Weekend Report: Fresno State basketball betting inquiry, Bet365 in Tennessee
Sources allege Fresno State basketball betting inquiry
The basketball programme at California State University, Fresno has reportedly found itself at the centre of a betting enquiry.
Sources close to the matter told ESPN on 22 February the case involves several of the Fresno State team’s players. So far, one player has been removed from the team, while two others have been suspended.
Mykell Robinson has not played for Fresno State since January and is no longer on the team. Fresno State also said in a statement that guards Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins were being withheld from competition while the university reviews an “eligibility matter”.
The sources said Fresno State launched an investigation after receiving a tip off. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has also since become involved in the matter.
The Fresno State Bulldogs have lost 10 straight games and recently set a new record for most losses in a season.
Bet365 lands Tennessee sports betting licence
Bet365 has extended its reach in the US by securing a licence in Tennessee.
It is is now listed as an approved operator in the state via a licence issued to Hillside, which operates the Bet365 brand.
Bet365 will now be able to offer online sports betting to customers across the state of Tennessee, up against other major licensed brands FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics and Caesars.
In the US Bet365 is also licensed in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia,
Bragg extends Canada presence with Loto-Québec deal
North of the border, Bragg Gaming Group has entered an online casino content agreement with Canadian operator Loto-Québec.
Under the terms of the deal (dated 20 February), Bragg will supply a range of content to Loto-Québec, the only legal and local casino site in Québec. This will include content from partners under the Powered By Bragg programme.
The deal extends Bragg’s reach in Canada into a second province, following its entry into Ontario in March 2022.
Garrick Morris, senior vice president, commercial, US and Canada at Bragg, said: “Loto-Québec is a strategic partner and we are excited to see our proprietary games as well as exclusive content from our partners live and available to Loto-Québec players.”
Malta regulator details new regulatory oversight approach
Across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced enhancements to its regulatory oversight approach and supervisory focus areas for 2025.
According to the regulator’s regulatory oversight report for 2025, released 21 February, the enhancements will strengthen its supervision of igaming and promote transparency with stakeholders.
Its new-look framework will operate on more of an evidence-driven and outcomes-focused model. Central to this, the MGA said, are compliance, player protection and sports betting integrity regulatory themes.
With this, the regulator said that it will focus on risk-based resource allocation, improved collaboration and proactive risk management.
“This approach aligns with our broader strategy to bolster the resilience of the online gaming sector, safeguard player interests and foster greater stakeholder confidence in a sustainable and well-regulated industry,” the MGA said.
Altenar scores sportsbook deal with Immense
And finally this week, turnkey sportsbook provider Altenar has signed a wide-ranging deal with Immense, the group formerly known as Videoslots.
Altenar will now supply its sportsbook to brands under the Immense umbrella including Mr Vegas, Videoslots and MegaRiches.
The link-up comes after Immense recently launched its first sports-led brand: DBET.com.
Klas Winberg, chief commercial officer at Immense, said: “We expect that the Altenar sportsbook will be a very strong contributor, if not the biggest, for growth this year. So far, we are very happy with what we see.”