The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) has issued fines to BetMGM and Fanatics sportsbooks after the companies allowed players to place bets while on a voluntary self-exclusion list. The betting operators reported the issue to the regulator, and both sportsbooks have agreed to pay the $2,500 fines they were given.
In the summer of 2023, BetMGM transferred its platform onto a single wallet system, allowing players to share funds in their BetMGM accounts across all U.S. states where the operator is licensed. Additionally, it switched from a state-by-state self-exclusion system to one integrated system across the U.S.
Due to an account not migrating properly, an Indiana player who was on a voluntary self-exclusion list was able to create a new BetMGM account in October. Between Oct. 25 and Jan. 11, the BetMGM player deposited $310, wagered $443, and withdrew $107.50. BetMGM closed the account on Jan. 11 and reported the incident to the Indiana Gaming Commission on Feb. 2.
The Fanatics breach came when a player with a year-long self-exclusion starting Dec. 4 got access to his account as Fanatics transitioned its platform from PointsBet. The customer got back into the account, deposited $1,300, and made bets worth $3,208 before Fanatics noticed the error and suspended the account on March 24. The sportsbook also refunded the $1,100 the player had remaining.
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined Fanatics for offering bets on a state college football bowl game. State laws prohibit bets on college teams unless they are playing in competitions with four or more team entries, and bets were offered on games that didn’t answer the criteria.
