SWC Issues $100,000 in Fines to 2 Illegal Sportsbooks
BetDSI and BetNow Fined $50,000 Each, SWC Has Now Issued $800,000 in Fines to Illegal EntitiesNASHVILLE -- The Sports Wagering Council (SWC) has issued $100,000 total in fines to illegal sportsbooks BetDSI and BetNow.
The SWC has now served 24 illegal entities operating in Tennessee with cease-and-desist letters and assessed $800,000 in fines to illegal sports gaming entities. Seven illegal operators have left the state, including Bovada, Sportzino, BetWhale and Kickr.
Tennessee is the largest “online-only” sports betting market in the U.S., with $5.6 billion wagered last fiscal year through online sportsbooks licensed by the SWC.
“December is typically a time when there is an uptick in patrons taking advantage of the responsible gaming tools legal sportsbooks are required to provide, ” Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas said. “Illegal sportsbook operators have no regard for responsible gaming efforts let alone the law, and anyone sports betting with an illegal sportsbook should know that they are sharing their personal and financial information when they wager with known criminals.”
The Council’s mission is to protect the public interest of Tennessee through a safe, regulated sports wagering environment, and eradicating illegal sportsbooks and their supporting businesses from Tennessee is a primary focus of the SWC.
The agency continues to explore all avenues to eliminate them from Tennessee and applauds other stakeholders for taking action against illegal operators, such as YouTube removing BetUS’s TV channel from its platform.
Those interested can always go to tn.gov/swac for a list of the licensees and vendors approved to do business in Tennessee.
About the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council’s primary role is to protect the public interest of Tennessee through a safe, regulated sports gambling environment. The SWC oversees the licensing and registration process for online sports wagering operators, sports wagering vendors, and fantasy sports operators, and monitors and enforces compliance with the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act and the Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act and related rules, including the assessment of the State’s privilege tax on sportsbooks.
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