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Some states do not accept bets

Sports bettors in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Vermont cannot legally bet on next week's fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.

Each state has abolished the ability to bet on the boxing match that 58-year-old Tyson and 27-year-old Paul will take part in on November 15 in Arlington, Texas, USA. TODAY Sports has learned.

“We just look at it as an unconventional boxing event that is more of an exhibition,” Richard McGarvey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, told USA TODAY Sports. “We just said, 'Not in Pennsylvania.' “

The Tyson-Paul fight was approved as a professional fight by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates combat sports in Texas. But TDLR has agreed to non-traditional rules — two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves — that have proven problematic with some state sports gambling regulators.

Paul has stated that he agreed to the rules at Tyson's request. The TDLR said it agreed to the rules at the request of promoter Bryce Holden, who works for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which was co-founded by Paul. MVP has partnered with Netflix, which will broadcast the fight live.

Colorado will not allow betting on the fight because “it does not meet the minimum requirements for the industry in the state,” Derek Kuhn, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Revenue, told USA TODAY Sports by email.

According to Kuhn, boxing matches that are legal for betting in Colorado must follow uniform rules established by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports. Uniform rules require three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves.

Based on the Division of Gaming's previous rating of the fight, Kuhn said, “Requirements not met include, but are not limited to, glove weight and the fact that not all fighters are professionally ranked.” “No changes to this rating have been communicated to the department .”

According to Olivia Kantyka, director of communications and legislation for the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, Vermont will not allow betting on the fight because of the two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves.

“It's really just those rule changes that were a sticking point for us,” she told USA TODAY Sports.

Johnny Avello, the director of sports betting at DraftKings, said six states will not accept bets on the Tyson-Paul fight. The three other states did not immediately confirm that they would not accept bets.

As for states not accepting bets, Avello said, “Are people still going to watch the fight?” Probably, but I think enrollment would be a lot higher if they could bet on it.

Pennsylvania's McGarvey said this is “not the first time we've said no to this type of event.”

He cited a fight between Evander Holyfield and former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, as well as a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Holyfield was 58 years old – that's how old Tyson will be when he fights Paul – when he suffered a first-round TKO against Belfort, 44 years old.

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