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Underdog Fantasy Settles for $18 Million, Exits New York but Expands in New Jersey and Delaware

Published March 20, 2025 | By editor

Underdog Fantasy is leaving the New York market after an $18 million settlement with the NYSGC. The company is expanding its Champions Pick’em product into New Jersey and Delaware.

New York Departure and Settlement Details

Underdog Fantasy first ventured into the New York market in July 2020 and operated without a formal license until it acquired Synkt Games in December 2022. This acquisition allowed Underdog to inherit Synkt’s temporary license, issued as part of a broader initiative by the state since 2016. The NYSGC later found that Underdog offered contests beyond what was allowed under Synkt’s license terms, leading to the hefty settlement. Underdog’s settlement includes covering back taxes owed by Synkt on its fantasy earnings, along with the possibility for Underdog to reapply for a permanent fantasy or gaming license in New York.

Comments from Underdog’s General Counsel

Nicholas Green, Underdog’s General Counsel, expressed mixed feelings about the settlement. “For nearly a decade, fantasy sports in New York has operated in regulatory uncertainty,” he stated, highlighting the challenges of navigating the state’s licensing process. Despite disagreements with the NYSGC’s findings, Green appreciated the clarity the settlement provided and looked forward to potentially resuming operations in New York.

Regulatory Landscape in New York

New York’s approach to fantasy sports regulation has seen its share of delays and legal hurdles. Legislation passed in 2016 aimed to regulate daily fantasy sports, but legal challenges delayed enforcement until 2021. Final regulations, which include limitations on contests akin to proposition betting, only came into effect in June 2024. The ongoing licensing process for permanent fantasy operators indicates the state’s effort to stabilize the regulatory environment.

Expansion into New Jersey and Delaware

Underdog is withdrawing from New York but continues expanding in other states. The company is launching its Pick’em Champions game in Delaware and is returning to New Jersey, where it had operated before. Green noted that New Jersey and Delaware have modern sports gaming regulations and mentioned the regulatory framework in these states that support their product.

Conclusion

Underdog Fantasy is retreating from New York while expanding into new markets, navigating the complex U.S. fantasy sports regulations. Despite setbacks in one state, it continues to adapt and find opportunities elsewhere.

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Posted in Online Casino News | Tagged Delaware, New Jersey, Underdog Fantasy

Slovakia’s Digital Gambling Boom Reshapes National Industry

Published March 18, 2025 | By editor

Slovakia’s virtual betting landscape witnessed extraordinary expansion in 2024, with digital gambling revenue jumping 30% to €476 million, according to the latest findings from the Slovakian Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH). This dramatic uptick signals a fundamental transformation in the country’s gaming sector as internet-based options increasingly eclipse brick-and-mortar establishments.

Betting Volume Reaches Historic Heights

Wagers across Slovakia’s gambling market soared to €24.2 billion in 2024, representing an 11% climb from the preceding year. Online platforms processed €12.18 billion in bets, returning €11.7 billion to players as prizes. The industry’s total revenue reached €1.45 billion, reflecting a 9.6% improvement year-on-year.

URHH Director General Martin Bohoš linked this expansion to “technological innovation in digital services, shifting consumer preferences, and robust regulatory frameworks.” He noted that “internet-based casino operations continue to dominate market share” within Slovakia’s gambling ecosystem.

Traditional Venues Confront Steep Obstacles

As virtual platforms thrive, Slovakia’s conventional gambling facilities encounter growing headwinds. Physical locations generated €480 million in 2024, with gaming halls producing €340 million and casinos accounting for €140 million.

Yet URHH forecasts indicate a forthcoming decline in traditional venue revenues for 2025, largely stemming from intensified municipal restrictions. These regulatory measures, including prohibitions in regions such as Bratislava, threaten to diminish the authorized gambling footprint and potentially redirect players toward unauthorized operators.

National Coffers Benefit from Increased Taxation

Slovakia’s treasury collected €347.3 million from gambling taxes in 2024, representing a robust 15% increase from the prior year. Online casinos fueled this growth, with their tax contributions escalating by 35% to €126.1 million.

Meanwhile, tax revenue from gaming halls receded by 5% to €58.95 million, while casino contributions grew by 26% to €16.4 million. Number-based lotteries performed admirably as well, delivering a 9% boost that yielded €47.6 million in tax proceeds.

