Argentine football leagues threaten Buenos Aires government’s plans to introduce online betting reform unless they get ‘integrity fees’.

Though so-called ‘integrity feels’ have so far been rejected in North America, things may turn out differently in South America.

More specifically, it seems Argentine football is pushing to get a cut of sports wagering revenue arising from the reform of Buenos Aires province’s gambling laws (see BUENOS AIRES EYES ONLINE GAMBLING AS ECONOMIC CRISIS WORSENS).

President Mauricio Macri, the leader of the Cambiemos governing coalition, is under pressure from Argentina Superliga and AFA officials, who are demanding that he suspends the province’s approved  gambling reform – reform that provides Argentina’s first officially sanctioned online gambling legislative framework.

The argument presented by Superliga officials is a familiar one; i.e. that the online bookies will be exploiting the clubs’ identities to get customers, and that the Buenos Aires government had put together the legislation without adequately consulting them.

They also argue that the actions of the Buenos Aires authorities, in giving authority over the new gambling code to the IPYLC – the Argentine Provinces Board for Lotteries and Casinos – mean the new ADN will be left impotent and unable to govern Argentine sports.

All too predictably, President of Lanús FC and a member of the AFA’s executive committee, Nicolás Russo, has stated that the AFA would be willing to discuss alternative plans with the Buenos Aires executive, but only if they involve compensation for football, a.k.a. ‘integrity fees’, saying

“We do not rule out taking some measures of force. It is not serious or fair to use football matches to bet and that clubs do not charge a peso. Nobody consulted us anything…we should be allowed to make a presentation to those who are driving reforms.”

AYO.NEWS says:

We’ve heard the same old arguments for ‘integrity fees’ from sports leagues before, and they never get anymore convincing. When clubs are happy to build lucrative commercial businesses off the goodwill and passion of their supporters, but don’t want to let them indulge in betting unless they get a cut of the money, something stinks.

Many studies have shown that in markets where sports betting is allowed and there are no ‘integrity fees’ clubs still stand to financially benefit, massively, from things like betting sponsorships and partnerships. Argentine football would be wise to look at the most lucrative sports markets in the world, in places like the UK, Europe and US, and notice how sports betting is a major ally of the leagues.

William Hill US announces strategic partnership with National Hockey League, making it an “Official Sports Betting Partner of the NHL.”

William Hill US has announced a strategic partnership with the National Hockey League, making the bookies an “Official Sports Betting Partner of the NHL.”

Discussing the news NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, said:

“This new partnership is yet another example of the innovative yet practical approach our League is taking with the emerging sports gaming industry,

“We continue to work directly with stakeholders to cultivate relationships across the sports betting landscape. Partnering with William Hill US, a leader in both the sportsbook and mobile betting marketplace, provides a tremendous opportunity to further fan engagement.”

While CEO of William Hill US, Joe Asher, added:

“We are thrilled to become an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League,

“Commissioner Bettman and his team at the NHL have been at the forefront of understanding the opportunities to engage fans through sports betting. Combined with our existing partnerships with the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils, we are extremely excited to continue to build our relationship with the NHL.”

Such a partnership will give William Hill useful media exposure in relevant NHL markets and ample opportunities for branding at NHL events. Interestingly, according to a recent according to a recent Nielsen Sports report, NHL fans have been shown to be more likely to wager than other sports fans, not just on NHL, but on all of the ‘big 4’ US sporting leagues.

Gambling.com subsidiary KAX Media America granted approval by New Jersey DGE to expand deals with operators in state.

KAX Media America Inc., a subsidiary of Gambling.com Group Plc, has been granted approval by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) to expand business deals with operators in the state.

The approval follows an application for an Ancillary Casino Service Industry Enterprise License, and will allow the Group to expand its existing commercial agreements with online sports betting, online casino and online poker operations in New Jersey to include components of revenue share in addition to fixed fees and flat fees per referred customer.

Discussing the news CEO of Gambling.com Group Plc, Charles Gillespie, explained:

“At the present moment there is no online gaming market more interesting than New Jersey. The world has been watching the explosive growth in the market since launching sports betting in 2018 and we have been active in the state for over a year.

“This approval allows us to increase our exposure to this lucrative market. Our application for an Ancillary CSIE license should be taken as clear statement of intent for our big plans in New Jersey. It also demonstrates our commitment to working with New Jersey to make the state the model for licensing and regulating affiliates, as more states come online with gaming and sports betting in 2019 and 2020.”

AYO.NEWS says:

This news is an indication of the high hopes operators and affiliates have for the rapidly growing New Jersey online market, and can also be taken as a wider vote of confidence in US online betting in general, for New Jersey is fast emerging as a model for other states as they individually legalise different forms of gambling.