Inside World Football – An English second-tier striker has been has been handed a suspended three-month ban and fined £60,000 in the latest breach of football’s betting rules to hit English football. Dexter Blackstock, of Nottingham Forest, currently recovering from a serious knee injury sustained while on loan at Leeds United, has been charged with multiple breaches of conduct but will only serve the punishment if he offends again. “Nottingham Forest’s Dexter Blackstock has been suspended from all football activity for three months after he admitted multiple breaches of FA Rule E8 for misconduct in relation to betting,” said a…

The Telegraph – Cricket’s anti-corruption unit could be disbanded and turned into the sport’s equivalent of an Interpol service after more than a decade of failing to police fixing within the game. The International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit is to be the first victim of the radical restructuring of the world governing body with a review into its future to begin with a meeting in London this month. The review has been commissioned by the new controlling forces at the ICC – India, England and Australia – and will also include Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, as patience has…

Seattle Times – When the Seahawks drafted tight end Luke Willson last year, most people probably had two reactions. First, to make a joke about the Seahawks taking an actor (Luke Wilson, one L) in the fifth round. And, second, to look up who the heck Luke Willson (two L’s) was. But Willson offers an interesting window into the draft. He played at Rice with Vance McDonald, another tight end who the 49ers drafted in the second round. Willson was highly productive as a sophomore and junior, but he battled injuries as a senior. His stats dipped significantly. Where McDonald…

Irish independent bookmaker Boyle Sports has agreed a deal to become a sponsor of the Irish Greyhound Derby through to 2016. Boyle Sports struck the initial three-year deal with the Irish Greyhound Board governing body. Under the agreement, Boyle Sports will also serve as the official betting partner of the IGB. In addition, the bookmaker will continue its support of next month’s Race of Champions at Kingdom Stadium, Tralee. The IGB deal comes shortly after Boyle Sports served as the title sponsor of the 2014 Irish Grand National horse racing event. Boyle Sports owner John Boyle said: “Every year we…

This Week in Gambling – We pick the brain of Eamonn Toland, President of Paddy Power North America, about the current situation with sports betting and — in particular — fantasy sports and social gaming. Discussion includes current offerings and strategies from Paddy Power, as well as what the future may hold for sports betting in North America and how Paddy Power may be involved. . OUR INTERVIEW WITH EAMONN TOLAND OF PADDY POWER

iGaming Business – Operators unsure about how changes to the UK Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill will affect their ability to advertise across the country will be able to get the latest information and analysis at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground on 8 May as part of the Betting on Football Conference. As the UK government re-assesses existing gambling advertising controls via a series of measures involving the Advertising Standards Authority, the Committee of Advertising Practice, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising and the Gambling Commission, consultant David Clifton will open the Betting on Football Conference with an update on the latest regulatory…

NJ 105.5 – New Jersey’s bid to legalize sports gambling has endured defeat after defeat in the courts, but one big winner has emerged, at taxpayer expense – the law firm hired to help Gov. Chris Christie defend a lawsuit filed by the four major pro sports leagues and the NCAA. The firm – Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher – is the same one Christie hired, also with public money, to investigate the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal that is plaguing his administration. According to figures obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, Gibson Dunn billed the state…

Mobile betting app Spogo, which let bar patrons make quick bets for a chance to win discounts, is winding down the service after the last Bruins-Canadiens game in the current series, according to an email from the founders. Scott Kirsner previously profiled the betting company, which had raised a small seed round and had a few other companies tackling similar tools. What made Spogo different from other mobile betting app was a model that focused on bar-side bets with real, edible (or drinkable) winnings. Kirsner wrote: Spogo’s iPhone app serves up a string of real-time questions about the NFL game…