Compliance Updates
Florida Targets Fantasy Sports Firms Over Possible Illegal Betting Games
Florida gambling regulators have sent cease-and-desist letters to three daily fantasy-sports operators accused of offering potentially illegal mobile betting games and threatened legal action if the sites don’t immediately stop.
Commission Executive Director Lou Trombetta sent letters warning the three companies that they “may be offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers” from Floridians and “may be promoting and conducting an illegal lottery.”
The alleged conduct is “strictly prohibited in Florida and constitutes criminal activity,” Trombetta wrote.
The letters targeted Underdog Sports, LLC, which is based in Brooklyn, N.Y; SidePrize LLC, also known as Performance Predictions LLC, doing business as PrizePicks, which is based in Atlanta; and Betr Holdings, Inc., which is based in Miami.
In fantasy sports, players can draft rosters of actual athletes, with the winners of fantasy games determined by the statistics of the athletes. Many games, like office pools, last all season.
The three companies offer what are known as “parlay-prop-style” games that could be more similar to sports-betting games that are off-limits in Florida.
“Under Florida law, betting or wagering on the result of contests of skill, such as sports betting, including fantasy sports betting, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a felony offense unless such activity is otherwise exempted by statute,” Trombetta’s letter said. “Accordingly, in Florida, sports betting may be lawfully conducted only pursuant to a gaming compact. … Further, receiving such illegal bets and wagers and aiding or abetting such criminal activities constitute separate felony offenses. … Lotteries are also strictly prohibited in Florida.”
A gaming compact is an agreement reached with the state.
The commission did not send letters to DraftKings and FanDuel, which have dominated the fantasy-sports market in the decade since the online games launched.
It was unclear Friday if the commission would crack down on other operators in the future, but emails show the gambling overseers could be casting a broad net.
“As you might imagine, my exec team asking what the letter means and seeking actionable advice, pretty urgently. Would like to discuss the substance at some point, but if you can help with one question, it would be great. Namely, Underdog operates multiple paid fantasy formats (season-long drafts, daily drafts, pick’em) and I just want to confirm my reading of the letter, which is that the legal conclusion applies to all paid fantasy contests — e.g., all of our contests — and not just particular types,” Nicholas Green, Underdog’s general counsel, wrote Friday to Ross Marshman, the commission’s general counsel.
“Your reading of the letter is correct,” Marshman replied.
John Lockwood, an attorney hired by multiple operators, warned that other companies could be swept up in the crackdown.
“The commission staff confirmed to me that the language in the letter broadly applies to all paid fantasy sports contests, and they are not aware of any paid fantasy sports company operating legally in Florida. We disagree on the merits and will be working with the commission and potentially the Legislature so we can ensure Florida sports fans can continue to play,” Lockwood said.
State lawmakers in the past have grappled with creating regulatory oversight for the fantasy-sports industry, to no avail. Proponents of fantasy sports have insisted that the contests are games of skill, not chance, and thus are legal under state gambling laws.
Trombetta issued the letters as a legal battle continues over a 2021 compact reached by the state and the Seminole Tribe. That deal gave the tribe control over sports betting in Florida.
A “hub and spoke” plan in the agreement would allow gamblers anywhere in the state to place bets online, with the wagers run through servers located on tribal lands. The deal requires sports betting to be “exclusively conducted” by the Seminoles but allows other operators to run fantasy sports contests.
Owners of West Flagler Associates and Fort Myers Corp., doing business as Bonita Springs Poker Room in Southwest Florida, filed a lawsuit challenging the compact, saying it violated federal law and would cause a “significant and potentially devastating impact” on their operations.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., in November 2021 ruled that the deal violated a key Indian gambling law. But a three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in June reversed that decision. The appellate court last week denied a request for what is known as an “en banc” rehearing before the full court.
The pari-mutuel owners filed a motion saying they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in, arguing the panel’s decision conflicts with other appellate rulings and “enables an extreme shift in public policy on legalized gaming that, once started, may be difficult to stop.”
Compliance Updates
BetComply brings ComplyCheck to the UK and beyond with major update
BetComply, iGaming’s most trusted technical and regulatory compliance firm, has expanded the coverage of its ComplyCheck tool to the UK, with even more new markets to follow.
