West Virginia legislators draw inspiration from Ohio and Maryland betting regulations for new bills
In the realm of sports betting, West Virginia and several other U.S. states are taking strides to address issues such as bettor harassment and misleading content, primarily through legislation and regulatory oversight.
West Virginia legalized sports betting in 2018 under Senate Bill 415, and the state regulates sportsbooks through the West Virginia Lottery, allowing both retail and mobile betting with remote registration. The legislative focus is on operational control, taxation, and legal compliance, with an ongoing dialogue regarding clarity in definitions and regulations.
For instance, the Attorney General's recent opinions on daily fantasy sports (DFS) products have explicitly exempted them from the sports wagering definition, aiming to reduce regulatory friction and indirectly supporting preventing misleading marketing by setting boundaries for what constitutes legal betting products.
Other states like Illinois, Maryland, Louisiana, and New Jersey have enacted or adjusted laws focusing on taxation of sportsbooks and revenue distribution to public programs. These tax-centric laws aim to regulate and monitor the industry closely, facilitating better oversight, but do not directly legislate against bettor harassment or false promotional content.
Responsible gaming accreditation efforts exist, as seen in the National Council on Problem Gambling's (NCPG) accreditation of platforms like PrizePicks. However, these accreditation efforts are not formal legislative measures against harassment or misinformation.
In West Virginia, two new bills have been filed. HB 4700 gives the West Virginia sports betting regulator the ability to ban bettors who harass athletes, coaches, and officials, while another bill, HB 4019, allows the West Virginia State Lottery Commission to accredit independent tout and handicapper evaluators.
The U.S. Integrity monitoring company has also created an anonymous tipline to track athlete harassment. Despite these efforts, the success of the handicapper auditing bill in the 2024 session in West Virginia is uncertain.
Meanwhile, Maryland and Ohio have enacted similar sports betting legislation last year, and the U.S. Integrity monitoring company is pushing for legislation like Ohio's to be implemented in other states. The NCAA is actively lobbying state legislatures for more athlete protections, which could lead to a nationwide push for athlete harassment protection bills.
In conclusion, while legislation in West Virginia and other states currently emphasizes regulatory control and legal clarity, indirect protections against harassment and misleading content rely on licensing rules and industry standards rather than explicit laws. The future of sports betting regulation in these states remains a dynamic and evolving landscape.
[1] West Virginia Lottery - Sports Betting (https://www.wvlottery.com/sports-betting) [2] West Virginia Sports Betting Regulations (https://www.wvmetronews.com/2018/03/22/west-virginia-sports-betting-regulations-approved-by-lawmakers/) [3] West Virginia Attorney General's Opinion on Daily Fantasy Sports (https://www.wvmetronews.com/2021/02/18/west-virginia-attorney-general-issues-opinion-on-daily-fantasy-sports/) [4] National Council on Problem Gambling - Accreditation (https://www.ncpgambling.org/programs-and-services/responsible-gaming/accreditation/) [5] State Taxation of Sportsbooks (https://www.taxfoundation.org/state-taxation-sportsbooks/)
- West Virginia's sports betting regulations, enacted in 2018 through Senate Bill 415, not only establish taxation and legal compliance but also directly target issues like bettor harassment with HB 4700, which empowers the sports betting regulator to ban harassing bettors.
- The U.S. Integrity monitoring company has proactively established an anonymous tipline to detect and combat athlete harassment, a trend that has been followed by Maryland and Ohio in their sports betting legislation.
- Current sports betting trends in West Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Louisiana, and New Jersey focus on clarifying definitions and regulations within the industry, but do not directly legislate against false promotional content or bettor harassment, relying instead on licensing rules and industry standards.
- The National Council on Problem Gambling has accredited platforms like PrizePicks in responsible gaming initiatives, although these accreditations do not stand as formal legislative measures against harassment or misinformation.
