Ahead of the launch of ESPN BET on November 14, sports media giant ESPN has unveiled strict guidelines to ensure the integrity of its brand and journalistic operations. 

The New ESPN Guidelines Strive to Safeguard Against Information Misuse

ESPN is leaving no stone unturned in preventing any potential misuse of information by its employees, particularly those designated as “Insiders” or “Reporters.” The guidelines, released internally on November 10, outline the rules for ESPN’s 5,000 employees, explicitly stating that insiders like Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bets on the leagues they cover, such as the NFL and NBA.

The company is taking extra precautions to prevent the use of confidential information for betting purposes, covering a range of potential insider knowledge, including player injuries, officials’ decisions, and management insights. This extends to all ESPN employees, from front-facing talents to production personnel and journalists working both on and off-site.

ESPN’s stringent stance also extends to executives managing business relationships with leagues. The guidelines explicitly forbid betting on leagues or properties they handle on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, the company urges all employees to avoid participating in any form of illegal betting.

ESPN’s Guidelines Unveil Restrictions on Awards, Personnel Decisions, and Draft Picks

Certain types of bets are singled out for extra caution, such as awards votes (e.g., league MVPs), player personnel decisions, and draft picks. ESPN does not want its employees, particularly those with potentially relevant confidential information, to influence or participate in these types of wagers.

These guidelines were developed in alignment with The Walt Disney Company’s Standards of Business Conduct and may see updates once ESPN BET goes live in 17 US states on November 14. The network has already initiated promotional efforts for ESPN BET, with anchor Scott Van Pelt leading the way.

While ESPN declined to comment specifically on the guidelines, it is clear that the company is taking proactive measures to ensure the separation of its journalistic enterprise from the operations of the sportsbook. The memo explicitly states that no story should be reported, delayed, influenced, or withheld with the intention of impacting betting lines.

In August, ESPN and Penn Entertainment joined forces to launch ESPN BET, transforming the existing Barstool Sportsbook into an exclusive sportsbook deeply integrated into ESPN’s programming. The partnership, accompanied by a $1.5 billion cash infusion from Penn Entertainment to ESPN, aims to create a seamless sports betting experience for fans and capitalize on the growing legal sports betting market in the United States. The collaboration signifies ESPN’s strategic entry into the sports gaming arena, leveraging its platform for comprehensive gaming industry coverage and betting-oriented programming.

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The NCAA has announced revised guidelines for student-athletes caught gambling on other college sports at their own schools. Under the previous rules established in June, students who bet on their own sports or other sports at their schools faced permanent loss of eligibility. 

NCAA Reforms Penalties for Student-Athlete Gambling

This move comes after the Collegiate Commissioners Association raised concerns about the overly punitive nature of the previous penalties. The change in rules reflects a more balanced approach to address the prevalence of sports betting among college students while still maintaining the integrity of competition.

Under the new guidelines, student-athletes caught wagering on teams at their school, excluding their own team, will now face a one-season suspension and a loss of one year of eligibility. Additionally, they will be required to participate in sports wagering rules and prevention education as a condition of reinstatement. The decision was supported by the Division I Council Coordination Committee, which acknowledged the need to modify reinstatement conditions for specific cases involving sports betting.

Jon Steinbrecher, chair of the Council Coordination Committee and commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, said: “To be clear, Division I members do not encourage student-athletes to engage in sports wagering at any level, and the actions today to modify reinstatement conditions should not be interpreted as support for wagering behaviors.” 

New Rules Reflect Understanding of Student-Athlete Mistakes

The new rules aim to strike a balance between addressing the reality of widespread betting on college campuses and maintaining the integrity of collegiate sports. The penalties are designed to be more fitting for 2023, acknowledging that young athletes might make mistakes without necessarily jeopardizing their entire careers.

It is important to note that despite the adjustment in reinstatement guidelines, the NCAA continues to prohibit student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators from engaging in sports wagering in any sport sponsored by the NCAA, including collegiate and professional sports. The change in rules signals a step forward in reevaluating NCAA regulations related to sports wagering, with further discussions likely to follow on this evolving issue.

The updated decision might offer respite to a few athletes implicated in the betting controversies at Iowa and Iowa State. DeShawn Hanika, a tight end at ISU, was cited for betting solely on Iowa State basketball games and not football matches. Nevertheless, nine other football players from both Iowa and Iowa State universities still confront the prospect of losing their eligibility permanently due to their involvement in gambling on their own games.

