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Compliance Updates

Florida Targets Fantasy Sports Firms Over Possible Illegal Betting Games

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Florida gambling regulators have sent cease-and-desist letters to three daily fantasy-sports operators accused of offering potentially illegal mobile betting games and threatened legal action if the sites don’t immediately stop.

Commission Executive Director Lou Trombetta sent letters warning the three companies that they “may be offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers” from Floridians and “may be promoting and conducting an illegal lottery.”

The alleged conduct is “strictly prohibited in Florida and constitutes criminal activity,” Trombetta wrote.

The letters targeted Underdog Sports, LLC, which is based in Brooklyn, N.Y; SidePrize LLC, also known as Performance Predictions LLC, doing business as PrizePicks, which is based in Atlanta; and Betr Holdings, Inc., which is based in Miami.

In fantasy sports, players can draft rosters of actual athletes, with the winners of fantasy games determined by the statistics of the athletes. Many games, like office pools, last all season.

The three companies offer what are known as “parlay-prop-style” games that could be more similar to sports-betting games that are off-limits in Florida.

“Under Florida law, betting or wagering on the result of contests of skill, such as sports betting, including fantasy sports betting, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a felony offense unless such activity is otherwise exempted by statute,” Trombetta’s letter said. “Accordingly, in Florida, sports betting may be lawfully conducted only pursuant to a gaming compact. … Further, receiving such illegal bets and wagers and aiding or abetting such criminal activities constitute separate felony offenses. … Lotteries are also strictly prohibited in Florida.”

A gaming compact is an agreement reached with the state.

The commission did not send letters to DraftKings and FanDuel, which have dominated the fantasy-sports market in the decade since the online games launched.

It was unclear Friday if the commission would crack down on other operators in the future, but emails show the gambling overseers could be casting a broad net.

“As you might imagine, my exec team asking what the letter means and seeking actionable advice, pretty urgently. Would like to discuss the substance at some point, but if you can help with one question, it would be great. Namely, Underdog operates multiple paid fantasy formats (season-long drafts, daily drafts, pick’em) and I just want to confirm my reading of the letter, which is that the legal conclusion applies to all paid fantasy contests — e.g., all of our contests — and not just particular types,” Nicholas Green, Underdog’s general counsel, wrote Friday to Ross Marshman, the commission’s general counsel.

“Your reading of the letter is correct,” Marshman replied.

John Lockwood, an attorney hired by multiple operators, warned that other companies could be swept up in the crackdown.

“The commission staff confirmed to me that the language in the letter broadly applies to all paid fantasy sports contests, and they are not aware of any paid fantasy sports company operating legally in Florida. We disagree on the merits and will be working with the commission and potentially the Legislature so we can ensure Florida sports fans can continue to play,” Lockwood said.

State lawmakers in the past have grappled with creating regulatory oversight for the fantasy-sports industry, to no avail. Proponents of fantasy sports have insisted that the contests are games of skill, not chance, and thus are legal under state gambling laws.

Trombetta issued the letters as a legal battle continues over a 2021 compact reached by the state and the Seminole Tribe. That deal gave the tribe control over sports betting in Florida.

A “hub and spoke” plan in the agreement would allow gamblers anywhere in the state to place bets online, with the wagers run through servers located on tribal lands. The deal requires sports betting to be “exclusively conducted” by the Seminoles but allows other operators to run fantasy sports contests.

Owners of West Flagler Associates and Fort Myers Corp., doing business as Bonita Springs Poker Room in Southwest Florida, filed a lawsuit challenging the compact, saying it violated federal law and would cause a “significant and potentially devastating impact” on their operations.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., in November 2021 ruled that the deal violated a key Indian gambling law. But a three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in June reversed that decision. The appellate court last week denied a request for what is known as an “en banc” rehearing before the full court.

The pari-mutuel owners filed a motion saying they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in, arguing the panel’s decision conflicts with other appellate rulings and “enables an extreme shift in public policy on legalized gaming that, once started, may be difficult to stop.”

BETER

BETER secures Kentucky license, bringing Setka Cup and ESportsBattle to ninth US state

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BETER has secured a license in Kentucky, expanding the availability of its Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle betting content to a ninth US state. The approval was granted by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming (KHRG), the state regulator.

The Kentucky approval adds to BETER’s existing US footprint in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, and Illinois. The license allows BETER to supply operators in Kentucky with live data and live streams from Setka Cup and ESportsBattle tournaments.

BETER said the content is already live for Kentucky bettors through bet365, which it described as a long-standing operator partner.

Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, said: “Kentucky is a state with a deep sporting heritage, and we’re excited to bring our exclusive Setka Cup and ESportsBattle content to operators and bettors there. Reaching nine US states is an important milestone that reflects the growing appetite for fast-betting content across the country.

