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The highly anticipated face-off between Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, set for November 15 in Arlington, Texas, is generating plenty of buzz-and controversy. While some are eager to see this unusual clash, several states are making it clear they won't allow bets on the fight. New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Vermont are among those that have decided to keep wagering on this event off the books.
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In Pennsylvania, the fight didn't meet the state's requirements for traditional boxing matches. "We just consider it an untraditional boxing event that's more of an exhibition," explained Richard McGarvey from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, adding, "We just said, 'Not in Pennsylvania.'" Pennsylvania's stance reflects a broader reluctance among state regulators, who are wary of fights with non-standard rules and less conventional fighters.
New York State Gaming Commission's Brad Maione echoed similar concerns. He explained that because it's an exhibition involving "a former professional fighter," the fight doesn't qualify for legal betting in New York. The commission generally restricts betting on events that feature non-professional athletes or exhibitions, and Tyson vs. Paul fits the bill.
Even though the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has sanctioned the fight as a pro bout, they've agreed to some unusual rules-two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves. The changes came at the request of the fight's promoter, Bryce Holden, representing Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which partnered with Netflix to livestream the event.
Unusual rules keep betting out of key states
Colorado officials cited similar issues with the fight's setup, with Derek Kuhn from the Department of Revenue explaining that "it does not meet the minimum requirements for the industry in the state." Like Pennsylvania, Colorado's boxing rules follow the Association of Boxing Commissions' standards, which the Tyson-Paul fight doesn't meet. Vermont also cited the two-minute rounds and heavier gloves as the sticking points.
DraftKings' Johnny Avello noted that a total of six states will not accept wagers on this match, remarking, "Will people still be watching the fight? Probably, but I think enrollment would be much higher if they could get a wager on it."
Pennsylvania's McGarvey added that refusing to authorize bets on unconventional matches isn't new for them. He pointed to past exhibitions, like the 2021 fight between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort, as instances when betting was restricted for similar reasons.