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Considering the expansion of legal sports betting that is already available in more than 30 US states, concerns about the integrity of sports competitions continue to grow. Earlier this year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced a number of suspensions over alleged gambling violations.

Then, earlier this month, the NCAA confirmed its plans to revise the penalties for athletes suspended due to sports wagering. The proposed changes to the guidelines sought to change the penalties for athletes who have placed bets on sports but did not wager on their team. While earlier this month, the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement confirmed the new guidelines, now, the policies face a delay, as announced by The Des Moines Register.

On Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee confirmed that the voting on the changes to the reinstatement guidelines will be delayed for two weeks. According to the Committee’s chair, Jon Steinbrecher, this decision came after the Conference Commissioners Association Executive Committee asked for more time. He said that the two-week delay would be used for collecting membership feedback for the planned changes. Finally, Steinbrecher pointed out: “The coordination committee reemphasized the need for the Association to move deliberately and have in-depth conversations about the current wagering landscape.”

“The council agreed with commissioners earlier this month that the penalties for wagering violations in limited circumstances should be adjusted and the respective committees moved quickly to recommend possible changes. However, the Conference Commissioners Association Executive Committee, today, requested a brief delay to allow more time for membership feedback on the proposed adjustment, and the coordination committee voted to honor that request.“

Jon Steinbrecher, chair of the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee

Proposed Changes May Ease Penalties for First-Time Offenders

Recently, the NCAA showed support for changes to betting legislation across the country. At the time, the Association confirmed that it plans to collaborate with lawmakers, ensuring the integrity of its competitions and raising awareness of problem gambling.

Additionally, the NCAA said that it plans to protect students from harassment and coercion. In the recently proposed changes to the reinstatement guidelines, the Association explores the option to reinstate penalized athletes if it’s their first offense. Such athletes would have the option to compete but must undergo education. Still, it’s important to mention that this rule would apply only to athletes who have placed sports bets but not on their team.

Back in August, Noah Shannon, the defensive tackle for Iowa Hawkeyes was suspended for a season. After a month, his appeal was denied. While there is a chance for Shannon to return, it is still uncertain if and when he may return, considering the planned changes to the reinstatement guidelines.

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The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released an update on industry-led measures to enhance player protections in relation to loot boxes in video games. Following the recommendations from DCMS, the industry trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) has developed and published 11 principles on loot boxes. 

UK Government Calls for Improved Safeguards as Concerns Grow Over Loot Boxes in Video Games

While loot boxes are not explicitly classified as gambling products, concerns have been raised about the potential risk of harm they pose, particularly to young people. 

The new industry guidance focuses on several key principles. It emphasizes the importance of technological controls to restrict the acquisition of loot boxes by individuals under the age of 18 without parental consent. The guidance also calls for improved age assurance technologies and a commitment to refund policies to mitigate financial harms associated with loot boxes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for clear probability disclosures to inform players about the likelihood of receiving specific items or categories of items in loot boxes.

The guidance also highlights the significance of supporting the Video Games Research Framework, which facilitates data-driven research on video games. Additionally, the guidance addresses the unauthorized external sale of items acquired from loot boxes for real money, advocating for IP protection measures to combat such sales.

Other counties such as Australia and the Netherlands have also cracked down on the use of loot boxes in video games.

£1M Campaign to Educate Parents on Game Guidelines Featuring Judi Love

To raise awareness and educate players and parents about these guidelines, a £1 million ($1.3 million) public information campaign will be launched, featuring broadcaster Judi Love. This campaign aims to guide parents on the use of parental controls to manage in-game purchases, screen time, online interactions, and access to age-appropriate content.

The DCMS expects the games industry, coordinated by Ukie, to fully implement the guidance and report back on its implementation progress. The government will monitor the effectiveness of the guidance over a 12-month period and assess its impact on player protection. 

While some stakeholders may advocate for legislative intervention, the government believes that an industry-led approach is currently more suitable, given the dynamic nature of loot boxes and in-game purchases. 

At the same time, new research has indicated a link between spending on loot boxes in video games and symptoms of problem gambling. The study focused on 400 regular gamers aged 18-24 and found that higher spending on loot boxes correlated with a higher likelihood of engaging in gambling behavior. Other research has also suggested a similar link between gambling addiction and loot boxes.

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