“The US market is evolving rapidly, and players are increasingly seeking round-the-clock, high-quality betting experiences. BETER is built to meet that demand, and each new state we enter strengthens our position as the go-to provider of fast-betting content worldwide.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Receiving both approval and license is the result of sustained and meticulous regulatory and compliance work by our team. The US licensing landscape is uniquely complex, with each state operating under its own distinct framework, and we take great pride in meeting those requirements wherever we operate.

“With nine states now approved, the US continues to be a cornerstone of BETER’s global strategy. We are actively pursuing approvals in additional key states and remain fully committed to expanding our footprint across the country and beyond.”

The post BETER secures Kentucky license, bringing Setka Cup and ESportsBattle to ninth US state appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BETER reaches ninth US state with the acquisition of a Kentucky license

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BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, has further strengthened its US presence after its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle content was added to the Sports Wagering catalog and licensed in the State of Kentucky.

The approval and license were granted by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming (KHRG), the independent municipal corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth responsible for regulating horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, sports wagering, breed integrity and development, and charitable gaming in the state.

Kentucky is the ninth US state where BETER’s exclusive content is now available, joining Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, and Illinois.

The approval allows BETER to supply operators in Kentucky with live data and live streams from both its Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle tournaments for the first time.

All content is already live for local bettors via bet365, BETER’s long-standing operator partner, reinforcing the demand for fast-paced betting content from operators in the space.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide. The company offers up to 50 markets per event and helps operators achieve an average margin of 7.5%+. Its esports portfolio includes ESportsBattle, featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, while its sports portfolio includes Setka Cup table tennis and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, as well as sports federations.

Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, said:Kentucky is a state with a deep sporting heritage, and we’re excited to bring our exclusive Setka Cup and ESportsBattle content to operators and bettors there. Reaching nine US states is an important milestone that reflects the growing appetite for fast-betting content across the country.

“The US market is evolving rapidly, and players are increasingly seeking round-the-clock, high-quality betting experiences. BETER is built to meet that demand, and each new state we enter strengthens our position as the go-to provider of fast-betting content worldwide.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Receiving both approval and license is the result of sustained and meticulous regulatory and compliance work by our team. The US licensing landscape is uniquely complex, with each state operating under its own distinct framework, and we take great pride in meeting those requirements wherever we operate.

“With nine states now approved, the US continues to be a cornerstone of BETER’s global strategy. We are actively pursuing approvals in additional key states and remain fully committed to expanding our footprint across the country and beyond.”

The post BETER reaches ninth US state with the acquisition of a Kentucky license appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Compliance Updates

KingMidas Games Secures Peru Certification

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KingMidas Games, a leading iGaming provider, announced that 24 of its game titles have successfully obtained certification for Peru, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion strategy and its ongoing commitment to technical excellence.

The certification, formally titled “Certificate of Compliance for gaming programs, game modalities and/or components related to remote gaming and/or sports betting”, has been issued following systematic testing conducted by Global Lab. As part of this process, KingMidas Games has also secured Random Number Generator (RNG) and security certifications, ensuring that its games comply with regulatory technical standards.

Further reinforcing the credibility of this achievement, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru (MINCETUR) has officially registered and approved the certified games for operation in the country, solidifying Peru as a key market in KingMidas Games’ Latin American growth strategy.

As part of its broader compliance roadmap, KingMidas Games is actively working with multiple accredited testing laboratories to secure additional certifications across key jurisdictions. This multi-lab approach enables the brand to accelerate speed to market while maintaining the highest standards of quality, performance, and regulatory compliance across its portfolio.

This milestone represents a pivotal step in KingMidas Games’ mission to expand its global footprint and deliver premium, localised gaming experiences to players worldwide. With Peru emerging as one of the fastest-growing iGaming markets in Latin America, KingMidas Games is well-positioned to support operators seeking differentiated and high-performance content tailored to local audiences.

Sean Auret, Global Head at KingMidas Games, said: “Achieving certification in Peru is a significant milestone for KingMidas Games and a testament to the high standards we uphold across our portfolio. We have undergone extensive testing and compliance processes to ensure our games meet the regulatory benchmarks, and we are proud to bring our next-generation experiences to Peru. Our ambition is to continue expanding across key global markets such as Latin America, delivering innovative and high-quality content that empowers operators and supercharges the player experience across the region.”

With a growing portfolio of cutting-edge titles and a strong focus on compliance, KingMidas Games continues to position itself as a trusted partner for operators looking to unlock new opportunities in Peru.

The post KingMidas Games Secures Peru Certification appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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