Geoff Zochodne
Geoff Zochodne
Geoff has been writing about the legalization and regulation of sports betting in Canada and the United States for more than three years. His work has included coverage of launches in New York, Ohio, and Ontario, numerous court proceedings, and the decriminalization of single-game wagering by Canadian lawmakers. As an expert on the growing online gambling industry in North America, Geoff has appeared on and been cited by publications and networks such as Axios, TSN Radio, and VSiN. Prior to joining Covers, he spent 10 years as a journalist reporting on business and politics, including a stint at the Ontario legislature. More recently, Geoff’s work has focused on the pending launch of a competitive iGaming market in Alberta, the evolution of major companies within the gambling industry, and efforts by U.S. state regulators to rein in offshore activity and college player prop betting.
Sport to bet on: Golf or NASCAR
Sports movie: Senna
Sports snack: Giant pretzel
Covers feature: Odds and betting lines
Nate Diaz over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141. I was in Las Vegas at the time and saw my bet win while watching the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Best Betting Memory
Worst Beat
Churchill Downs Expecting Record-Like Kentucky Derby Results, Not Record
The historic nature of the 150th Derby and the cloudier economic backdrop are now something of a double whammy for Churchill Downs and the race's 151st edition.
Never a Doubt? How Two Hours of Canadian Election Betting Rattled Prediction Markets
Prediction markets were right until they were wrong, and until they were right again about Canada’s 45th federal election.
Prediction Market Sports Betting Faces Fresh Uncertainty
The CFTC canceling its planned prediction market roundtable leaves questions about sports event contracts unanswered.
Liberal Election Win Could Be a Big Loss for Canadian Bettors
“We are in the lucky position of having the Liberals as a small winner at the moment," one U.K. bookmaker says.
Illinois Sports Betting Regulators Move to Ban Credit Card Use
The proposed tweak comes as state lawmakers and regulators continue to tinker with legalized sports betting in their respective jurisdictions, with some proposed changes aimed at protecting players.
Polymarket Settles Ontario Spat Amid Canadian Election Betting
The settlement agreement with Polymarket's operators was in connection with their failure “to comply with the ban on offering short-term binary options to individual investors in Ontario.”
Online Betting Loomed Over the U.S. Election. Why Not Canada’s?
Unlike the U.S. election, polls and betting markets are agreeing with each other on the Canadian campaign. Are they both wrong?
Which States Allow Betting on the NFL Draft?
Betting on the NFL Draft has become more and more popular, but not every state believes it should be on the menu at sportsbooks they regulate.
Alberta iGaming, Sports Betting Bill Making Easy Progress
Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, passed its second reading on Wednesday in Edmonton.
‘DraftKings Predict’ No Longer Pending Member of Futures Regulator
Does DraftKings want a piece of the growing sports event contract business or not?
Can Canada’s Election Debate Shake Up The Betting Odds?
The English-language debate is an opportunity for one of Canada's political leaders to score points with voters and shift the betting odds in their favour.
Ohio Sports Betting Regulators Brace for Prediction Market Lawsuit
It could be a prudent move by the Ohio Casino Control Commission given that cease-and-desist letters to prediction markets have prompted legal action in other states.
What Happens To Your Sports Bets When You Die?
It’s conceivable that, as a sports bettor, you could die before some of your wagers are settled. So what happens then?
A Sports Bettor's Guide to Paying Taxes on Wagers
The U.S. Census Bureau recently added event wagering to the list of state and local tax revenue sources that it tracks.
Ohio Lawmakers Nix Proposed Sports Betting Tax Hike
The removal of the tax hike by the Ohio House is a win for sports betting operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Massachusetts Regulators Awash in Data on Sports Bettor Limiting
Any regulatory action by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on limiting will have to wait until all of the questions are answered and the data is sorted.
Kalshi Wins Round One of Nevada Sports Betting Battle
At stake is the status quo for legal sports betting in the U.S., as it has typically been offered under the watch of state-level regulators like the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Nevada, New Jersey Casinos Threatened By Sports Betting Contracts
“By offering a nationwide betting product without any regulatory guardrails or consumer protections, the citizens of Nevada will be put at risk and our state’s largest economic driver will be damaged,” a letter to the CFTC alleges.
Maryland Joins Sports Event Contract Betting Clampdown
Maryland's efforts are part of the rising awareness of and opposition to federally regulated prediction markets like Kalshi.
Prediction Markets Complicate California Sports Betting Efforts
While an agreement on authorizing retail or online sportsbooks in California remains elusive, there is a growing consensus among states, sportsbook operators, and tribes that prediction markets pose a growing threat to their interests.
