World Brief: BetMGM Week 4 promo stirs betting chatter as UK inquest into motorway death draws scrutiny

A BetMGM promotional offer tied to Week 4 of the NFL season is drawing attention from bettors and regulators. The sportsbook is marketing a 20% first-deposit match up to $1,500 under promo code NYPDM1500, with a 10-times wagering requirement and a 30-day window to meet it. The maximum bonus a bettor can receive under the deal is $1,500, which means the highest deposit that can be redeemed for the full match is $7,500; deposits above that yield the same $1,500 in bonus bets. The offer is live in 19 jurisdictions across the United States, including Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. To sign up, bettors must select the bonus offer, choose their state, enter login details, apply the NYPDM1500 code, and make a deposit.

There were a few upsets in Week 3, but they did not significantly dent survivor pools nationwide. As Week 4 approaches, sportsbooks have lines that heavily favor several teams, including the Bills, Broncos, Texans, and Lions, all of whom were listed as favorites by more than seven points at midweek. That tilt toward favorites has some bettors weighing risk versus reward as they consider whether Week 4 might finally deliver the kind of chaos that Survivor pools crave. The Lions, led by quarterback Jared Goff, remain among the top options for many bettors, underscoring how Week 4 could test whether Week 3’s volatility will translate into broader surprises.

A betting analyst with the publication cautioned that while Week 3 offered a few eye-catching moments, Sunday action so far has not produced a definitive pattern of chaos. The analysis notes that with several heavy favorites on the board in Week 4, outcomes may lean toward the chalk, at least in the early going, before late-afternoon and primetime games test those projections. Bettors are reminded of the rollover requirement and the time limit, which means winnings earned from bonus bets depend on satisfying the 10x playthrough within 30 days. The promo’s availability across a broad set of states reflects the ongoing patchwork of state-by-state promotions in the burgeoning U.S. sports-betting market.

Separately, in the United Kingdom, a coroner’s inquest has heard that Tamzin Hall, an autistic 17-year-old, was killed on the M5 after jumping from a moving police car in the Taunton to Bridgwater corridor in Somerset last November. Tamzin, who had been arrested for assault and criminal damage, was being transported in a marked police car when she reportedly managed to remove her handcuffs and move from the rear to the front passenger seat. The car then slowed briefly for safety reasons before Tamzin left the vehicle, crossed the road, and climbed a crash barrier. She was struck by a vehicle traveling on the opposite carriageway and died at the scene shortly after 11 p.m. on the northbound carriageway near junctions 25 and 24.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining the officers’ conduct, decision-making, and risk assessments to determine whether they followed training and policy. Avon and Somerset Police said it has referred the incident to the IOPC and would not speculate about findings. The inquest also referenced a 2023 IOPC annual report indicating a similar case in which a child in police custody managed to remove handcuffs and exit a moving car, though it did not name Tamzin in public documents. In the family’s accounts, Tamzin’s mother, Amy Hall, said her daughter was autistic and struggled with mental health issues, describing Tamzin as intelligent, funny, and passionate about cooking and birds. She questioned whether transporting Tamzin by car rather than in a police van was appropriate given her high-risk behavior, and she spoke about the long process of coming to terms with her daughter's death.

Tamzin’s life before the event included a challenging childhood, including time in care after her father’s death from cancer when she was eight. Her mother recalled a bright, engaged girl who could be thoughtful and kind, and who loved simple joys. The IOPC investigation is ongoing as investigators review how the incident unfolded and whether any additional steps could have prevented the tragedy. While authorities assess duty-of-care and policy compliance, Tamzin Hall’s death has sharpened discussions in the U.K. about risk assessment, policing in custodial transport, and how best to support young people with autism and mental health concerns.

As Week 4 unfolds in American football and UK officials continue to scrutinize police transport practices, the public’s attention remains fixed on both the potential for surprises in sports betting markets and the imperative to protect vulnerable youths in crisis situations. The two stories, while operating in very different spheres, underscore ongoing global conversations about regulation, risk, and accountability.