Authority Intensifies Efforts Against Unlicensed Operations

In its continuing campaign to maintain market integrity, URHH blacklisted 89 additional websites during 2024. This enforcement action expanded the registry of prohibited gambling platforms to 820, underscoring the regulator’s determination to suppress unauthorized gambling activities.

“Tackling illegal operations remains our central focus,” emphasized Bohoš. “We are committed to enhancing surveillance and implementing more rigorous protocols to safeguard a legitimate and equitable gambling environment for participants.”

The regulatory body is simultaneously strengthening protection mechanisms for vulnerable users and self-exclusion systems as digital gambling continues its ascent. These initiatives aim to achieve equilibrium between sector development and responsible gambling standards in Slovakia’s evolving marketplace.

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Posted in Online Casino News | Tagged Slovakia

Betting Scandal Rocks NCAA: Texas and Mississippi State Face Gambling Violations

Published March 17, 2025 | By editor

Major College Programs Caught in Sports Betting Probe

Recent investigations by gambling monitoring agency ProhiBet have uncovered several betting violations at prominent NCAA institutions, raising concerns about the growing influence of sports wagering on college athletics.

Texas Longhorns Self-Report Major Violations

The University of Texas athletics department has self-reported five members of its program for engaging in prohibited sports betting activities. Two football players and several staff members spent $14,885 on the daily fantasy platform PrizePicks, violating NCAA regulations.

Consequences varied by involvement level. One football player regained eligibility after donating winnings to charity, while a student assistant was terminated for betting on Longhorns games. Other staff received warnings and mandatory gambling education.

Mississippi State Reports Minor Infractions

At Mississippi State University, a male practice squad player from the women’s basketball program placed $10 worth of bets on NFL and college football games. Though these wagers didn’t include Mississippi State contests, they violated NCAA bylaw 10.3, resulting in the deactivation of the player’s betting account and enhanced education efforts.

This represented one of three Level III infractions reported by Mississippi State in 2024.

Digital Monitoring Detects Violations

Both universities employed ProhiBet’s monitoring services to detect gambling activities among athletes and staff. The platform has proven effective in identifying violations before they escalate into major compliance issues.

College Sports Grapple With Betting Boom

These cases highlight the growing tension between widespread legal sports betting and NCAA regulations. As online wagering becomes increasingly accessible, athletic departments face mounting pressure to educate participants about gambling restrictions.

Prevention Measures Intensify

In response to these incidents, universities are implementing additional safeguards including:

Enhanced compliance training for athletes and staff
Regular auditing of potential betting activities
Improved reporting channels for suspicious behavior

Industry experts predict similar cases will increase as sports betting continues its rapid expansion into mainstream culture, creating an ongoing challenge for NCAA compliance departments nationwide.

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Posted in Sports Betting News | Tagged Mississippi, Texas

Global Giants Set to Reshape NZ’s Gambling Landscape

Published March 15, 2025 | By editor

Foreign Firms to Dominate as Government Auctions Online Casino Licenses

New Zealand is preparing for a major shift in its gambling industry as the government moves to auction 15 online casino licenses to foreign companies starting February 2026. This landmark decision will regulate the online gambling sector for the first time, positioning New Zealand among the last developed nations to implement such oversight.

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed expectations that international gambling powerhouses will likely secure most licenses, creating ripples across the country’s established gambling ecosystem.

“We don’t have a huge online gambling market, so I would expect that it’s mainly offshore providers,” van Velden told reporters. She emphasized that the licenses, valid for three years, are not permanent arrangements: “If someone is a bad operator, DIA can always revoke their license.”

Community Funding Crisis Looms as Profits Head Offshore

Unlike traditional gambling operators such as Lotto, TAB, and local pokies venues—which must distribute profits to community initiatives—the new online license holders will face no such obligations. This stark contrast has ignited fierce criticism from domestic gambling stakeholders.

Martin Cheer, managing director of Pub Charity Ltd, which operates approximately 1,700 pokie machines generating $125 million in revenue, expressed profound disappointment with the arrangement.

