Ohio Sports Betting: Why Did BetMGM Get a $150,000 Fine? Lou De Aguila 19. March 2023 | UPDATED ON: 19. March 2023 Post Views: 72 As of right now, Ohio is one of the early stars of 2023 when it comes to sports betting. On January 1, 2023, the state rolled out the red carpet for interactive wagering, so Ohio is one of the early stars of the year. Since that time, the authority that regulates gambling in Ohio, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, has levied a number of fines that have now surpassed one million dollars. Top 3 Sports Betting Sites For Players From Ohio in 2025 Slot Title Pay Back Key Features 1 50% first deposit bonus up to $250 Min. Deposit: $10Payout speed: 15 minutes50% first deposit bonus up to $250Play NowOur score: 50% first deposit bonus up to $250Read more2 $20 free bet Min. Deposit: $10Payout speed: 48 hours$20 free betPlay NowOur score: $20 free betRead more BetMGM is the most recent operator to be taken to task by the regulator, and on Wednesday, they were hit with a fine of $150,000. According to the OCCC’s decision, one of the companies that will be subject to enforcement action for failing to maintain industry standards in the advertising of their gambling products is BetMGM. This allegation comes as a result of the OCCC’s finding that BetMGM was among those companies. At the beginning of the year, the governing body said that Barstool Sportsbook, DraftKings, and Caesars Sportsbook were among the other sites that had to pay a similar fine. The OCCC argued that the aforementioned companies had failed to give appropriate responsible gambling messaging in their marketing and promotional inducements, which meant that gamblers were uninformed, for one, of the various hotline options that were available. Another issue that the regulator had with the companies, including BetMGM, was what it considered to be a frivolous use of the words “risk-free” and “free.” These words are used to describe wagers that are not necessarily “free” in the traditional sense, but rather require customers to have a second chance with the same money that they have wagered. Ohio regulator to fine .@BetMGM, .@CaesarsSports and .@DraftKings over ad violationshttps://t.co/LnhlilOxg4 pic.twitter.com/RcqHXslCsp — Gaming Intelligence (@GamingIntell) January 6, 2023 When she appeared before the commission on Wednesday, the top compliance officer for BetMGM, Rhea Loney, acknowledged and accepted the regulator’s ruling. “BetMGM takes responsibility that we made an error,” said Loney, assuring that the company is committed to the highest responsible gambling standards in the country. “The company apologized for that error, and they are going to remedy that,” Loney added. According to Loney, the company has already taken it upon itself to educate its workers on the matter and has communicated with its affiliate partners. Also, the company has provided training. In order to help spread awareness of problem gambling and make sure that vulnerable customers have access to the right help when they need it, BetMGM has been implementing the British Columbian government’s GameSense program. Other Sports Betting Operators Also Received Fines BetMGM is not the only company to receive a monetary penalty in this case. A total of $150,000 in fines was levied against DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM. DraftKings was also forced to pay an additional $350,000 as a result of regulatory anger, and Penn Entertainment was hit with a separate fine, which resulted in the company paying $250,000. Both companies were forced to pay fines. The operators have acknowledged their wrongdoing and accepted the fines that have been handed down to them in relation to the issues brought up by the watchdog. This means that the total amount of fines paid by operators in the state of Ohio has already gone over the $1,000,000 mark. Mobile Sports Betting Bonus in Ohio: Claim a quick 50% bonus of up to $250 once you make an initial deposit on Bovada! Claim up to $250 Bonus Now About Lou De Aguila Lou Aguila is a news and feature writer for Golden Casino News. For over a decade, Lou has published news and featured articles for some of the most reputable sports betting and online casino sites in the world, including BetNow.UK, VegasOdds, and BWin. Apart from being a hardcore live casino punter, he also covers sports stories in North American leagues from time to time. View all posts by Lou De Aguila →