Sports League News: Missouri Betting Proposal, NFL Returns

## Sports League News: Missouri Betting Proposal, NFL Returns

Welcome to iGB’s Sports League News, a review of the top North American sports betting headlines we covered this week, and other intriguing stories we discovered.

**Sports League News: A Review of This Week’s North American Headlines**

**Missouri Betting Proposal Nears Ballot**
Advocates for the Missouri betting proposal claim they’ve gathered 300,000 signatures, aiming to reach 325,000 by the May 5th deadline. The group “Win for Missouri Education” requires 180,000 verified signatures to place the proposal on the November ballot. The proposal would authorize statewide mobile sports betting.

The Missouri betting proposal, supported by the state’s professional sports teams, would circumvent the state legislature, which has been stalled for years on how to legalize online betting.

Missouri appeared ready to be a pioneer in the region in 2020. However, its legislature hasn’t reached an agreement, while neighboring Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska have legalized some form of betting. In total, seven of Missouri’s eight bordering states offer sports betting.

**NFL Returns Five Players**
On Thursday (April 18th), the NFL reinstated five players who were suspended for breaking the league’s betting regulations.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Isaiah Rodgers is absent from the list.

The NBA, after suspending its first athlete, Jontae Porter, declared his return to the league. Porter shared confidential information with bettors and participated in NBA wagering.

Twitter chatter: April 19, 2024 – The NFL brought back defensive player Shaka Toney; would Peters and Quinn want him on their team? #HTTC

According to NFL.com, the only current player to be brought back is Commanders defensive player Shaka Toney. The league also reinstated former Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety CJ Moore, linebacker Demetri Taylor, and former Colts linebacker Rashod Berry.

Despite brief signs of improvement, Maine ultimately did not legalize online wagering.

Last week, a bill granting the Wabanaki tribes online gambling rights was rejected in both the Maine House and Senate, but then was revived, passed the House, and ultimately failed in the Senate.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the bill was revived after Senate Majority Leader Assistant Leader Mattie Douty requested a review. This strategy is common in Maine. In hopes of changing the outcome of a vote, lawmakers will vote in favor of the winning side, even if they don’t support it, so they can reintroduce the bill.

Maine’s legislative session concluded on April 17, and bills from this session cannot be continued.

DraftKings is facing a legal action over its “risk-free” wording.

DraftKings is facing a class-action lawsuit in a New York federal court for employing the phrase “risk-free,” as per a Bloomberg Law report. The legal action was initiated on Thursday, April 17th.

Gamblers were assured that if they lost on a “risk-free wager,” the wagered sum would be restored to their accounts. However, bettors contend that the credits they received for successful bets were worth less than half of what they would have gained if they had wagered actual funds.

Caesar’s is also confronting a legal action in New York for utilizing the term “risk-free” in its sports betting advertisements.

Numerous prominent operators have ceased using the term “risk-free” in the past year, and several US regions have prohibited its use.

The New York Gaming Commission has commended the NCAA’s call for a nationwide prohibition on collegiate player prop bets. New York has already forbidden such wagers.

New York Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer penned a letter to the NCAA on April 15th stating that the state’s initial rationale for the ban was to “safeguard student athletes from potential harassment stemming from their performance.”

Approximately 15 US jurisdictions have outlawed college player props. Louisiana is the most recent state to implement a ban.

Mississippi’s online sports betting legislation will be presented to the legislature for consideration.

Mississippi’s House Bill 774, which would permit statewide mobile wagering, will be forwarded to a combined committee.

This committee will be comprised of Representatives Casey Eure, Jay McKnight, and Henry Zuber III, and Senators David Blount, Mike Thompson, and Chuck Younger, and is scheduled to convene next week. With the legislative session concluding on May 5th, legislators have less than three weeks to reach a consensus.

The legislation cleared the House in February and the Senate approved a modified version on April 9th. The revised bill was a “strike-all” bill, replacing the House’s proposition with existing state regulations.

This action was intended to facilitate continued dialogue. The bill was returned to the House for concurrence, and the anticipated outcome is a joint committee that can negotiate a compromise.

Other developments…

… On Thursday (April 18th), the New York City Council approved zoning modifications that would allow any entity securing a downstate casino bid to obtain an exemption to construct in high-density or commercial manufacturing areas.

… On Friday (April 19th), Caesars Entertainment declared that it had launched its NHL-branded blackjack game on its online gaming platforms in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

… On Monday (April 15th), Lottery Geeks reported that a significant lottery is poised to vote on increasing the cost of each ticket from $2 to $5.

… The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe declared plans to construct a new gambling establishment in Texas.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is contemplating the establishment of a gaming facility in Petersburg, with a potential ballot measure in November.

Alabama’s legislation regarding wagering, which initially incorporated sports betting, has been curtailed. There is a slim possibility of its passage.

Minnesota’s plans for sports wagering are encountering difficulties.

North Carolina bettors placed a total of $659 million in wagers during the initial three weeks.

Ontario witnessed $63 billion in bets during its second year of operation.

Connecticut’s proposed legislation concerning gambling includes stringent advertising regulations.

FanDuel is currently leading the competition for gambling in Washington, D.C.

Ontario’s regulatory body has halted betting on World Boxing Association events.

The United States will establish a nationwide self-exclusion registry for gambling.