SharpRank’s weekly updates on Compliance, Audit, Legislation, Ethics, & Regulation within the Sports Betting Industry.
Topics 9/3/25:
- Audit Finds Oversight Failures at Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Ads, Training, and Settlements
- Maryland Regulator Urges Bettors to Avoid Illegal Platforms Ahead of NFL Kickoff
- NCAA Partners with Venmo to Fight Bettor Harassment of College Athletes
- Bet365 Cleared to Launch in Maryland, Expanding U.S. Reach to 15 States
- MegaSportsPro Debuts in 24 States With Lottery-Style Jackpot Sports Prediction Contests
- NFL Extends Betting Ban to Prediction Markets Amid Integrity Concerns
Audit Finds Oversight Failures at Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Ads, Training, and Settlements
Massachusetts’ state auditor reported significant lapses in the MGC’s oversight of sports betting from 2020 to mid-2023, including failure to vet advertisements before release, poor GameSense agent training, and mishandling of legal settlements. The audit highlighted missing problem gambling helpline disclosures, marketing reaching underage or at-risk individuals, and untrained responsible gambling staff. Regulators pledged improvements, including hiring independent auditors, as lawmakers debate online casino legalization. The findings underscore concerns about regulatory accountability in Massachusetts’ gambling industry.
Maryland Regulator Urges Bettors to Avoid Illegal Platforms Ahead of NFL Kickoff
Ahead of Week 1 of college football and the September 4 NFL kickoff, Maryland Lottery and Gaming officials urged residents to stick to legal sportsbooks, publishing a list of 11 authorized operators and 13 registered fantasy sites. The warning follows cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed offshore sites like High 5 Casino and Stake.US earlier this year. Director John Martin emphasized that illegal operators offer no guarantees of payment, responsible gambling tools, or customer protections, urging Marylanders to wager legally to ensure safety and state tax benefits during the busy betting season.
NCAA Partners with Venmo to Fight Bettor Harassment of College Athletes
The NCAA announced a partnership with Venmo to address harassment and abuse of college athletes linked to sports betting, including unwanted payment requests and solicitation for insider information. The initiative includes a dedicated reporting hotline, account security education, and increased monitoring by Venmo’s security team during high-profile games. NCAA research shows that nearly 20% of athlete-directed online abuse stems from gambling activity. Venmo pledged to strengthen oversight, report illicit activity to law enforcement, and implement stricter enforcement of its terms, while the NCAA hopes the deal sets a precedent for other platforms to adopt similar protections for student-athletes.
Bet365 Cleared to Launch in Maryland, Expanding U.S. Reach to 15 States
Bet365 secured a license from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, officially joining major operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM in the state’s competitive online betting market. The launch marks Maryland as the company’s 15th U.S. jurisdiction, following recent debuts in Kansas, Tennessee, and Illinois. Maryland allows up to 60 mobile sportsbook licenses, though experts doubt that ceiling will be reached. Since sports betting went live in late 2022, residents have wagered over $15 billion, generating $1.7 billion in revenue and nearly $185 million in taxes. Bet365’s approval comes amid the operator’s rapid U.S. expansion and follows news of a partnership with Inspired Entertainment to offer virtual sports content.
MegaSportsPro Debuts in 24 States With Lottery-Style Jackpot Sports Prediction Contests
MegaSportsPro officially went live on Labor Day across 24 U.S. states, offering a first-of-its-kind player-performance prediction contest with a lottery-style prize system. Users make predictions on 15 daily player props, with chances to win through three progressive jackpots, as well as weekly and monthly leaderboard contests. The jackpots roll over until someone correctly predicts all 15 outcomes, while consistent performers can earn from separate prize pools. CEO Pete Korner said the goal was to merge the excitement of lottery wins with the skill of sports contests, creating “a one-of-a-kind competition” that rewards both luck and knowledge.
NFL Extends Betting Ban to Prediction Markets Amid Integrity Concerns
The NFL announced that its strict betting policies now explicitly apply to prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Robinhood, which plan to offer NFL spreads this season. League executives said these platforms “mimic sports betting” and therefore fall under prohibited conduct for players and staff, regardless of whether they operate under federal oversight rather than state gambling laws. Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perel emphasized that education and training remain key pillars of the NFL’s integrity program, with players being reminded of betting risks through league-led sessions. While the NFL continues to support regulated sportsbook partnerships, officials warned that prediction markets lack equivalent consumer protections and could be vulnerable to manipulation, placing them firmly within the scope of the league’s gambling restrictions.
Click here to read our latest blog post: Efficient Market Hypothesis in Sports Betting