“Effectively, in Class 4, 100 percent of all profits have to be given away. Well, in this instance, none of it has to be given away,” Cheer stated bluntly. “So instead of the local ambulance service or coast guard or the local footy team getting some money, it’s going to offshore shareholders.”

He didn’t mince words about the economic impact: “You can’t get any more perverse than sending your money off to some Russian-Croatian shareholder: basically never seeing the light of day in New Zealand again. That’s what I call perverse.”

Domestic Operators Push Back Against “Open Market” Approach

Documents obtained through the Official Information Act reveal significant opposition from established local gambling entities. Sky City Casino advocated for restricting the market to just five licenses, limited to companies with domestic presence—a position Minister van Velden dismissed as self-serving.

“They are looking out for themselves, right? I’m not here to look out for Sky City,” van Velden countered. “I’m here to ensure that we have a fair marketplace and a fair, regulated market.”

Meanwhile, TAB CEO Nick Roberts warned Racing Minister Winston Peters that an open market with 10 or more licenses would threaten “established funding streams for racing and sport” and risk “driving gambling profits offshore and delivering worse harm outcomes for Kiwi consumers.”

Balancing Revenue and Regulation

While the National Party had campaigned on generating substantial revenue—projecting a gaming duty of 12 percent would bring in $179 million annually—van Velden significantly downplayed financial expectations, suggesting the new regime might only yield about $13 million extra per year initially.

She maintained that safety, not revenue, drives the regulatory change: “For me, that’s less about how we gather tax and more about how we get the balance right for allowing people to use a legal channel to gamble, while at the same time protecting people from the worst kinds of harm.”

The new legislation will impose fines of up to $5 million on unlicensed operators targeting New Zealand gamblers. License holders will be required to pay GST, a 12 percent gambling duty, and a problem gambling levy—but the absence of community contribution requirements continues to fuel debate about whether this regulatory approach truly serves New Zealand’s interests.

As the February 2026 implementation date approaches, the question remains whether this market liberalization will create a safer gambling environment or simply divert profits from local communities to international shareholders.

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Posted in Online Casino News | Tagged New Zealand

High Court Orders Paddy Power to Pay £1M Jackpot After Display Error

Published March 14, 2025 | By editor

Landmark Ruling Challenges iGaming Terms & Conditions

A gardener from Gloucestershire has won her High Court battle against betting giant Paddy Power, securing the full £1.097 million “Monster Jackpot” she was initially shown on screen while playing the Wild Hatter slot game.

The Disputed Win

In October 2020, Corinne Pearl Durber was playing the Wild Hatter slot on her iPad when she triggered the Jackpot Game Round. After spinning the jackpot wheel, her screen displayed she had won the “Monster Jackpot” worth over £1 million. However, Paddy Power only paid her £20,265.14, claiming she had actually won the smaller “Daily Jackpot.”

The company attributed the discrepancy to a “software error” that incorrectly displayed the result. Customer service representatives explained that their Random Number Generator (RNG) had determined she won the smaller prize, citing their Terms & Conditions clause that server records take precedence over screen displays.

The Court’s Decision

Mr. Justice Ritchie granted summary judgment in Durber’s favor without requiring a full trial. In his 62-page ruling, he emphasized that the concept of “what you see is what you get” was central to gambling games:

“Objectively, customers would want and expect that what was shown to them on screen to be accurate and correct. The same expectation probably applies when customers go into a physical casino and play roulette.”

The judge determined that human error in mapping the software had affected 14 plays over 48 days, creating the discrepancy between the RNG result and what was displayed on screen.

Industry Implications

This groundbreaking ruling indicates that operators might no longer depend on extensive Terms & Conditions in comparable disputes.

A spokesperson said: “Forfeiting bonus winnings or refusing a payout because of a technical glitch and then pointing to a clause buried deep in the operator’s terms and conditions essentially puts the onus back on the player and …. that equates to poor customer service.”

Aftermath

A relieved Durber questioned why she had to endure “legal torment” instead of being paid immediately:

“What’s the point in betting if betting companies like Paddy Power won’t pay-up when someone wins a big jackpot?”

Flutter UKI, Paddy Power’s parent company, expressed regret over the case and stated they were reviewing the judgment, noting that they “pride ourselves on fairness” and regularly pay out winners, including a £5.7 million jackpot last year.