Geoff Zochodne
Geoff Zochodne
Geoff has been writing about the legalization and regulation of sports betting in Canada and the United States for more than three years. His work has included coverage of launches in New York, Ohio, and Ontario, numerous court proceedings, and the decriminalization of single-game wagering by Canadian lawmakers. As an expert on the growing online gambling industry in North America, Geoff has appeared on and been cited by publications and networks such as Axios, TSN Radio, and VSiN. Prior to joining Covers, he spent 10 years as a journalist reporting on business and politics, including a stint at the Ontario legislature. More recently, Geoff’s work has focused on the pending launch of a competitive iGaming market in Alberta, the evolution of major companies within the gambling industry, and efforts by U.S. state regulators to rein in offshore activity and college player prop betting.
Sport to bet on: Golf or NASCAR
Sports movie: Senna
Sports snack: Giant pretzel
Covers feature: Odds and betting lines
Nate Diaz over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141. I was in Las Vegas at the time and saw my bet win while watching the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Best Betting Memory
Worst Beat
Ohio Lawmakers Nix Proposed Sports Betting Tax Hike
The removal of the tax hike by the Ohio House is a win for sports betting operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Massachusetts Regulators Awash in Data on Sports Bettor Limiting
Any regulatory action by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on limiting will have to wait until all of the questions are answered and the data is sorted.
Kalshi Wins Round One of Nevada Sports Betting Battle
At stake is the status quo for legal sports betting in the U.S., as it has typically been offered under the watch of state-level regulators like the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Nevada, New Jersey Casinos Threatened By Sports Betting Contracts
“By offering a nationwide betting product without any regulatory guardrails or consumer protections, the citizens of Nevada will be put at risk and our state’s largest economic driver will be damaged,” a letter to the CFTC alleges.
Maryland Joins Sports Event Contract Betting Clampdown
Maryland's efforts are part of the rising awareness of and opposition to federally regulated prediction markets like Kalshi.
Prediction Markets Complicate California Sports Betting Efforts
While an agreement on authorizing retail or online sportsbooks in California remains elusive, there is a growing consensus among states, sportsbook operators, and tribes that prediction markets pose a growing threat to their interests.
Why U.S. Sports Betting Regulators Have Had It With Event Contracts
If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch, you're out of luck.
Connecticut Sports Betting Regulators Investigating Kalshi as Contract Conflict Grows
Connecticut’s concerns highlight the growing interest that state-level regulators of legal sports betting have in federally regulated prediction markets.
Ohio Regulators Send Cease-and-Desists to Kalshi, Robinhood, Crypto.com
“Purchasing a contract based on which team a person thinks will win a sporting event is no different than placing a bet through a traditional sportsbook,” Ohio Casino Control Commission executive director Matthew Schuler says.
Mississippi’s Online Sports Betting, Anti-Sweepstakes Bill Dead
The state legislature’s website said Monday night that the measure had died in the conference committee intended to resolve those differences.
Breaking Down Alberta’s New Sports Betting and iGaming Bill
While sports betting and iGaming in Alberta will resemble what someone in New Jersey might be accustomed to, there are some important legal distinctions.
Alberta Introduces Bill to Allow New Sports Betting, iGaming Sites
Alberta’s government has been working toward a competitive market for online gambling for months, similar to what Ontario has done.
Florida Committee Approves Online Gambling Crackdown Bill
S.B. 1404 takes aim at mobile casino gaming and sports betting Florida's Seminole Tribe doesn't offer.
The Two Solitudes of Canadian Sports Betting
There are two Canadas when it comes to gambling on stuff over the internet: Ontario and Alberta – and then everyone else.
New York Regulator Hints Sweepstakes Casino Crackdown Coming
“I am concerned by the rise in the so-called sweepstakes casinos, wherein it may appear that online prizes are being offered for free when they are not,” the chair of the New York State Gaming Commission said.
Why There May Be More Betting on the Canadian Election Than Ever Before
Regulated and unregulated sportsbooks at home and abroad, as well as new “prediction markets” offshore and in the U.S., make it more possible than ever to wager on Canada’s federal election.
Maryland House Turns Attention to Anti-Sweepstakes Casinos Bill
The bill is part of a growing trend in the U.S., as lawmakers and regulators are becoming more aware of online sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks.
Maryland Lawmakers Agree to Water Down Sports Betting Tax Hike
What’s on the table now is a decent-sized step back from the tax hike that was initially tossed out by Maryland's governor, which could mean a sizable chunk of change saved for operators.
Ides of March Madness: Prediction Markets, Sweeps Make States' College Sports Betting Rules Irrelevant
Betting on college sports is happening in new and different ways, with or without permission from state lawmakers and regulators.
Not So Sweet 16: New Jersey’s Sports Betting Rules May Cause March Madness Hassles
The state bans wagering on any college sport or athletic event that takes place within its borders.
