Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter authorized a temporary suspension on NFL bets that involve wagering on injuries,player conduct, officiating assignments and negative-outcome predetermined events in anygame Thursday.
The move came in response to a request filed by the NFL earlier this month. The league originally submitted its request to have it brought up for a vote at the meeting, but an oversight resulted in the request not being published on the IGB's website until Oct. 16. State rules require a 14-day period to allow licensees and the public opportunity to comment, and the oversight meant the 14-day period does not end until Oct. 30.
Fruchter, using powers delegated to him dating back to the 2020 pandemic that were renewed earlier this year as part of an annual review of those powers, issued the temporary suspension of those wagers. The matter is expected to be brought up for a full vote at the board's next meeting Dec. 12.
What types of wagers is the NFL seeking to suspend?
Jonathan Nabavi, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs for the NFL, presented the league's case to the IGB. The league was looking to have wagers banned that the league labels "objectionable bets for objective markets." They include wagers involving player injuries, fan safety, officiating assignments, and roster and personnel decisions.
There were also more game-specific wagers deemed objectionable, including player misconduct (penalties), wagering on whether a replay will be confirmed or overturned, wagering on the play type for the first play of the game, and wagering on the negative outcome of plays, such as missing a point after touchdown conversion or field goal as well as a quarterback throwing an incompletion.
"Inherently objectionable bets represent markets or bets that are derogatory, designed to be inflammatory, or otherwise based on subject manager that's against public policy," Nabavi explained. "These markets are not correctly related to game play or can have a negative impact on consumer confidence and player and players involved. The other categories of objectionable bets represent markets or beta that pose the greatest risk or perceived risk to game integrity.
"Unlike wagers offered on the result of a game or a specific type of performance, these type of wagers are more susceptible to many because a single person or player may easily control the outcome of that waiver. Prohibiting these wagers would complement the NFL policies that require game participants and other NFL personnel to use their best efforts on the playing field and protect NFL inside information."
IGB Chairman Charles Schmadeke inquired if other states had such language in place prohibiting these types of wagers, and Nabavi responded that multiple jurisdictions have such rules in place through either state law or rule-making by similar governing state agencies. Nabavi also pointed out the IGB had previously placed bans on similar-type wagers for the Super Bowl via rule-making.
FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing Gets Retail License Renewed
The IGB also conducted some housekeeping Thursday by renewing the master sports wagering license of FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing for four years through October 2028. The license is now held by Accel Entertainment, which purchased the horse racing track formerly known as Fairmount Park in July. The license was originally approved in 2020 under previous owner Fairmount Holdings, and the retail sportsbook opened there in March 2021 as part of the rebranding to the current name.
The venue has generated $7.2 million handle through the first eight months of 2024, down 38.4% from the same period last year. FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing does not operate any off-track betting retail sports wagering locations as allowed in the 2019 gaming bill that legalized sports betting in Illinois, but Accel plans on finding locations for the maximum-allotted three OTB sites as part of its racino expansion plans.
