New Jersey DGE Fines William Hill and Amelco for Sports Betting Violations

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has levied fines against William Hill Sportsbook and Amelco for accepting wagers on events that had already concluded and for taking prohibited bets.

William Hill Fined $20,000 for Post-Event Bets

William Hill Sportsbook was fined $20,000 after accepting over $25,000 in bets on events that had already ended. The violations, occurring between 2022 and 2023, involved completed college basketball games, hockey matches, and boxing events.

The issue stemmed from an error by the sportsbook’s content supplier, OpenBet, which provides event data to the platform. While most bets were voided, and customers had their wagers refunded, six bets totaling over $5,000 were paid out before the mistake was identified.

William Hill has since implemented measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Amelco Penalized for Unauthorized Bets

Amelco, a sports betting technology provider, was fined $10,000 for violations tied to its partnership with PlayUp, an online sportsbook. These violations included accepting wagers on a U.S. presidential candidate and a New Jersey college basketball game, both of which are prohibited under state regulations.

Amelco acknowledged the breach and collaborated with the DGE to resolve the issue.

Previous Violations in the Industry

The latest fines are part of a series of enforcement actions by the DGE against sportsbooks for similar violations:

• 2021: Kambi Group and Rush Street Interactive were fined $1,000 each for taking bets on a completed soccer match.
• 2023: Bet365 was fined $33,000 for similar regulatory breaches.

Industry-Wide Impact

The total gambling industry fines for 2024 now stand at $177.7 million, highlighting the DGE’s continued focus on maintaining regulatory compliance in New Jersey’s sports betting market.