2 Irish boxers under investigation by IOC for betting; Article predicts eSports betting boom

Twice weekly, we’ll comb through as many articles, tweets and podcasts as we can find related to the world of sports betting and daily fantasy sports, and publish the good stuff here. 

Stumble upon something you think we should include? Email [email protected].

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Two Irish boxers are under investigation by the International Olympic Committee for placing bets during the Games.

Sources said the Irish participant was only placing “minor bets”. The IOC is understood to have suggested that they take part in an education programme on best practice for sports people.

“The IOC handled the issue. It was a stupid thing to do. The person was not betting huge sums or anything like that,” said a source.

When contacted last night, the Olympian at the centre of the controversy replied by text message, saying : “I know nothing about it mate. Lol.”


An article published by Bloomberg last Friday says that sportsbooks are getting ready for huge growth in eSports betting.

The unregulated e-sports gambling market, most of which relied on a virtual currency called skins, was on pace to reach $7.4 billion this year, according to estimates from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming and Narus Advisors. That’s 12 times larger than the e-sports bets at regulated books.

Not all of that money will migrate — the total includes underage users and people who have been playing in black markets like the U.S. About $2.2 billion of those wagers translate easily to the regulated world, Maurer said.


Daily fantasy sports kiosks are set to be installed in sports bars and restaurants in Virginia.

As quoted by Jim McIntire of BLR Consultants, who serves as an advisor to EagleStrike Fantasy Sports, “…by pioneering a Fantasy Sports Terminal and only allowing fantasy players who are physically located at terminals to enter contests, the unfair advantage sophisticated DFS players experience on other platforms is completely eliminated and the playing field is leveled, delivering the everyday fan an unparalleled fantasy sports experience.”


An attorney wrote an opinion article published yesterday questioning if sports betting can find a political backdoor.

Even if the current gambling law is repealed, states may be forced to balance their fiscal interests. Sports activity in the states surely spurs economic activity, but whether that is outweighs participation in sports gaming, an estimated $150 billion industry, is a difficult assessment.

New Jersey was willing to take that risk, and other states surely would, too. What is clear is that the recent New Jersey decision is not the end of the road in efforts to legalize sports gaming in the U.S.

The court system may not have been the right avenue to effectuate the change, but the state and federal legislatures might be.


Backers of the proposed stadium that would host the Raiders in Las Vegas said they’ll only push forward if they can get at least $750 million in public funding.

“Not to be difficult, but we’re not negotiable,” said Sands president Rob Goldstein, who spoke on behalf of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his family. “If we can’t get 750, we respectfully thank you but we’re going to move on.”


Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal shared college football opinions made by panelists at the Westgate’s SuperContest Weekend event.

Fallica and five other college football analysts spoke Friday on a panel at the Westgate’s “SuperContest Weekend.” There were spirited debates, and a variety of predictions made by the panelists.