Just before the commencement of sports betting in the state of Ohio, regulators levied a heavy fine on DraftKings sportsbook for sending advertisements to minors. The Ohio Casino Control Commission announced Friday that the sports betting giant mailed about 2,500 ads to people under 21 years old last November, which results in a $350,000 fine.
Ohio Regulators Send a Warning
DraftKings has recently been subject to a substantial ruling by Ohio’s state sports betting regulators. Consequently, the company will have the opportunity to appeal the decision and follow up with an additional hearing with the OCCC to reinforce its stance on the issue.
“The Commission has been very clear about the rules and standards for sports gaming advertising with the industry, and are disappointed with the lack of compliance we have seen despite reminders,” Matthew Schuler, Executive Director of the OCCC said.
He also added that the Commission’s intervention is necessary for these kinds of events to endure the integrity of sports gaming for Ohioans.
Although, it remains clear that the commission ultimately holds power in assessing a resolution. Alongside this, DraftKings must conform to new procedures and protocols when it comes to marketing materials being directed at people whose age has yet to be verified.
It will be interesting to observe how DraftKings responds following such events, given that they have yet to issue a comment on this drama.
Nothing New For DraftKings
Aside from Ohio, DraftKings ran into trouble with sports betting regulators in New Jersey and Ontario last year. The NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement fined the operator $150,000 resulting from violations of state law when they allowed a VIP bettor located in Florida to make proxy wagers within New Jersey’s borders.
Furthermore, the company was fined CAD 100,000 by Ontario’s regulator for violating sports betting advertisement rules. This string of transgressions continued as recently as 2021 when DraftKings paid a $10,000 penalty imposed by New Jersey for sending promotional mailings to 11 people who had previously put themselves on the state-mandated self-exclusion list.
Ohio Sports Books are Now Live
Ohioans of legal age are now able to dive into the world of legal retail and online sports betting in Ohio. This move to legalize sports gambling has been eagerly anticipated and many consumers have already taken advantage of the pre-registration bonuses offered by the sites.
With the NHL and NBA seasons heating up, not to mention the approaching NFL playoffs, sports fans couldn’t ask for a better time to be able to place bets on their favorite teams from the comfort of their homes.
Ohio’s robust gambling market continues to expand via the addition of these numerous betting markets. With a wide range of options available, bettors are sure to find something that appeals to them.
Of course, it is important for individuals to always use strategies for responsible gaming practices and only gamble if within their means. All in all, this is an exciting development that many within the state have been looking forward to for some time now!
