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Senator Erika Geiss introduced a bill on Thursday that puts more regulations around sports wagering advertising for sports operators. There are four other co-sponsors of the bill, too.
The Michigan online sportsbook industry has certainly changed over the years. Because of the that, Geiss appears to want advertisements to go through the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
What the bills says
Senate Bill 714 lays out the new ways operators are to go about advertising sports wagering products. There are numerous requirements, with the top few being:
- All advertisements for sports wagering must be approved by the board.
- The advertisement and marketing of sports wagering must comply with all applicable municipal ordinances, state law, and this act and rules promulgated under this act.
- An operator shall not advertise sports wagering in a way that is deceptive, false, or misleading, or make any deceptive, false, or misleading assertions or statements on any sports wagering product, sign, or document provided.
- Sports wagering must not be advertised or marketed to members of the public unless the person advertising sports betting has reliable evidence that not more than 30% of the audience or readership for the television program, radio program, website, or print publication, is reasonably expected to be under the age of 21.
The bill also states that it would be prohibited from advertising to any audience under 21.
Violating the bill
Should legislation pass, the bill also lays out penalties for operators who violate the potential new law. They are:
- First violation: Civil fine up to $1,000.
- Second violation: Civil fine up to $5,000.
- Third violation: revocation of the person’s sports wagering operator license
The bill also states that the attorney general may also enforce these violations.
The MGCB is one of the most aggressive regulatory bodies when it comes to regulating the legal market, and eliminating illegal gambling. It is now being tasked with approving advertisements amongst operators.