ComplyCheck launched earlier this year as a new self-assessment / audit hybrid designed to help licence holders in the Netherlands navigate increasingly complex requirements.
The tool has proven so successful that partners have called for it to cover other regulated markets. BetComply has responded by adding the UK, with Ontario and Estonia to follow shortly. There are plans to roll out many more jurisdictions for ComplyCheck, starting with MGA and Curacao licences in early 2025.
Mike de Graaff, Chief Compliance Officer at BetComply, said: “When we launched ComplyCheck, it was a completely new approach designed to simplify licensing audits for operators. It’s been so popular in the Netherlands, we’ve prioritised bringing the service to new markers, starting with the UK. We’ve designed ComplyCheck to provide greater clarity to operators, making the audit process more efficient without compromising on the all important details. We couldn’t be more excited to see our partners using the tool in these new markets.”
ComplyCheck, which is powered by SG Certified, guides operators through the licensing process in two stages. Firstly, the tool presents operators with a simple set of questions they can complete and substantiate with evidence in their own time.
These responses are then analysed by BetComply’s team of regulatory experts, who reply with a full report highlighting any gaps where the operator may not be compliant.
The post BetComply brings ComplyCheck to the UK and beyond with major update appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Enteractive Appoints Lukasz Zebrowski as Head of Compliance
Enteractive, a global leader in player reactivation and retention solutions, has appointed Lukasz Zebrowski as its new Head of Compliance. Lukasz brings vast experience in regulatory compliance and will play a crucial role in ensuring Enteractive’s services continue to offer excellence on every level when talking directly with the players.
Andrew Foster, Chief Business Development Officer at Enteractive, stated: “Lukasz’s expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes will strengthen our compliance efforts, helping us deliver even greater value to our clients across diverse jurisdictions. His leadership will ensure we maintain the highest standards in responsible gambling and fraud detection, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding operators and their players.”
Enteractive views this role as essential to delivering top-tier service to operators globally. As regulations evolve, having strong compliance leadership allows Enteractive to provide safe, responsible, and effective reactivation services tailored to the unique regulatory requirements in each market. This ensures that operators can focus on their core business while trusting Enteractive to handle outreach to operators’ lost audience segments with compliance excellence front of mind.
Lukasz Zebrowski added, “At Enteractive, my focus will be on aligning our services with the highest industry standards, ensuring regulatory alignment in all the markets we operate in. We are dedicated to maintaining a compliance-first approach, particularly in player protection and fraud prevention, with comprehensive training programs to uphold these values at every level.”
This appointment further solidifies Enteractive’s position as a trusted partner in the iGaming industry, offering operators peace of mind when it comes to ensuring all customer communications are compliant with regulatory challenges in each market. The company remains committed to excellence, ensuring the highest levels of service and compliance across all operations.
The post Enteractive Appoints Lukasz Zebrowski as Head of Compliance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Internet Vikings Ready to Support Missouri Sports Betting Market
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces today that, with the voters of Missouri approving Amendment 2, they are prepared to offer their range of hosting solutions to operators and suppliers entering this newly regulating market.
Leveraging an established presence in 24 U.S. States, Internet Vikings is set to offer Missouri tailored, competitively priced hosting solutions.
“With the state officially opening its doors to sports betting, we are ready to provide the secure infrastructure needed to enter this market confidently,” said Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO of Internet Vikings. “Our team is prepared to act swiftly to support companies seeking a fast, compliant launch.”
To meet the requirements of businesses moving into Missouri’s sports betting space, Internet Vikings’ range of solutions streamlines the setup process. The company’s infrastructure supports performance, flexibility with their new Pay-As-You-Go Cloud bursting, and compliance, ensuring a reliable foundation for those looking to establish a strong foothold in the state.
“The entire Internet Vikings team is committed to giving operators and suppliers the best possible start, backed by our infrastructure and around-the-clock NOC support,” Vikström added.
With over 16 years of experience, Internet Vikings brings their expertise to Missouri and invites both new and established sports betting businesses to connect and explore tailored solutions designed for this new market.
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