New Jersey Sports Betting Fine: Sportsbook Fined for Taking Bets on Finished Events
New Jersey Sports Betting Fine for Taking Bets on Finished Events
In a regulatory move concerning sports betting, a New Jersey sportsbook has faced penalties for allowing bets on sporting events that had already concluded. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) recently imposed a civil fine of $20,000 on the William Hill Sportsbook at Tropicana Atlantic City, which has since been rebranded to Caesars Sportsbook.
Details of the Regulatory Breach
The settlement, publicly disclosed on November 19, details incidents between February 2022 and April 2023 when William Hill permitted wagers even after the outcomes of the events were publicly known. Specifically, 42 in-person bets were recorded at self-service kiosks during on February 23 and 24, 2022, involving 12 college basketball games. Customers continued to bet on those games even after they had concluded.
Third-Party Liability and Remedial Actions
In the aftermath, William Hill acknowledged it mistakenly paid out over $5,000 on winning bets related to the impacted college games before realizing the error, although the remaining bets were subsequently voided with customers refunded for their original stakes. The sportsbook indicated that the mistake resulted from a third-party book supplier, OpenBet.
Moreover, previous violations were noted where the sportsbook took bets on two boxing matches that had also concluded.
Similar Cases and Regulatory Landscape
This is not the first instance of regulatory action within New Jersey’s sports betting landscape. Earlier in the summer of 2023, the DGE revoked the sports wagering license of PlayUp due to non-compliance concerning payroll obligations. Additionally, an agreement of $10,000 was reached with PlayUp’s sports betting provider, Amelco, for another violation regarding unauthorized bets on the 2024 presidential election.
Conclusion
The actions taken against the William Hill Sportsbook serve as a reminder of the strict compliance standards governing the sportsbook industry. As regulatory bodies continue to crack down on violations, casinos and sportsbooks must enhance their protocols to ensure fair play and integrity in sports betting.
