A Warning from the Division of Gaming Enforcement
Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement David Rebuck is warning the news media about covering the gaming industry. He has stated that caution should be taken when dealing with sports betting platforms. Rebuck pointed out that the DGE is responsible for protecting the consumers in New Jersey from the dangers of illicit sites.
Such unlicensed sits are not authorized to accept wagers from players in the state. They do not have the proper consumer protections in place as well as integrity protocols. They also do not possess money laundering controls as required by the state.
It can be difficult for players to be able to determine if a site is licensed in New Jersey. Many have licensing through casinos in Atlantic City, such as PartyCasino offered by Borgata. Players may not be fully aware that other operators can offer services under a land-based venue of the state. Players may also lack the knowledge to determine if an operator is unlicensed and then try to use that site, which can lead to consumer protection issues.
Rebuck is advising the media that if a source is used that is an unauthorized sports betting site, then a disclaimer should be included to inform those in the state that they are not legally allowed to use the platform. The DGE recommends that media outlets use licensed and regulated sportsbooks for their odds reporting instead of using an offshore site.
Leading the Way
New Jersey has been the leader when it comes to sports betting operations in the US. They took charge in the federal fight to see a ban on sports betting repealed, of which they were successful. The state then became one of the first to offer legal bets and the industry has blossomed ever since.
The decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018 by the United States Supreme Court was a big blow to offshore sportsbooks. However, they continue to accept wagers in the US, including New Jersey and other states with licensed sports betting and online gaming.
It is unclear as to if the Division of Gaming Enforcement has plans to penalize the media for reporting information via unlicensed sports books. The warning seems to be one where the DGE is trying to ensure the proper information is provided to consumers instead of data from the illegal sites.
However, it would not be surprising to see new regulations in the future where information from the unlicensed sites cannot be distributed. It will be interesting to see if the DGE decides to make some changes in this regard or create some type of program so that players are betting informed as to which sites are legit and which ones should be avoided.
