Caesars Entertainment received a $150,000 penalty in Ohio for violating the state’s regulations on wagering promotions. This marks the initial significant sanction issued by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) since sports wagering became permissible there at the beginning of 2023.
The corporation encountered difficulties for employing the phrase “complimentary wagers” in its marketing, a term explicitly forbidden by Ohio. Furthermore, their advertisements neglected to prominently display details regarding resources for gambling addiction assistance.
Although the OCCC recognized Caesars’ prompt remedial actions, they deemed a fine appropriate. June Taylor, the OCCC Chair, characterized the company’s response as “exemplary compliance” but emphasized the significance of establishing a standard.
Matt Schuler, the OCCC’s Executive Director, added that if other businesses emulated Caesars’ swift and comprehensive rectification of infractions, the majority of such instances wouldn’t necessitate a formal hearing.
Nevertheless, Jessica Franks, the OCCC’s Communications Director, stressed the gravity of the violations, which persisted despite cautions. “We made several attempts to guide them toward compliance, but were met with failure,” Franks stated. “Hence, these monetary penalties are essential.”
Despite the penalty, the OCCC conveyed their appreciation for Caesars’ efforts to rectify the issues, even surpassing expectations.
At the Wednesday proceedings, legal representatives for Caesars Entertainment relinquished their opportunity for a hearing, attributing the deceptive promotions to an external marketing associate. It appears this collaboration has since been terminated by Caesars. Nevertheless, Eric Hession, the Chief Financial Officer, conveyed remorse to the Ohio Casino Control Commission regarding the misleading advertisements and detailed how the organization would avert comparable circumstances moving forward. “We are proactively implementing measures to guarantee this remains a paramount concern,” Hession affirmed. The penalties imposed upon Caesars will be allocated to the Ohio Sports Gaming Revenue Fund, which predominantly supports primary and secondary education, athletics, and supplementary academic pursuits. The Ohio Casino Control Commission will shortly ascertain whether analogous sanctions will be levied against DraftKings, BetMGM, and Penn Interactive, as all are confronting comparable accusations.
