This Wednesday, a bill seeking to legalize sports betting in North Carolina was swiftly approved by the House Finance Committee. The legislative effort must receive approval from the House Rules Committee before it advances to the House for consideration. If the bill becomes law, the first sports betting platforms are expected to enter North Carolina’s market on January 1, 2024.

Proposed Amendments to the Bill Collapsed During Committee Meetings

The House Commerce Committee voted 17-10 for the measure this Tuesday, sending it to the House Finance Committee, where the proposed legislation was also approved without much debate. Now, the sports betting bill heads to the House Rules Committee. Should the legislation succeed there, it will move on to the Senate. In 2022, efforts to legalize sports betting in the state failed due to raising concerns about the potential risks of gambling. The House voted 51-50 to reject to proposed measure that would legalize sports betting in North Carolina.

With over 50 sponsors from both parties, the current legislation has a bright future. However, several amendments were proposed during the last committee meeting. Rep. Tim Longest was among the lawmakers who tried and failed to remove promotional tax deductions and increase the tax rate from 14% to 51%. Rep. Jason Saine, one of the bill’s sponsors, explained that such a steep tax rate would prevent major operators such as BetMGM and DraftKings from entering the market.

During the House Judiciary Committee meeting, where the bill passed by a 7-3 vote, Rep. Pricey Harrison proposed an amendment to the bill that would have raised the penalties imposed on operators who breach the state’s gambling law from $10,000 to $1 million. She also suggested an increase in licensing fees from $1 million to $10 million and attempted to remove amateur and Olympic sports betting from the bill. But the committee members rejected all proposed amendments.

Key Provisions of the Sports Betting Legislation

The latest version of House Bill 347 would authorize 10 to 12 operators to offer mobile sports betting services in North Carolina. Besides, it would impose a tax of 14% on operators, who would be allowed to benefit from deductions for promotional costs.

Besides, no limits would be imposed on deductions until January 1, 2025. After that, a cap of 2.5% of gross wagering revenue would be introduced. Under the proposed legislation, people physically located in North Carolina would be able to wager on Olympic, professional, college, and electronic sports. Currently, only the three tribal casinos in North Carolina provide residents of the state with the opportunity to wager on sports.

According to a fiscal analysis of House Bill 347, North Carolina would collect less than $3 million in tax revenue in the first six months because operators would be able to deduct an unlimited amount of promotional costs. Under the legislation, $300,000 of the revenue generated from sports betting would go to fund athletic departments of small universities.

This Wednesday, the Missouri House voted 118-35 in favor of a sports betting bill, which would impose a 10% tax on operators’ net winnings. Now, the legislation moves on to the Senate, but its future remains uncertain. Before the sports betting bill becomes law, it must receive approval from the House, the Senate, and the governor. Previous attempts to legalize sports betting in the state have failed due to disagreements among legislators.

Why Legislative Efforts Were Rejected?

Last year, Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg) introduced a bill, seeking to legalize sports betting and allocate 33 skins for the casinos located in Missouri and six more skins for the professional sports teams in the state. The bill passed on a 115-33 vote and moved on to the Senate, where Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) filibustered it because it did not include legalizing video gaming terminals (VLGs).

As a result, Hoskins crafted his own bill, combining regulation on sports betting and video lottery terminals. However, his legislative attempt did not receive approval from the committee. Hoskins argued that video gaming terminals could generate even more revenue for the state.

Although legislators tried to find the middle ground, the state’s legislative session closed without passing the sports betting bill. Last year, lawmakers tried to bring back the issue during a special legislative session focused on tax cuts, but the governor blocked the attempt, saying that it is not relevant to the topic. But the future of the sports betting bill is still unclear.

The Future of Sports Betting in Missouri

Last month Houx said that Missouri must legalize sports betting to catch up with neighboring states, which have already regulated the industry. He explained that many Missourians cross the border to place bets on major sporting events or use illegal betting sites. As a result, the state misses out on revenue that would go to fund public education if the proposed legislation becomes law.

Under the provisions of the bill, sports betting operators will be taxed at 10% based on their net winnings, which is on par with the tax rates adopted by surrounding states. Attempts on behalf of the Democrats to raise the tax and remove deductions for promotional costs failed. However, the Democrats pointed out that casinos are taxed at 21%, which puts them in an unfavorable situation.

If the sports betting bill passes the Senate, Missourians above 21 will be able to download and install a sports betting app on their devices and place a wager from anywhere within the state. Industry insiders believe that the sports betting industry could generate over $15 in tax revenues for the state.

