patience and added that the gambling facility will offer a fantastic range of 20 table games, 870 slots, sports betting, and simulcasting. Ms. McNally could not hide her enthusiasm from the fact that the gambling venues in Omaha and Lincoln will revive the state’s horse racing sector.

According to experts, WarHorse entertainment complexes in Omaha and Lincoln will bolster Nebraska’s economy and attract more visitors to the state. Besides, the facilities will bring Nebraska’s horse racing industry to life. Estimations show that the WarHorse Gaming Lincoln will employ more than 500 people and generate roughly $14 million in tax revenue for the state of Nebraska.

In September 2022, WarHorse opened a temporary casino in Lincoln until the construction of the permanent complex is completed. The temporary casino occupies 9,000 square feet and hosts 433 slot machines. The next phase of the construction of Lincoln’s permanent gambling venue is expected to start in July this year and will add 500 parking lots, 870 slot machines, six to ten table games, and an expanded dining area to the current spot.

WarHorse Casino Projects in Omaha and Lincoln Faced Multiple Hurdles on Their Way

McNally explained that the realization of the casino projects took longer than expected due to some circumstances beyond anyone’s control. She added that Nebraska voters passed a gambling ballot measure, allowing casino gambling at horse racing tracks in November 2020.

McNally cited the legal hurdles that WarHorse had to clear before being able to commence construction on its Lincoln and Omaha casinos in July. She also noted that the process of construction of the two gambling facilities coincided with rising interest rates, and the company needed time to effectively navigate the situation.

In 2022, WarHorse Casino Omaha at Horsemen’s Park obtained a license from the Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission. It is one of two under-construction gaming projects in the state initiated by the Winnebago Tribe. They have partnered with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) for both casino ventures in Omaha and Lincoln. Revenue generated from the two gambling facilities will be used for property tax relief.

On Friday last week, the Kansas Senate and House voted in favor of a resolution that would amend the gaming compact with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and allow Prairie Band Casino & Resort to offer sports betting services beyond the boundaries of its land by the end of this summer.

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation May Soon be Allowed to Offer Sports Betting Services Outside Indian Land

During a meeting held last Thursday, a joint committee unanimously approved the compact amendments and moved the proposal to the Kansas Senate and House for consideration. On Friday, the Senate approved SR 1725 by a 27-8 vote, while the House voted 93-27 in favor of their version of the resolution, also known as HR 6026.

The Resolution states that the Secretary of the Senate should send an enrolled copy of the resolution to the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the chairperson of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. According to the new compact, Prairie Band Casino can take offline and online sports wagers through partnerships with apps. However, people who prefer to use the services of the apps would only be allowed to bet on the tribe’s reservation.

In an interview on Thursday, Zach Pahmahmie, Tribal Counsel Vice Chair, said that the original gaming compacts did not permit the four tribes in the state of Kansas to offer sports betting services. That is why changing the language in the original compact was a major step forward.

Kansas’ Tribes Seek to Expand Their Sports Betting Operations

Last month, the Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs held a hearing on a bill that would encourage Governor Laura Kelly to renegotiate gaming compacts with the state’s tribes to expand sports betting beyond the boundaries of the tribe’s Indian lands.

Under the provisions of the current gaming compact, the four federally recognized tribes, including the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, are allowed to offer sports betting services on their Indian lands only.

The proposed amendments seek to allow tribal entities to provide sports betting services outside their lands. The tribes could partner with non-tribal entities to operate sports betting outside their lands. But the proposal raised questions about the effect of such a move on the state’s revenue from commercial sports betting entities.

On September 1, 2022, six sports betting platforms went live in Kansas. The state allowed up to 12 sportsbooks to enter the market via partnerships with any of the four Kansas-based gambling establishments. Major sports betting companies such as BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel have obtained licenses to operate in the state.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine has proposed to the Verkhovna Rada to remove the human factor in the issuance of casino licenses and eliminate the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL). According to Ukrainian News Agency, the announcement came on Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov’s Telegram channel, where he explained that the government supported the bill and is pending approval from the Parliament.

Bill Seeking to Liquidate the Commission for Regulation of Gambling Awaits Final Parliament Approval

The Cabinet of Ministers has proposed that the Verkhovna Rada liquidate the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries and automate the process of granting casino licenses to eligible operators. The measure also seeks to make the licensing process more transparent and fairer.

