{"id":248007,"date":"2022-12-14T14:03:10","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T20:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=248007"},"modified":"2023-01-03T06:02:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T12:02:28","slug":"penn-interactive-fined-250k-after-barstool-promotes-sports-betting-at-ohio-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/penn-interactive-fined-250k-after-barstool-promotes-sports-betting-at-ohio-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn Interactive Fined $250K After Barstool Promotes Sports Betting at Ohio College"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE 12\/17: This article has been updated to include a statement from Penn Entertainment regarding the action taken by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Penn Sports Interactive faces a $250K fine after it was determined Barstool Sportsbook targeted underage bettors on a college campus. It’s believed to be one of the largest financial penalties \u2013 if not the largest \u2013 recommended by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.<\/p>\n

\"Barstool\"<\/a>
A shot of the Barstool College Football Show stage at a University of Toledo game last month. On Wednesday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission announced it would fine Barstool Sportsbook owner Penn Sports Interactive $250K for violating advertising standards by promoting the sportsbook to college students. (Image: BarstoolCFB\/Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fine was announced during Wednesday’s Ohio Casino Control Commission meeting in Columbus.<\/p>\n

According to a notice the commission sent to Penn Sports last Friday, a copy of which Casino.org<\/em> has received, Barstool Sports hosted its college football show last month at the University of Toledo. The notice said the state\u2019s administrative code \u201cprohibits sports gaming advertising or promoting on college or university campuses in the state of Ohio, unless the advertising is generally available.\u201d<\/p>\n

It goes on to state that ads targeting collegiate campuses are considered \u201cnot generally available.\u201d Ohio law also prohibits sports betting ads targeting people under the age of 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that show, Barstool advertised the Barstool Sportsbook by promoting pre-registration \u2026 including the offering of bonus cash for the Barstool Sportsbook and \u2018mycash\u2019 for Penn Entertainment Casinos related to sportsbook pre-registration,\u201d the notice said.<\/p>\n

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Sports betting is not live yet in Ohio<\/a>. Licensed operators will be allowed to start accepting bets on January 1. However, several operators have already started marketing efforts in the state and offer incentives for players to register in advance of the universal start date<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Penn Entertainment, the parent company of Penn Sports Interactive and Barstool Sportsbooks, operates two casinos and two racinos in Ohio, including the Hollywood Casino in Toledo.<\/p>\n

Barstool Wholly Owned by Penn<\/h2>\n

In August, Penn completed its acquisition<\/a> of Barstool Sports, the online media site founded by Dave Portnoy, after the Pennsylvania-based company bought a 36% stake in it two years ago. The reported price of the deal was $387 million.<\/p>\n

The Barstool show took place near the university\u2019s football stadium. Video posted on Twitter showed a throng of college-age individuals in attendance as the show was about to start.<\/p>\n

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Almost showtime pic.twitter.com\/i9yoN9gOhL<\/a><\/p>\n

— Barstool College Football Show (@BarstoolCFB) November 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n