* Tribune…

At the request of the NFL, Illinois has banned certain bets on professional football games that are feared to be too liable to manipulation by any one player, coach or referee.

First plays, replay results, and whether a kicker will miss a field goal or extra point are among 11 prohibited bets under the new policy, to avoid potential “serious risk” to the integrity of sports gambling.

The Illinois Gaming Board took the action Thursday in response to a request by the NFL to prohibit betting on events considered objectionable or “100% determinable by one person in one play.”

Other forbidden bets include those involving fan safety, player misconduct, penalties, officiating assignments, roster or personnel decisions, and whether a quarterback’s first pass of a game will be incomplete.

* Sports Casting…

Earlier this month, the NFL requested to have the issue brought up for a vote at a meeting. However, an oversight had the league’s request not appear on the IGB’s website until October 16. Laws in Illinois say that 14 days is required to allow licensees and the public an opportunity to comment. The oversight by the IGB meant that the 14-day period was not over until October 30.

Jonathan Nabavi presented the league’s case to the IGB. He is the Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the NFL. Nabavi stated the league wants to have wagers banned on what the NFL deems “objectionable bets for objective markets.” These types of wagers include betting on player injuries, fan safety, officiating assignments, and roster and personnel decisions.

Additionally, there were more game-specific wagers that the league deemed objectionable. That involves player misconduct (penalties), wagering on replays to be conformed or overturned, and wagering on the first play of the game. It also includes wagering on negative outcomes of plays like missing an extra point after a touchdown was scored.

Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke asked around to see if other states had language that prohibited “objectional bets.” Jonathan Nabavi responded and said that multiple jurisdictions have these types of rules in place. Nabavi mentioned how the IGB was able to place bans on similar types of wagers during the Super Bowl.

* Illinois Gaming Board…

The suspension will remain in place at least until the next IGB meeting on December 12 when the Board will revisit this matter. A copy of the temporary suspension order and the NFL’s request are available here.

* Meanwhile, from Casino Reports…

The brainchild of one of the gambling industry’s top inventors is now the most recognizable company at the forefront of the blossoming — and controversial — “skill games” industry. […]

As a privately owned company, Pace-O-Matic does not release much information about itself. It doesn’t reveal how many games it has in operation in the U.S. And it doesn’t share any financial figures either. […]

Skill games are gaming devices that look and feel similar to traditional slot machines. However, whereas those casino games rely purely on chance, manufacturers like Pace-O-Matic say their games rely on the player’s skill.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global skill game industry was valued at nearly $31 billion in 2022 and it’s expected to swell to $85.34 billion by 2030.

And, in the U.S., it’s all unregulated.