New Jersey Fines PokerStars Over Sportsbetting

Online betting giant PokerStars was slapped by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement this week after it was revealed the operator accepted illegal sports wagers on its site.

The DGE issued a $10,000 fine to PokerStars parent The Stars Group for offering and accepting wagers on events that involved two colleges. Current laws in New Jersey forbid betting on collegiate events that take place in the Garden State. The first violation came in November when PokerStars took in 216 bets for a game between Rutgers and Eastern Michigan. The second violation was a New Year's Eve game between Monmouth University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

For their part, PokerStars admitted the violation and will pay the fine. Additionally, the company realized their error and voided all bets and issued refunds before the events were held.

There have been some violations in regard to New Jersey's sportsbetting laws, with Caesars having also been fined for offering wagers on collegiate events. Still, sportsbetting has largely been well-organized in New Jersey, and billions of dollars have been wagered on events since the activity launched last year.