The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement recently fined William Hill Sportsbook $20,000 for accepting bets on already-completed college basketball, hockey, and boxing events. This unusual occurrence, while seemingly a dream for some gamblers, highlights critical issues in sports betting integrity.
William Hill, operating sportsbooks in Atlantic City’s Caesars, Harrah’s, and Tropicana casinos, voided most of the erroneous bets and refunded customers. However, some bets had already been paid out before the mistake was discovered. In February 2022, 42 bets were placed on 12 college basketball games via in-person kiosks after the games had concluded. Over $5,000 was paid out on six winning bets before William Hill identified the problem.
The company attributed the error to its sportsbook content supplier, OpenBet, a London-based company. Similar incidents occurred with two boxing matches. Bets were accepted on a Chris Kongo-Sebastian Formella fight that started and finished earlier than the advertised noon start time. A similar issue arose with a Denzel Bentley-Kieran Smith fight that ended in a swift knockout just minutes after its advertised start time. These incidents underscore the importance of accurate scheduling and real-time data feeds in sports betting operations. Timing errors can lead to significant financial losses for both the sportsbook and bettors.
In a separate case, Amelco, a London-based sports betting technology provider, was fined $10,000 for various violations. One notable infraction involved allowing PlayUp, a sportsbook utilizing Amelco and Sportradar’s services, to accept a bet on Pete Buttigieg becoming the next U.S. president in March 2022. Political betting, while permissible in some jurisdictions for recent elections, was not authorized in New Jersey at the time of the wager. Amelco explained that Sportradar listed the U.S. presidential election in a category mistakenly marked as “true,” automatically adding it to Amelco’s betting options. These cases highlight the need for robust regulatory oversight and rigorous internal controls within the sports betting industry. They also emphasize the critical role of technology providers in ensuring compliance and maintaining the integrity of sports wagering.
In conclusion, the fines levied against William Hill and Amelco underscore the importance of accurate data, timely updates, and strict adherence to regulations in the sports betting industry. These incidents serve as a reminder that even seemingly minor errors can have significant financial and reputational consequences. Ensuring the integrity of sports betting operations is crucial to maintaining public trust and the long-term viability of the industry.
