SWC Issues $250,000 in Fines to 5 Illegal Offshore Sportsbooks
Bettors Using These Platforms Give Their Personal and Financial Information to CriminalsNASHVILLE -- The Sports Wagering Council (SWC) issued $250,000 total in fines to five illegal offshore sportsbooks - $50,000 each to Costa Rica-based BetAnySports, Bookmaker and JazzSports; Panama-based BetOnline; and Curacao-based Everygame.
The five illegal books are operating within the borders of Tennessee in violation of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, unlawfully accepting wagers without a license.
Eradicating illegal sportsbooks and their supporting businesses from Tennessee is a primary focus of the SWC, and this latest round brings the total in fines issued to illegal books to $600,000.
“The SWC is exploring all avenues with its network of law enforcement to eliminate these bad actors from Tennessee,” Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas said. “Consumers in Tennessee need to be aware that illegal operators will gladly take their money and personal information, and if a consumer does business with an illegal book, they give away their information to criminals.”
Also, any businesses in Tennessee working in conjunction with illegal offshore sportsbooks could face civil or criminal penalties. Those interested can always go to tn.gov/swac for a list of the licensees and vendors approved to do business in Tennessee.
Curacao-based Bovada ceased operating in Tennessee in October after being fined $50,000 by the SWC, and social sportsbook Legendz stopped operating in Tennessee in April after receiving a cease and desist letter from the SWC.
Licensed sportsbooks must follow certain restrictions under state law, such as prohibiting individuals under 21 years old from wagering and refusing to allow wagering on credit.
Illegal sportsbooks can often be identified by these factors, all of which are illegal in Tennessee: extending credit; wagering with cryptocurrency; offering casino games, such as slots or online poker; and offering chance-based wagers, such as the coin toss or the color of the Gatorade.
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. The state agency 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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