Ohio Gift Cards for Sports Betting, Ex-State Trooper Gets Probation for Gambling, Prostitution Ring
Gift cards, something that has gotten a handful of offshore sportsbook operators and independent bookies into trouble over the years, are now being embraced in the state of Ohio.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission and Executive Director Matt Schuler have decided to allow gift cards as means to fund sports betting accounts in the state. announced Monday that gift cards can be used to deposit money into one's state-regulated sports betting account both through the apps and in person.
Gift cards must be reviewed by regulators before they can be sold or advertised.
Inquiries about gift card acceptance were made prior to sports betting going live in January.
There will be requirements. The gambling addiction helpline number must be present on the card and only those 21 and older can purchase them.
Gift cards are available in some US states for gambling purposes.
The offshore gambling site 5Dimes settled with the US Justice Department and agreed to forfeit over $46.8 Million in proceeds as part of a criminal investigation into money laundering tied to Amazon gift cards for gambling purposes.
Ex-State Trooper Gets Probation for Gambling, Prostitution Ring
A former Pennsylvania state trooper and co-owner of the now closed down Sinners Swing Gentlemen's Club received probation on Monday moments after entering guilty pleas to misdemeanors for his role in a prostitution and gambling ring.
Robert Covington was arrested and charged in 2021. The 50-year-old resigned from his role as a state trooper last year.
Covington did not claim a financial interest in the strip club in forms he was required to fill out, investigators claim.
"Through a series of bad decisions, I find myself here," Covington said Monday in court. "I have no desire to be here again."
Authorities accused Covington and another individual of taking money from strippers who performed sex acts on customers and of paying customers who won money on illegal gambling machines.
Sports Betting Records Shattered in New York During Month of March
Fueled in no small part to March Madness, total sports betting handle (retail and mobile) for the month of March totaled more than $1.792 billion, up a solid 21.6% from February ($1.474 billion) and an increase of 9.0% from March 2022 ($1.644 billion).
Mobile wagering alone at New York sports betting apps was more than $1.785 billion, up 21.7% ($318.99M) from February's $1.466 billion and up 9.0% from the same time last year at $1.638 billion.
Mobile sports wagering handle was well over$16.398 billion.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