In a statement on his Telegram channel, the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov wrote that organizational changes would allow for the quick implementation of an Information Technology (IT) system for online monitoring. This would facilitate the interaction between gambling business operators and the state in real time.

Although the measure has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, the text of the draft bill is still not published. According to industry experts, the liquidation of CRGL will also save the country money from salaries and other expenses.

The Short History of Ukraine’s Gambling Regulator

On July 14, 2020, Ukraine officially legalized gambling. The Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries was formed on September 23, 2020. The Ukrainian state regulator has been tasked with issuing licenses to casino operators and overseeing the industry. At the end of October 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Ivan Rudyi as the chairman of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries.

In March 2021, the gambling watchdog awarded the first license to the sports betting company Parimatch LLC. Last year, the regulator announced that it received 667 applications for gaming licenses. A total of 603 licenses were issued by CRGL, of which 593 were slot licenses. Three licenses were issued to allow online gaming, and four others were granted to sports betting companies. Another three licenses were awarded to operators interested in offering gambling services.

A total of 63 were not considered due to mistakes in the applications. The regulator also revealed that half of the licenses were issued during martial law. Last December, Ukraine’s gambling watchdog canceled the licenses of three Russia-linked gambling businesses.

In March this year, the Ukrainian regulator suggested reforms to the procedures for suspending licenses during martial law. The proposed changes aim to prohibit Russian gambling businesses from operating in Ukraine. Besides, the proposed measures seek to suspend the licenses of operators who offer games of chance in Russian-occupied territories, combat the illegal market, and reduce the number of people affected by gambling problems.
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The Malaysian gambling company Genting Bhd sold 15.5 acres of land in downtown Miami’s largest chunk of underdeveloped waterfront for $1.2 billion after failing to build a planned casino resort. According to a statement, a Miami-based company called Smart City Miami, led by developer David Martin, bought the plot of land. Mr. Martin said that the company does not have plans for the property at this moment and will focus on examining the potential of the land. The transaction is expected to close later this year.

Genting Will Keep Its Property to the North

One of the largest undeveloped waterfront parcels in downtown Miami, which Genting planned to use for building a casino resort, was sold to a local real estate owner for $1.2 billion. In a post on Twitter, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said that he is proud that David Martin purchased one of the nicest plots of land in America.

According to a regulatory disclosure form, Smart City Miami is the official purchaser of the parcel. The company was established earlier this month by David Martin and his father Pedro Martin, who is also the co-founder of Terra Group – a highly-acclaimed Miami-based real estate development company. The filing also revealed that Smart City has 60 days to conduct research on the property and 60 more days to close the deal.

Under the sale and purchase agreement, Terra is to take over the development lease of a site close to the Omni Metromover station, where Genting had been planning to build a hotel complex under a deal with Miami-Dade sealed in 2017. However, the Omni parking garage and office complex, and the Hilton Miami Downtown Hotel are still owned by the gambling company.

The Official Purchaser of Genting’s Parcel in Downtown Miami Yet to Unveil Development Plans

Although the company did not reveal its plans for the land, it announced that the location has great potential for something breathtaking. David Martin, the chief executive officer of Terra, said that the company would work on a project to modernize downtown Miami and improve access to the waterfront.

But according to Peter Zalewski, founder of the consultancy firm Condo Vultures, buying a plot of undeveloped waterfront in downtown Miami is a risky investment due to rising interest rates and shrinking financial markets. In his opinion, Genting had a good development vision for the site but failed to convince authorities to approve its project. Mr. Zalewski also said that the location is perfect for a development combining residential, office, hospitality, and retail space.

In 2011, Genting announced that it will buy the 15.5-acre bayfront site of the former newspaper offices and printing presses for $236 million. The deal was closed three years later, but the land remained undeveloped because the company could not obtain a casino license from the state. Genting revealed that the company will now focus on its development plans in Florida and New York.

On Wednesday, the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted against Senate Bill 104, seeking to legalize online table games. The decision came just one day after the Senate’s first hearing on the matter.

The committee members believe that legalizing online gambling would have a negative impact on the revenue generated by the state’s charitable gaming organizations. But The New Hampshire Bulletin reported that the legislation will move to the House although it remains uncertain whether or not legislators will discuss it.

Why the House Committee is against the Legalization of Online Table Games?

