The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has opted to bar sportsbetting information site Odds Shark from their state, as the regulator found that the site was promoting offshore sportsbooks.
Odds Shark got a letter from the New Jersey Deputy Attorney General Anthony Strangia, who wrote: "The Division has accessed your website located at www.oddsshark.com and found that, alongside promotional links to authorized New Jersey online gaming and sports betting websites, your website also promotes [at least three offshore sites] which offer unauthorized internet gaming and sports betting to New Jersey residents."
"By copy of this letter, the Division is instructing all New Jersey casinos and internet gaming providers that they must cease doing all business with OddsShark.com, regardless of whether the platforms are promoting their New Jersey activity or activity in other jurisdictions.
"In addition, you may be violating the criminal laws of the state of New Jersey [regarding racketeering and promoting illegal gambling].
"We request that you immediately remove any online gaming links that are not authorized under federal law or under the law of any state. The State of New Jersey reserves the right to pursue appropriate civil or criminal sanctions against you if you fail to take the requested actions."
Visitors from the state of New Jersey that are detected are now given a message that reads "Access Denied", and states that visitors are not authorized to access the page. The state has established itself as the largest online betting market in the United States, offering online casino, poker, and sportsbetting services to punters. Offshore promotion is being clamped down on, and sites like Odds Shark are feeling the brunt of that enforcement.
Comments
Obviously that's quite hard of a violation there from the site owners who'd not only probably loose their license but could also have to face charges in court as well...but it's too late now to think of the consequences.