This Tuesday, the right-wing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) joined forces with other right-wing and neutral parties in an effort to defeat a proposal seeking to prohibit gambling companies from advertising their services in tourist areas and airports. But this attempt does not coincide with the Balearic Islands’ left-wing government wishes.

Why Some Politicians Want to Ban Gambling Advertising Throughout the Balearic Islands?

The Balearic Islands, a popular tourist destination in Spain, is home to many gambling establishments. In December 2022, the Balearic Islands introduced amendments to the Gambling and Betting Law aimed at protecting vulnerable people from gambling-related harms. Among all other things, the legal reform includes provisions seeking to ban gambling and sports betting advertising throughout the Balearic Islands.

The government supported the proposed reforms, explaining that such measures are needed to protect underage individuals from being exposed to gambling marketing and establish a safe gambling environment. The proposed gambling advertising ban was also approved by left-wing politician VP Juan Pedro Yllanes.

But the proposed measure to ban gambling advertising throughout the Balearic Islands opened Pandora’s box of troubles for the Spanish politicians during the next-to-last session of the legislature. To block legislative attempts to prohibit gambling advertising, Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) sided with the People’s Party (PP). This move was quite shocking considering that these two parties have been rivals for a long.

The legislation eventually succumbed to the pressure on behalf of the parties and included an amendment, under which casinos are allowed to advertise their services in brochures and tourist establishments such as ports and airports.

What Other Measures the Proposed Bill Includes?

Yllanes was not satisfied with this decision, explaining that most passengers at the Balearic Islands’ airports are not tourists. But according to information revealed by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics, the Balearic Islands welcomed over 16 million tourists last year, of which 8.5 million used an airplane to reach the islands.

The proposal to ban all forms of gambling advertising also resulted in disagreement between members of the same party. Sebastià Sagreras, a member of the PP, initially supported the amendment that seeks to allow gambling advertising in tourist areas. Later, he aligned with Yllanes, supporting the ban on gambling advertising.

Currently, the Balearic Islands offers 108 gambling establishments for every million inhabitants, making it the third region with the most gambling venues in Spain. The government, however, aims to reduce this number and get close to the national average, which is 68 gaming properties per million inhabitants. To solve this problem, legislators introduced another amendment that would require gambling establishments to have a minimum distance of 500 meters from each other and schools.

The Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families has proposed a bill seeking to amend the Right of Withdrawal Act, exempting gambling from it. The Ministry’s goal is to reshape the law in a way that reflects the modern gambling environment and combat illegal gambling activities. The Norwegian Industry Association for Online Gambling (NBO), however, did not fully embrace the proposal, explaining that stringent regulations fuel the illegal market.

What Does the Right of Withdrawal Act Stipulate?

Norway passed the Right of Withdrawal Act in 2014, which includes an EU consumer rights directive from 2011. The law states that consumers have the right to cancel an online purchase without having to give a reason or justification for their decision within 14 days. Moreover, the law includes provisions regarding the information a business entity must disclose before a contract between the trader and the consumer can be sealed.

But unlike the EU directive, which has a clause exempting games of chance, Norway’s Right of Withdrawal Act applies to gambling, too. Country officials decided to include gambling within the scope of the Right of Withdrawal Act in an effort to protect players who participate in online gambling activities. However, such information and withdrawal requirements are almost impossible to implement for gambling activities.

The Ministry of Children and Family Affairs realized this and introduced a draft proposal that would exempt gambling from the Right of Withdrawal Act. The main objective of the legislative effort is to divert Norwegians from illegal gambling sites. The bill was submitted for consultation on September 8, 2022.

The Bill Evokes Mixed Feelings

Opinions about the proposed amendments were mixed. The Norwegian Industry Association for Online Gaming (NBO) admired the Ministry’s attempt to amend the Right of Withdrawal Act and make it more relevant to the current gambling scene in Norway. But the association explained that the amendments may not yield the desired result.

According to NBO’s statement, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto must improve the services they offer and add more interesting games to attract the attention of Norwegian players and combat illegal gambling. Data presented by H2 Gambling Capital unveils that 67% of online gambling in Norway took place at non-regulated casinos and sportsbooks. NBO advised Norwegian authorities to consider the changes in Sweden that were introduced after the country liberalized its gambling market.

Swedish authorities explained that the opening of its market to foreign operators resulted in better consumer protection and more revenues for the country. Currently, online gambling is legal in Norway but is available through sites owned by the two state-backed companies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. A fact that Norwegian legislators must take into account is that the number of people affected by gambling problems in Norway has significantly increased, while the overall problem gambling rate in Sweden has remained relatively stable.

