Michigan Gaming Control Board hosts college sports betting panel discussion

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) recently convened a panel discussion focused on college sports betting rules, regulations and compliance measures. The June 3 informative session offered insights into the intricacies of governing college sports betting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity within the industry.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board is dedicated to fostering a transparent and compliant gaming environment, particularly in the realm of college sports betting,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said. “By hosting this panel discussion and engaging with NCAA Division I collegiate officials involved with overseeing compliance, talking about ways in which we might be able to work together to prevent student-athletes from illegal gambling, we aim to uphold the highest standards of integrity and responsibility.”

The panel consisted of seasoned experts in gaming and regulatory practices, including Dave Murley, Deputy Director of Online Gaming & Legal Affairs, MGCB; Mark Hicks, Managing Director of Enforcement, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); Richard Taylor, Director of Responsible Gaming, BetMGM; Dan Trolaro, Co-Managing Director of Education and Training Services, IC360; and Patrick Walter, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Detroit Office.

“Athletes are risk takers and are conditioned to know if they practice, they can get better, but the problem is that’s not how gambling works,” said Dan Trolaro, Co-Managing Director of Education and Training Services at IC360. “Current K-12 educational curriculums include discussions about drugs, alcohol, and stranger danger but not about gambling, risk-taking, and decision-making. We need to create a curriculum about gambling so that we can empower our student-athletes and equip them with the tools they need to succeed in life after college.”

By facilitating constructive dialogues, fostering collaboration, and actively seeking input from industry partners, the agency helped reinforce its role as a proactive regulatory authority and positions itself as a catalyst for positive change within Michigan’s gaming landscape, the MGCB said.