Why NJ Sportsbooks Likely Had Some Involvement in Latest NCAA Fix

On Oct. 3, US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed various indictments against a group of alleged members of the Colombo organized crime family. Those charges include an attempt made to fix an NCAA Division I men’s basketball game.  With New Jersey legalizing sports betting and allowing affiliates to prosper through the revenue sharing model, it becomes much easier for fixes to occur on games. Often times, New York cases are tied in with gamblers from New Jersey.  Gambling911.com takes a look.

Court-authorized wiretaps allegedly captured the defendants scheming to fix a December 2018 NCAA basketball game and there were attempts to bribe college athletes in the process.  In the past, offshore operators have worked closely with US authorities to identify these individuals (see Forescic Files Olympic Sports and the case involving SBG Global from years back).  Today, the state of New Jersey will take money from anyone looking to make a quick buck with their licensing objectives.  As a result, sites like Gambling911.com and most of its endorsed sponsors have stayed clear of New Jersey.

New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is resportedly closely watching all sports betting activities in the state.  So much so it has already issued the former BetStars NJ a $10,000 fine for accepting multiple bets on the Rutgers and Monmouth men’s basketball teams and it fined Borgata Atlantic City $500 for taking unapproved bets on the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.

It appears that mobsters have also found an "in" even though there are supposedly tools are now in place in New Jersey for sports leagues to work with sportsbooks and gaming enforcement officials to identify corruption and go after it.

While the offshore books over the years have worked closely with federal authorities to crush corruption, it appears as if New Jersey may be having a tougher time and may be finding itself more exposed.  Considering the companies it has chosen to license and some of their questionable history, this shoudn't shock anyone.

Oddsshark, a provider of live odds from various sportsbooks, has opted to exit the New Jersey market due to its questionable policies.

"The state licensed a sportsbook whose owner is still a fugitive," joked one offshore operator.  They were likely referencing PokerStars, a company other states (California for example) won't touch.  "Another company they licensed refused to pay a player after their odds feed got screwed up, their own fault.  No thank you.  We'll steer clear of this corrupt state."

Countless offshore sportsbooks have told Gambling911 they pulled out of the New Jersey market.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com