A new executive order issued by Denmark’s Ministry of Taxation will require all land-based gambling venues to register their players before being able to gamble. The new rule, which will come into force on October 1, aims to bring land-based casinos in line with know-your-customer and anti-money laundering processes, which are standard for the online gambling sector.

The Objective of the New Rules is to Create a Safer Gambling Environment

Denmark’s Ministry of Taxation introduced the new order after the government realized that it should modernize its consumer protection system and introduce new measures to combat crime within the gambling industry.

From October, Danes who want to play in a land-based gambling establishment will no longer be allowed to retain their anonymity as registration with the respective business will be obligatory. This way, authorities will be able to monitor players and prevent money laundering and match-fixing schemes.

The order also requires land-based casinos to have written internal rules and procedures on responsible gambling. Casinos must establish communication with at-risk players, present consumer risk assessments, and record and store information about their behavior. Under the new rules, casino operators are prohibited from sending promotional materials to players who have opted to self-exclude.

Self-excluded casino enthusiasts and individuals below the age of 18 will face other difficulties to place bets. They will have to set loss limits, among all other things. The objective of these measures is to reduce the number of people affected by gambling problems and create a safe gambling environment for everyone.

Denmark Takes Responsible Gambling Seriously

Denmark has been trying to establish laws that would prevent crime and protect players from gambling problems since it liberalized its gambling market in 2012. In 2020, the Danish government introduced mandatory deposit limits. Besides, licensed online casinos were required to provide information regarding organizations that help problem gamblers and feature a link to the country’s self-exclusion database ROFUS.

In 2022, the Danish gambling regulator stated that its licensees are not allowed to offer bonuses to inactive players. But these restrictions affected online casino operators. Land-based gambling establishments, on the other hand, could operate without having to comply with too many limitations.

But land-based casino’s rising revenue caught the attention of country officials. The country’s regulator reported that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) for 2022 reached DKK6.70 billion, which represents a 7.5% increase when compared to the figures from the previous year. Interestingly, the retail sector registered a significant increase in revenue. Profits from land-based casinos and slot operations increased by 59.1% and 47.5%, accordingly.

This Monday, the Missouri House gave preliminary approval of a bill that seeks to legalize sports betting in the state. Casino companies will receive support from the Republicans in an effort to turn down amendments proposed by Democrats to impose higher taxes and remove deductions for promotional expenses. Later this week, members of the Missouri House are expected to officially approve the bill and send it to the Senate.

Important Provisions Included in the Bill

The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg would allow licensed casinos to feature up to three betting platforms or six skins. Besides, major league sports teams would be allowed to offer branded sports wagering if they enter into a partnership agreement with a sports betting platform. If the Senate approves the measure, every Missourian over 21 can download and install a sports betting app on their phone or computer and place a wager anytime.

Sports betting platforms, on the other hand, would be taxed at 10% based on their net winnings, which would not include promotional costs. Democrats’ efforts to raise the tax and remove deductions for promotion expenses did not succeed. They argued that casinos pay a 21% tax on their winnings and do not benefit from such reliefs. Rep. Dan Houx explained that the House needs to unanimously support the proposed legislation to increase the chances of the Senate passing it.

Why Missouri Failed to Legalize Sports Betting Thus Far?

Last year, the House approved a sports betting bill, but the Senate blocked the legislation because Sen. Denny Hoskins hoped to see provisions that would legalize video gaming terminals, too. As a result, he introduced a new sports betting bill seeking to legalize video lottery terminals and sports betting. But his proposal did not receive support from legislators in the Senate Appropriations Committee. They said that it is better to address the two issues separately.

Sen. Hoskins has always been a proponent of the VLTs and sports betting legalization, but he insists on combining the two into a single bill. The bill’s sponsor Rep. Dan Houx said that Missouri’s neighboring states have already legalized sports betting and locals regularly cross the border to wager on major sporting events. He added that by allowing deductions for promotional costs, betting platforms will offer more generous promotions and attract sports fans from other states.

Rep. Phil Christofanelli explained that by approving the proposed sports betting expansion, Missourians will stop spending their money at offshore sportsbooks. Revenue generated from sports betting would go to support education. Figures show that the state could receive up to $29 million in revenue if the sports betting bill becomes law.

Mark King is the first British snooker player suspended from the World Snooker Tour (WST) over match-fixing allegations concerning his 4-0 defeat to Joe Perry at the Welsh Open held on February 13. Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), confirmed his decision to strike off King in an official statement.