On Wednesday, the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee met in an executive session to discuss Sen. Timothy Lang’s bill, which aims to legalize online table games and direct funding to higher education. All 20 members of the committee unanimously voted against the legislative effort, calling the bill “inexpedient to legislate”. They recommend legislators kill the bill as online casinos will put revenues generated from charitable gaming operations in jeopardy.

During the meeting, Rep. Fred Doucette, a Salem Republican, said that there is still a lot of work on the bill. He explained that legislators can consider the matter in the future but should not make hasty decisions. The committee’s unanimous recommendation will be brought up for a vote on the House floor during its next session.

Over 70 charitable organizations in New Hampshire offer games at 14 different locations. These non-profit organizations receive 35% of the profits generated from table games and 75% from historical horse racing machines. The state lottery gets a 10% cut, which goes to fund education.

The Objective of the Legislative Measure

As BonusInsider previously reported, the measure passed the Senate on a second vote on March 30. This Tuesday, the New Hampshire Senate held its first hearing on the bill, during which opponents and proponents of the gambling expansion could present their arguments.

Advocates of the legislation clarified that the funds generated through online gambling would fund higher education, which would also address the state’s workforce problem to some extent. But opponents of the bill said that online gambling would cause a significant decline in the revenue that charitable gambling organizations generate.

Under the provisions of the bill, operators will be allowed to offer online table games such as roulette, blackjack, and poker. New Hampshire residents must be at least 18 years old to engage in online gambling activities. Online casinos will be required to pay a 35% tax, and the New Hampshire Lottery will be given the authority to regulate the market.

DraftKings is among the proponents of the bill. The company entered the New Hampshire market in 2019 when the state legalized sports betting. Although the bill allowed for up to 10 retail and five online sportsbooks, DraftKings agreed to pay a 51% tax in exchange for being the only sportsbook operating in the state.

This Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board imposed fines on Mount Airy, Mohegan Pennsylvania, and Sugarhouse worth $147,500 for a series of failures and revoked the licenses of three casino employees. During the board’s monthly meeting, which was held yesterday, the regulator also decided to add three individuals to the state’s involuntary self-exclusion list, prohibiting them from entering any of the state’s 17 casinos.

Why Pennsylvania’s Gambling Watchdog Fined the Operators?

Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County has to pay a fine of $120k for failing to submit internal audit plans in due time. The audits had to include information about the cashier cage accountability, bank secrecy compliance, food and beverage operations, the responsible gambling program, the surveillance system, etc.

Attorney Adrian King Jr., representing Mount Airy, explained that the auditing failure had nothing to do with the required financial audits, which were filed correctly and in a timely manner. He added that the casino had hired a new general manager and chief financial officer to avoid such mistakes in the future.

However, the board, consisting of seven members, was frustrated by the casino’s repeated failures to oversee its operations. Board member Sara Manzano-Diaz said that such a systematic failure is intolerable and even suggested that the fine should be higher than $120k.

Ben Koff, Mount Airy’s new general manager, promised that this would never happen again and future reports would be submitted in a timely manner. Board member Frank Dermody warned Koff that if such a system failure occurs again, the casino could face more severe repercussions.

Downs Racing, L.P., operator of Mohegan Pennsylvania casino in Luzerne County, received a fine of $20,000 for hiring employees into positions for which they had no proper licenses. Rivers Philadelphia received a fine of $7,500 for failing to inform the board about a cheating incident in a timely manner.

The Board Also Revokes Personal Gaming Licenses

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also revoked the licenses of three Live! Philadelphia Sportsbook employees for improperly taking bets in June 2022. Longo, Ryan Hanley, and Omar Muhammad are the three workers that had to bid farewell to their gaming licenses.

The board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel explained that the men placed two bets of $37,500 each, and another bet of $20,000 on behalf of Rocco Giunta. But the wagers lost, and Giunta refused to provide the money for them. As a result, the sportsbook suffered a loss totaling $95,000. Longo is charged with theft of service and added to a summary diversion program. Besides, the board ordered the wrongdoer to pay restitution for the casino losses caused by his actions.

During the Wednesday meeting, the board added three adults to the Involuntary Exclusion List for leaving six children unsupervised to engage in gambling activities.

Yesterday, the media agency Moneycontrol reported that skill gaming industry body The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), along with gambling companies Gameskraf, Games24x7, and Head Digital Works, will take legal action against Tamil Nadu’s anti-gambling law, which was approved by Governor R.N. Ravi and came into effect on April 21. The Madras High Court is to hear the case on April 27.

