With a Supreme Court decision paving the way for legalized sports betting in some states, a new association hopes to set the rules of the road for wagering.

The Sports Wagering Integrity Monitoring Association (SWIMA), formed by two major casino operators—MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment—aims to work with a wide array of regulatory bodies to help identify and tackle wager fraud when it arises.

SportTechie reports that the new group is being driven by New Jersey’s legislative efforts on sports betting, which led to this spring’s Supreme Court decision, and requires gaming operators to notify regulators, law enforcement, and fellow operators when a case of fraud emerges. Reflecting this connection with New Jersey law, the state’s former assistant attorney general, George Rover, will head the day-to-day operations of SWIMA.

MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren, speaking to the outlet, noted that the group reflects the company’s commitment to responsible gaming.

“We’re quite proud of efforts in responsible gaming and problem gaming issues, and that’s an area that we focus on quite a bit,” he stated. “We can assure that we’re looking at this very honestly, clear-headed, clear-eyed, and deal with problem gaming issues if they arise.”

The American Gaming Association, a key advocate for legal sports betting in the years preceding the Supreme Court decision, applauded the creation of the new association. “Today’s announcement comes at a critical time as dozens of states and sovereign tribal nations are poised to pursue legal sports betting in 2019,” stated Sara Slane, AGA’s senior vice president of public affairs, in a news release.

The new regulatory group comes as seven states have fully legalized the practice, according to Legal Sports Report, with two more states having passed some legislation allowing for it, one state planning for its eventual launch, and 17 states looking at sports betting bills in recent years.

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