Mark King had to play in the first round of the WST Classic in Leicester on Saturday against Muhammad Asif. But his opponent was handed a walkover after it became clear that King had been suspended amid an investigation into “irregular betting patterns”. King will remain suspended until the investigation comes to an end.

Mark King Will Not Participate in the World Snooker Tour

Mark King’s professional career started in 1991 and now, he is one of the best British snooker players. But at the Welsh Open that took place last month, he lost 4-0 to Joe Perry, which made the WST think that King is involved in match-fixing schemes.

King’s suspension comes after the WPBSA suspected 10 Chinese snooker players of corrupt activity. The 16th-ranked Yan Bingtao and the ninth-ranked Zhao Xintong are two of the Chinese players who were forced to miss the World Championships after being suspended by the world’s governing body for snooker. Allegations include manipulating the outcomes of games, convincing players to cheat, and failing to report concerns to authorities. Their hearing is scheduled to begin on April 24.

Joe Perry shared that King most likely had a bad day at the table and that is why he lost. He explained that every player has good and bad days and shared that sometimes it is hard to recover from a losing streak. Perry said that King was fond of gambling but he could control his habits. The snooker player also expressed his hopes that King will come out clean from the situation.

Match-Fixing Scandal Threatens Snooker’s Popularity

According to experts, this match-fixing scandal significantly threatens snooker’s rising popularity. People have started rising questions regarding the influence of betting syndicates on well-liked sports. Industry insiders believe this scandal may also lead to a decrease in the number of people who bet on this sport.

Snooker enjoys great popularity in Asia, particularly in China. That is why the suspension of the 10 Chinese players shook snooker fans to the core. But that is not the first case of the WPBSA suspending Chinese snooker players. In 2022, Liang Wenbo was suspended after being convicted of assaulting a woman. He was fined £1,380 and given a 12-month community order.

Tauseef Sadeeq, a 31-year-old trainee solicitor at Jacob Miller Solicitors in Bolton, abused his position and stole more than £100,000 of client compensation to gamble. Last week, the man pleaded guilty to 20 fraud charges and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Mr. Sadeeq was initially working for the company as a legal assistant for 14 months. After that, he was appointed to the role of a trainee solicitor for another five months. The man was dismissed on March 2021 after being caught stealing money from insurance companies and the firm he worked for. Mr. Sadeeq admitted that he used all the money to gamble without telling even his family and wife.

How the Trainee Solicitor Duped the Law Firm?

The investigation found that Tauseef Sadeeq used his position at Jacob Miller Solicitors law firm for his benefit, stealing up to £8,000 at a time from various insurance companies. Mr. Sadeeq had given his personal bank account details to the firm’s insurers and clients, prosecutor Colin Buckle revealed. The dismissed trainee solicitor authorized 20 fraudulent transactions, stealing a total of £100,437 between 1st February 2020 and 5th March 2021 – a period during which the firm had already suffered significant losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Buckle revealed that the firm’s accounts department noticed two suspicious payments from the company’s client account authorized by Mr. Sadeeq. The defendant explained that he approved the transactions by mistake. Mr. Sadeeq gave fake documents to the office manager after being asked to present copies of payment request forms. As a result of his deeds, the Solicitors Regulation Authority prohibited Mr. Sadeeq from working for law firms.

The Outcome of the Case

Mr. Buckle explained that not only the firm but also the employees had to suffer the consequences of Sadeeq’s actions, as eight of them were made redundant. Besides, the partners in the law firm had to pay £400,000 to cover losses that occurred as a result of Mr. Sadeeq’s unlawful actions. The whole case severely hit the firm’s reputation and many of the company’s clients decided to use the services of rival law firms.

According to Judge Martin Walsh, the crime can be described as a “considerable and gross breach of trust”, which resulted in financial losses and reputation damages for the Jacob Miller Solicitors law firm.

Mr. Sadeeq was taken to Bolton Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to all 20 fraud charges. Oliver Jarvis, Mr. Sadeeq’s defender, explained that his client was deeply ashamed and regretted the impact he had on the firm and the career he had worked hard to build. He added that Mr. Sadeeq did it to fund his gambling addiction, which he has already overcome.

This Thursday, city officials announced that they were forced to postpone plans for a casino at Hawthorne Race Course until they get financing to continue working on the project. At the same time, FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, formerly known as Fairmount Park Racetrack, announced that the construction of its casino will commence this summer and is scheduled to open by the end of 2024.

CEO of Gaming at Hawthorne, Kevin Kline, said that inflation, high interest rates, supply disruptions, the war in Ukraine, market volatility, and the Covid-19 pandemic are the main reasons for the delay of the casino project at Hawthorne Race Course. Gaming board members refrained from commenting on the project.

