NCAA to consider buzzer beater review during tourney; Kings add ‘predictive gaming’ lounge

The NCAA will consider whether or not to review buzzer-beaters during the NCAA tournament whether or not they affect the outcome of the game.

“To correct our previous comments, an NCAA membership ad hoc committee examining sports wagering will work with appropriate standing membership committees, specifically playing rules, to direct review of all NCAA polices that might be impacted by the new gambling environment in regular season and postseason play, including reviews of last-second shots,” the NCAA said in a statement. “This action is in keeping with our commitment to maintain the integrity of the games.”

On Thursday, NCAA director of media coordination and statistics David Worlock had told ESPN’s David Purdum in a statement that shots made at the buzzer would be reviewed “in the interest of accuracy of score and team and player statistics.”

A source later told ESPN that membership committees will make the decision as to whether the use of instant replay will be mandatory on last-second shots during the NCAA tournament, even if they do not impact the outcome of the game.

The discussion of this policy comes in the wake of two recent late-game officiating rulings in college hoops — both of which affected the outcome of point-spread wagers.


While California does not yet have legal sports betting, the Sacramento Kings are adding a “predictive gaming” lounge to their arena.

Starting with the Kings’ home game on March 17 against the Chicago Bulls, some basketball fans will be able to place free “predictions” on game outcomes in the new Sacramento Kings Skyloft Predictive Gaming Lounge, Kings’ owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé is expected to announce on Friday.

“Predictive gaming is incredibly disruptive and will only continue to gain popularity in the NBA and beyond,” Ranadivé said in a statement. “Working with industry leaders like Swish Analytics allows us to test and perfect this technology to give fans the best experience in future seasons.”

It may be the next closest thing to legal sport wagering, without the gnashed teeth and lost money. No other team in the National Basketball Association has a similar lounge for predictive gaming or actual betting.


A Minnesota representative is pushing for a sports betting bill in his state that would tax the total handle as opposed to every other state that taxes revenue.

Garofalo’s bill, the Safe and Regulated Sports Gambling Act of 2019, proposes a 0.5 percent tax on handle. All other regulated sports betting markets in the US levy taxes based gross gaming revenue (GGR).

Garofalo contends that by taxing handle, casinos can have a particularly successful year in MN sports betting revenue without getting punished with higher taxes. He also expects that projections for handle will be more stable than projections on profits.

“Our focus is making this low cost and, in sports betting, revenues can be volatile,” Garofalo said. “This presents volatility to investors, and by making this very static, it provides more stability for them.”


The Rhode Island Senate voted to approve mobile sports betting in the state.

The legislation appears to be on the fast track, with a similar House version of mobile gaming expected to get a vote later this month, according to spokesperson Larry Berman.

The bill would require sports fans to register for an account in person at one of Twin River’s two casinos before having access to the app. Users could then wager on professional and college sports (excluding Rhode Island collegiate teams) from mobile devices anywhere inside Rhode Island borders.

“The new in-person sportsbook that opened in November has been very popular, with lines sometimes stretching out the doors,” said Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who is the lead sponsor on the bill. “It is an entertainment option that many Rhode Islanders enjoy, and visitors from outside the state are also flocking to our gaming facilities to place their wagers on sporting events.”

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