Germany may have to rerun its online sports betting licensing process after a court found that it violated several laws and European Union (EU) edicts. The country began its process of allowing 20 licencees following the passage of the federal Interstate Gambling Treaty in 2012. Those licencees were announced by the Hesse Ministry in September 2014, but were immediately appealed by some of the 21 unsuccessful applicants. On Monday, the Administrative Court of Wiesbaden released its ruling on a challenge brought by, according to reports, an Austrian sports betting operator, finding that the licensing process had violated numerous laws, raised…

Ladbrokes Sportsbook & Racebook has begun the roll out of “Cash Out,” allowing its mobile customers the chance to close their position on a bet ahead of the final result. The roll out follows the successful introduction of the functionality on the Ladbrokes “My Accas” product in April. Customer reaction has been good with over 25,000 players using the facility since its introduction. “Cash Out” is now available on 18 markets across 15 sports with football, tennis, cricket, snooker and darts all covered. The plan is to extend into further markets on an ongoing basis over the summer. Launching the…

NBA European partnerships are reportedly being discussed with various global betting companies over the possibility of securing a European partner. According to NBC Sports the NBA is keen on securing an official partner in Europe’s various regulated markets that allow consumers to bet on US professional sports leagues. The report names bwin.party and William Hill as two of the betting companies believed to be involved in the talks, but suggested that other operators have also spoken to the NBA. Both bwin and William Hill wouldn’t comment on the story when contacted by iGaming Business. An unnamed source that claims to have…

Reno Gazette Journal – Some of the newest incarnations of fantasy football look a lot more like gambling than intricate, outsmart-your-opponent strategy games. Since 2011, the billion-dollar fantasy market has been infused with dozens of daily and weekly games. Those games allow players to win huge prizes quickly, sometimes in one week, sometimes in just one night. With players betting thousands or even tens of thousands a night, legal experts believe it’s time to review the section of the 2006 federal law that was written specifically to protect fantasy sports from being banned the way online poker was. “There’s importance…

ABC News – When lawmakers carved out an exemption for fantasy sports in a 2006 law targeting online poker, no one predicted that it would spawn an online gambling operation that may someday rival the millions wagered daily in Las Vegas sports books. But huge money changes hands every day in daily fantasy sports games and, unlike a bet on your favorite team to win a game, it’s legal in all but five states. The exploding popularity of the games has attracted investments from traditional media heavyweights Sports Illustrated and USA Today, both of which recently started their own pay-to-play…

CNBC – As another casino in Atlantic City, N.J., plans to close its doors, some believe allowing sports betting could help invigorate a struggling industry. Most states don’t allow wagers on sporting events, thanks to a federal ban. In Nevada, where sports gambling is legal, it accounts for $4.25 million of the $11.2 billion in statewide gaming revenues. ““Sports betting unregulated is a debacle. It’s horrible because it puts money into the wrong people’s hands,” said Bill Pascrell III of Princeton Public Affairs Group. “Why should Nevada and Delaware have a monopoly? … It’s a state’s rights issue,” he said…

iGaming Business – National US daily newspaper USA Today has unveiled plans to launch a fantasy sports gaming website that will focus on daily tournament-style games. According to the Adage.com website, Fantasy Score will allow players to compete in daily fantasy NFL American football games, with games involving NBA basketball, NHL ice hockey and MLB baseball due to be introduced in the coming months. The new service will initially earn revenue from selling display adverts and native advertising, sponsorship and game management fees. Mark Pesavento, vice-president of innovation at the USA Today Sports Media Group, said that once a certain…

iGaming Business – Betfair has sold its 50% stake in Betfair Australia to casino operator Crown Resorts, the online gaming company’s partner in the joint venture. Formed in 2004 by Betfair and Crown, Betfair Australia offers various services to players in the Australasia region. Earlier this year, iGaming Business reported that Crown was set to complete a buy-out of the business. Under the now-confirmed agreement, Betfair will continue to provide Crown with its betting exchange in Australasia under a new business-to-business model. The online gambling firm will also receive a share of revenues generated by the change in markets within…