Industry Body Files Petition, Claiming Tamil Nadu’s Gambling Law Violates Three Articles of the Indian Constitution

On April 10, Gov. Ravi gave assent to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, under which playing online games of chance, including poker and rummy, is illegal. The law ruffled the feathers of the industry body The All India Gaming Federation and some gambling companies, which claim the law is unconstitutional.

As a result, the AIGF, Gameskraf, Games24x7, and Head Digital Works decided to legally challenge the constitutionality of the law at the Madras High Court. AIGF filed a written petition seeking interim relief. In its petition, the AIGF claimed that games such as poker, chess, rummy, fantasy sports, casual games, and esports are games of skills.

The industry body wants the operation of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Gambling Act to stay. It also urges the court to declare the law unconstitutional as it lacks legislative competence and violates the Constitution. The high court is to hear the case on April 27.

In an interview with Inc42, AIGF secretary Roland Landers said that the gambling law, which Tamil Nadu’s government passed earlier this month, is unconstitutional as it bans games of chance. He added that the law does not comply with the established jurisprudence and is based on an incorrect understanding of technology. The petition claims that the law violates Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The New Rules for Online Gaming Prohibit Games Involving Wagering

Earlier this month, the Tamil Nadu government approved a bill under which online gambling is prohibited in the southern state. The ban also covers poker and rummy, which reignited heated debates over the constitutionality of the law. The law also stipulates that those caught playing online games of chance for real money will face a fine of INR 5,000 or imprisonment of up to three months.

Operators who target Tamil Nadu residents may receive up to three years of jail sentence and a hefty fine of INR 100,000. As reported by BonusInsider several days ago, some online poker and rummy platforms have already blocked Tamil Nadu residents from playing real-money games.

On April 6, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced the rules for online gaming after months of consultation. Under the institutional framework, a self-regulatory organization (SRO) will determine whether online games would be permissible. Besides, the government will initially appoint three SROs, comprising industry representatives, educationists, and other experts.

In March, the sale of instant lottery tickets experienced an exceptional surge, boosting the financial performance of the Lottery three-quarters of the way through the fiscal year. This Tuesday, Interim Executive Director of the Massachusetts Lottery Mark William Bracken said that scratch tickets worth a total of $366.4 million were sold last month, about $57.5 million more than in March 2022. The Lottery reported that its gross sales totaled $519 million in March this year, representing a significant growth compared to the same period last year.

Scratch Tickets are among the Most Popular Lottery Products in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Lottery seems to be growing rapidly, and figures come to prove this. According to Interim Executive Director Mark William Bracken, the Lottery sold $366.4 million worth of instant tickets last month, pushing the Lottery sales for the month to over half a billion. But the only games that did not experience a decrease in sales were Mega Millions and Lucky for Life compared to March 2022.

Instant tickets are the most popular product the Lottery offers, usually accounting for 65% to 70% of all sales. Throughout much of the fiscal year 2023, instant tickets sold more slowly than in the previous year. However, the sales surge in March pushed the year-to-date instant ticket sales to $51.3 million, or 1.7% more compared to the same period of fiscal year 2022.

The Lottery’s gross sales through the first nine months of the fiscal year reached $4.64 billion, which marks an increase of $168.2 million or 3.8% compared to the same period last year. Much of this growth can be attributed to higher sales of draw games due to record jackpot offerings in the winter.

According to Bracken, the Lottery’s net profit is approximately $909 million so far, which represents a year-on-year growth of about $73.4 million. Interestingly, the Massachusetts Lottery returns net profits to the Commonwealth in the form of local aid distributed among all 351 cities and towns.

Massachusetts Lawmakers Consider Allowing the Lottery to Go Online

As reported several days ago by BonusInsider, Massachusetts legislators are now discussing whether to let the Lottery offer its products online. According to some lawmakers, if the Lottery goes online, it will be able to compete with for-profit casinos and sports betting apps.

Proponents of the proposal explained that profits generated by the Lottery benefit Massachusetts residents, and by extending the Lottery’s operations online, more funds will be pumped into the economies of Massachusetts cities and towns. Legislators projected that if the state authorizes the Lottery to sell its products online, it will generate $200 million in tax revenues a year, and the funds would go to aid childcare centers.

But the proposal was not welcomed by retailers, who were worried about their revenues. Last year, convenience and liquor stores generated over $330 million in revenue thanks to the instant lottery tickets. Store owners explained that people who purchase scratch tickets usually buy other things, too.