It’s Friday on SBC Americas so once more our colleagues over at SportsHandle and friends deliver another round-up of the week’s big developments in US sports betting.
Is the NFL gambling policy working?
A rash of gambling-related suspensions hit the NFL this offseason, with the league levying penalties on 10 players. As a result of the sports betting infractions, the organization increased its educational efforts ahead of the 2023 season.
Education about gambling policies isn’t new, but the league has tried to improve the measures, especially for rookies. From videos to in-person training to facility signage, the NFL has tried to spread its gambling policy message before the 2023 season began Thursday.
But Bennett Conlin of SportsHandle asks if these educational efforts are really making an impact. Looking at the response from players, the answers aren’t pretty.
Read the full story here
Circa Sports contest facing potential overlay
There’s nothing bettors love more than free money, and that is what they might get if they enter the football contest at Circa Sports.
Circa has guarantees totaling $14 million this year for its pick ’em and survivor contests. Those break down as $6 million in guaranteed payouts for the sportsbook’s fifth annual pick ’em contest, the Circa Million V, and $8 million for the Survivor Pro Football Contest, now in its fourth year.
As of Thursday night, the pick’em contest still featured seven figures of overlay. Last year the contests had $1.3 million in overlay. With this year’s contest upping the ante from $12 million to $14 million in guarantees, will that number be even bigger?
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Ask a Bookmaker with Jay Kornegay
Football season is upon, so what better time to talk with someone behind the counter about what the action has been like? SportsHandle chatted with Sports Betting Hall of Famer Jay Kornegay about trends he has seen at SuperBook. The column answers many of the common (and uncommon!) questions gamblers and enthusiasts have about how sportsbooks operate in the modern age of sports betting.
Read the full story here
MI regulator talks about the group’s award-winning PSA
The Michigan Gaming Control Board launched a multimedia PSA campaign in March called “Don’t Regret the Bet,” which sought to educate Michiganders about the warning signs of problem gambling while also providing them with tools to gamble responsibly and seek help if things got out of hand.
“Don’t Regret the Bet” was among the honorees at the Platinum Viddy Awards in August, with the recognition coming a little more than a month after the state legislature approved $3 million in continued funding for the campaign in June.
MIBets spoke with the MGCB’s Responsible Gaming Section Manager Sandra Johnson about what went into the PSA and how she measures its success.
Read the full story here
NC lawmaker pushes for gambling expansion
While a late push to add a massive gambling expansion bill to the North Carolina budget fell apart, the talk of further expanding gambling in the state is not quieting down.
Rep. Jason Saine, who spearheaded mobile sports betting legalization efforts in North Carolina earlier this year, published an opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer supporting potential iGaming legalization in the Tar Heel State. Saine persuaded lawmakers to pass sports betting this year, but iGaming expansion might be a tougher sell.
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AGA publishes responsible gambling data
Lawmakers, regulators, and stakeholders across the country have placed a higher premium on responsible gambling initiatives over the last year, and on Tuesday the American Gaming Association shared survey results that suggest the push is working. A survey of gamblers taken in August indicates that 84% are “aware” of at least one responsible gambling resource, and 91% of sports bettors said they are getting the message.
The data was published as part of Responsible Gambling Education Month. During September there will be a different theme each week for both operators and bettors to learn more about how to gamble responsibly.
Read the full story here
Iowa responds to athletes pleading guilty to underage betting
College sports wagering scandals hit the University of Iowa and Iowa State University this spring, with each school suspending multiple athletes. Several of the violations led to criminal charges being filed.
A handful of players, including Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, who placed underage wagers via an account shared with his parents, recently agreed to plea deals.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s regular review of its gambling regulations included a few notable proposed changes to sports betting rules, which were posted Aug. 24. Among the proposed changes are stricter rules against account sharing, seemingly in response to the in-state college scandals.
Read the full story here
