GiG Fined $25k for New Jersey Geolocation Failings

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) decided to fine Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) with $25,000 for violating the geolocation rules that apply to this US state.

What Actually Happened?

It looks like this gambling operator accepted just one bet from a player that was located outside of New Jersey’s jurisdiction…

…and it was more than enough for the regulator to fine GiG.

NJDGE, on the other hand, decided not to reveal how much money the gambler placed as his bet or the type of wager he placed.

Since there are strict rules in the state that operators can take bets only from individuals located within its borders at the time wagers are placed…

…the state regulator had to issue a fine.

More on GiG

GiG was officially approved to operate in New Jersey way back in June of 2018. The operator still hasn’t made a public comment on this decision coming from NJDGE, but it certainly won’t allow such thing to happen again.

The company received a vendor registration to enter the NJ market, so now it is able to refer website traffic to regulated casinos and sportsbooks on a cost-per-acquisition basis.

At the beginning of January, it also launched a brand-new, land-based and online casino sportsbook…

…in official partnership with Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

The approval came from the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement in June and Hard Rock got a full package of GiG services, which include GiG Sports Connect, GiG Goal and GiG Trader.

“Hard Rock choosing GiG to power its sportsbook is a clear statement as to the quality of our cutting-edge sports betting services at this very early stage of their roll-out,” GiG CEO, Robin Reed, praised the agreement with Hard Rock at the time.

More Fines Issued by NJDGE

GiG certainly isn’t the only company that had to face a fine in this state. The NJ regulator also had to issue penalties to GVC Holdings, The Stars Group, and Rush Street Interactive.

PokerStars operator, The Stars Group, was fined with $10,000 for accepting bets on basketball games featuring teams from two colleges in the state.

Rush Street Interactive was penalized with $30,000 for allowing minors to access its iGaming services, which was the first punishment of this type in NJ.

Penalizing GVC

GVC Holdings and their casino partner, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, were penalized because they allowed gamblers who were excluded to place wagers online.

Both companies broke the self-exclusion rule and had to face financial consequences.

That is why the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement appointed a financial penalty of $81,000 to bwin.party entertainment (now acquired by GVC Holdings) and their land-based partner, Borgata Casino Hotel, owned by MGM Resorts.

DGE filed this complaint because they found out that around 12 gamblers somehow managed to to the forbidden websites…

…and lose $41,759 combined while playing.

Source:

“GiG fined $25k for New Jersey geolocation failings”, igamingbusiness.com, May 2, 2019.