Hawthorne Race Course Casino Plan Needs Financing to Proceed

The top construction manager of gaming facilities and casinos, Pepper Construction, has already knocked down much of Hawthorne’s inside part and grandstand. Now, the planned construction can commence and renovation is expected to take 14 months, but the project still needs financing.

On March 16th, track President Tim Carey confirmed that city officials will do their best to support the development of the gambling and racing industry in Stickney. Last year, Mr. Carey announced that the construction of the gambling venue would start before the beginning of 2023.

Meanwhile, FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing stated that its casino is to open by the end of 2024 and construction work will begin this summer. The casino will initially host 600 slot machines and table games, but a planned second phase would expand the gaming floor and increase the number of slots and table games to 900. Besides, Chicago, Waukegan, East Hazel Crest, and Danville will welcome new gambling establishments.

What Exactly Happened to the Hawthorne Race Course Casino Project?

In 2019, Hawthorne revealed plans to establish a racetrack and casino (racino) in partnership with video gaming operator Rick Heidner. A year later, gaming board members approved the project. But Gov. J. B. Pritzker scrapped those plans after the media agency Chicago Tribune revealed that Mr. Heidner works with a bookmaker and a banker with alleged ties to the mafia.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Heidner has partnered with Rocco Suspenzi, chairman of the board at Parkway Bank and Trust in many real estate deals. The pair borrowed millions to fund the establishment of convenience stores and gas stations in different states. The Chicago Tribune also revealed that Heidner had business connections with Dominic Buttitta, who was convicted of running illegal sports betting operations.

Heidner’s alleged mob ties significantly jeopardized the future of the Hawthorne Race Course casino project as the Gaming Board could stall the project for an unlimited period. That is what happened to Rosemont Casino in 2001 when the Illinois Gaming Board refused to allow the establishment of the gambling facility after learning that some investors, including Rick Heidner, had ties to members of organized crime. That was a significant blow to the reputation of Emeral Casino Inc.

Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the “Royal Decree on Responsible Gaming Environments” to tackle potential negative gambling impact on locals. The new Decree focuses on protecting young people aged 18 to 25.

Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón, is the initiator of the Decree, which is expected to come into effect in six months. The Decree will require licensed operators to closely monitor their customers and detect at-risk players based on the amount they spend. Under the provisions of the new Decree, everyone who generates a net loss of €600 or more over three consecutive weeks is considered a compulsive gambler. For players below 25, that amount is €200.

The New Royal Decree’s Objective

The new Decree is to create a safer gambling environment and protect at-risk players from potential negative consequences that gambling could have on their mental and financial health. Under the new rules, operators must send warning messages to players with at-risk profiles and present a summary of their gaming activity every month.

The Decree also prohibits gambling companies from sending promotional materials to at-risk consumers. Besides, such users will be banned from using their credit cards for gambling transactions and participating in VIP schemes. Operators must contact at-risk players and suspend their accounts if they do not respond within 72 hours.

The new Decree also bars operators from sending promotions to people aged 18 to 25 who have never visited their gambling websites. A message warning that gambling at an early age increases the risk of gambling problems must appear in young players’ profiles. The Decree also includes new protection mechanisms for players who have enforced special restrictions on their accounts or have entered the national self-exclusion register.

Operators found in violation of the Royal Decree’s provisions will face hefty fines of up to €50 million and even license revocation. The Ministry of Consumption is the authority that has the power to issue fines to wrongdoers.

Spain Tightens Its Grip On the Gambling Industry

Problem gambling affects people all over the world. Various surveys show that Spain is among the countries with the lowest gambling rate in the world. That can be attributed to the strict gambling regulations that govern the gambling industry in Spain. In November 2020, the Spanish government approved the Royal Decree of Commercial Communications, imposing draconian restrictions on gambling commercials.

According to the Decree, gambling commercials can be broadcast only from 1 am to 5 am. Besides, gambling ads must not use images of money and luxury items or imply that gambling is more important than family and friends. Gambling companies are also prohibited from advertising their brands on Spanish football shirts.

However, not everyone has appreciated the efforts made by the Spanish Government to regulate the country’s gambling sector. The Spanish online gambling association JDigital criticized the tendency of tougher regulatory rules unveiled by local lawmakers, along with the provisions of the new Decree. The organization claims that the Spanish gambling market is already overregulated and the implementation of more restrictions would have an extremely negative impact on gambling companies’ performances.