Senator introduces bill to ban online gambling; Ohio senator says DFS sites can’t take a cut

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 info@bettingtalk.com.

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A senator has introduced a bill that would ban online gambling in the United States.

The US Congress website confirms that the bill aims “to ensure the integrity of laws enacted to prevent the use of financial instruments for funding or operating online casinos are not undermined by legal opinions not carrying the force of law issued by the federal government lawyers.”

The bill echoes recent, Sheldon Adelson backed attempts to reaffirm “the prohibition on funding of unlawful internet gambling.”


An Ohio senator suggested that daily fantasy sites that don’t pay out 100 percent of entry fees are illegal in the state.

Coley said the law would also apply to for-profit raffles and Queen of Hearts games, like the one sponsored by a Garrettsville bowling alley that awarded a $3.4 million prize Sunday. In that game, the earnings are either paid out or rolled over to the next round of play. The bowling alley said it kept nothing, but the game drew thousands of onlookers and generated an economic boost for the business and others in the small town.

Coley said state oversight would ensure ticket buyers that the game was conducted fairly.

“Promotions like these are very successful,” Coley said during a Monday press conference. “But when you’re taking a rake off the top, you’re breaking the law and you need to stop doing that in the state of Ohio.”


Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off in the first of a series of debates last night. Sportsbooks offered a variety of prop bets on the event.

Bovada isn’t alone in offering entertaining odds on the debate, of course. Paddy Power asks bettors which name Trump will first call Clinton, with “crooked,” “liar,” “bigot,” and “devil” as options. “Crooked” is the favorite at 4/5, while “devil” has the longest odds at 8/1.


Malta is blocking a three-year European project which aims to prevent match fixing across the continent.

Ensuring the fairness of sporting competitions is essential to the sports betting industry, and all the member nations of the Council of Europe support the convention except Malta.

The Council of Europeconsists of 47 member states, including all 28 members of the European Union. The convention can only be ratified if it has unanimous approval.


Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal spoke with sportsbook operators about the impressive start for rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I wouldn’t say the Eagles are for real, but they are better than I thought,” said Jimmy Vaccaro, oddsmaker at the South Point sports book. “There’s a long way to go. … 3-0 and a long way to go.”


Caesars Entertainment has debuted a system to monitor comped drinks.

The color-coded light system, installed on the back of video poker machines at casino and sports book bars, tells bartenders when a guest’s play warrants a free, or “comped,” drink.