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BetMGM to pay penalty for prohibited NJ college basketball bets

| By Daniel O'Boyle
Entain-MGM joint venture BetMGM has been ordered to pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for accepting prohibited wagers on New Jersey college sports events.

BetMGM was judged to have accepted wagers on two “prohibited events”, one on 10 March and one on 20 March 2021.

The first event was a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament game between Niagara University and Marist College, which took place in Atlantic City.

The second event was an NCAA Tournament game involving New Jersey-based Rutgers University.

New Jersey sports betting operators are only permitted to take bets on collegiate sports games if they do not take place in New Jersey or involve New Jersey-based teams.

As a result, BetMGM was ordered to pay a $25,000 civil penalty.

A referendum to remove this requirement appeared on the ballot for the November 2021 election, but was defeated by 57% to 43%.

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