New Jersey Fines Bet365 for Accepting Post-Consumer Sportsbooks
Date: 2024-09-09 Author: Leon Pierce Categories: SPORTS BETTING
iGaming and sportsbook operator Bet365 has been fined in New Jersey, where it operates in partnership with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The company is accused of accepting wagers on post-consumer sportsbooks, in violation of local regulations.
The New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has found that Bet365 accepted bets on a mixed martial arts fight that actually took place last week. It turns out that the company accidentally posted a replay of the event on its betting site.
Bet365 is also accused of providing unauthorized wagers between February 3, 2022 and January 23, 2023.
DGE interim director Mary Jo Flaherty said the regulator had agreed to settle with Bet365 after the operator took immediate corrective action. As a result, a civil penalty of $33,000 was imposed.
The money will be sent to the DGE's finance department.
A repeat violation by Bet365
Earlier, a month ago, Bet365 faced criticism from the DGE for other violations and was forced to pay $519,000 to its players. This happened after Bet365 revised its odds without prior notice to the regulator.
The regulator found that from 2020 to 2022, Bet365 "unilaterally revised the odds on a significant number of bets." The change occurred after the company's partners provided incorrect odds, forcing it to make adjustments.
While the DGE acknowledged the operator’s right to change the odds, the regulator noted that such actions should have been agreed with it first.
Flaerty noted that such failures “cause problems for Bet365’s ability to operate online games and for the integrity and reliability of its operating systems.”
At the same time, Bet365 has been selected as a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, marking the first time the league has entered into an agreement with a bookmaker. As part of the deal, Bet365 branding will be featured on stadium LED screens, media panels and UEFA’s digital channels.
