FanDuel was fined $95,000 by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for allowing wagers that aren’t permitted in Iowa. One of the violations was on a soccer game, while the other came in basketball. The goal here is for Iowa to set an example, showing that violations will be met with consequences, even for the top operators within the state.
The violation in a soccer game was on betting on the number of cards issued by a referee. This was offered in other markets, so FanDuel kept it up in Iowa without realizing that you can’t offer wagers on referee decisions in this state.
The other violation came in Filipino basketball, which is a league that was not authorized by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Since the state doesn’t allow wagers on minor league games involving Iowa teams, the same is said for foreign leagues like Filipino basketball.
According to Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator Tina Eick, this was not FanDuel’s first violation in the last year, so they wanted to send a message that violations aren’t tolerated.
This also isn’t the first state to fine FanDuel. Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined FanDuel $5,000 for allowing wagers on a Nebraska quarterback in 2023. Not only does this provide another example of a violation, but it also puts into context how hefty the fine from Iowa was at $95,000.
Iowa doesn’t allow wagers on referee decisions because those can be easily manipulated. Since this particular bet depended on how many cards a referee issued to players in that specific game, it’s an outcome that they have complete control over. To prevent any gambling scandals and protect game integrity, Iowa doesn’t permit this type of bet.
As for Filipino Basketball, the argument is that this league can be harder to monitor. They’re unsure if it has the same game integrity standards as professional leagues like the NBA. The concern is that these games can be easier for bad actors to manipulate for gambling profits. Iowa is taking a cautious stance with these types of leagues, which is why they don’t allow these betting markets, even though they’re offered elsewhere.
The Iowa sports betting market includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, bet365, theScore Bet, BetRivers, Bally Bet, and Circa. FanDuel remains among the top operators alongside DraftKings, which is a common theme throughout the country.
This is another reason why the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission issued such a heavy fine for this violation on FanDuel. The goal was to set an example by showing that even the top operators will deal with consequences for any betting violations.
