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Tag: sports betting

  • Bill would ban prop bets on sports apps in Colorado as lawmakers seek to curb gambling addictions

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    Colorado lawmakers who are concerned about rising gambling addiction and betting scandals in professional sports filed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit sports betting apps from offering proposition bets on individual athletes’ performances.

    The bipartisan responsible gaming bill — SB26-131 — would also attempt to slow down gambling habits by eliminating credit card usage on sports betting apps, limiting the number of deposits a person can make into an account, and banning push notifications to gamblers’ cellphones from betting companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel.

    “Frankly, the more I looked into i,t the more I became really, really alarmed by everything that has happened as a consequence of legalized sports betting and, in my view, placing very few restrictions on it,” said Sen. Matt Ball, D-Denver, one of the bill’s sponsors.

    Ball, who is sponsoring the bill with Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, said the rapid growth of sports betting in Colorado is causing unexpected problems — including financial debts — across the state, and the legislature needs to move to protect people and the integrity of professional and collegiate sports. The bill also has a Democratic and a Republican sponsor in the House.

    He cited studies that show more than half of 18-to-22-year-olds have engaged in some form of sports betting, and surveys of high school students that report that between 60% and 80% have gambled for money within the previous 12 months.

    “We just didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Ball said of Colorado’s quick entry into legalized sports betting. “It’s just exploded and it’s happened very fast. I think we can see the harm that’s happened very clearly.”

    Colorado voters legalized sports betting in 2019 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a law that previously had prohibited states from allowing it. It was one of the first states to launch online sports books in May 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the country, including putting a pause on most sports. But the state’s residents quickly took to sports betting apps as the world returned to normal.

    The amount Colorado bettors have wagered has steadily increased each year, with people betting more than $6 billion on sports in 2025. At the same time, the number of people calling the state’s problem gambling hotline has risen, too. The hotline averaged about 350 calls per month in 2025, according to the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado.

    Joshua Ewing, executive director of Healthier Colorado, an advocacy group that pushes for better health policies in the state, said new studies are showing a growing rate of addiction among young men and boys who gamble, and addiction is causing financial debt, strained relationships and emotional stress.

    “It’s not about rolling back voter-approved betting. It’s about guardrails,” Ewing said of the bill. “The goal is smart policy, not prohibition.”

    The sports betting industry is prepared to push back on the legislation.

    “Colorado should seize this moment to strengthen its state-regulated market — not hand it back to illegal operators or chase bettors to federally regulated platforms,” said Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance. “This proposal undermines the very consumer protections it claims to advance, rewarding actors who openly flout Colorado law and contribute nothing to the state’s communities by way of tax revenues.”

    Maloney said the alliance will continue to engage elected leaders and regulators to reinforce consumer protections and responsible gaming standards that the industry already follows.

    Proposition bets, or prop bets, are the moneymakers for sports betting apps because they come with higher odds. In those bets, a gambler could bet on whether Denver Nuggets star Nicola Jokic will score 30 or more points in a game or whether Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will throw more than one touchdown.

    Sports betting apps also allow gamblers to make multiple prop bets at one time to form parlays, which further increase odds in favor of the sportsbooks, but are wildly popular with gamblers.

    For example, Bet365 on Wednesday offered a parlay bet called “Joker x Jamal,” where a gambler would win if the Nuggets’ Jokic and Jamal Murray both scored more than 20 points, and if Murray had more than 10 assists and Jokic grabbed more than 10 rebounds. A $10 wager could earn $100 if all four things happened in the Nuggets game against the Celtics.

    Colorado already prohibits prop bets on college athletes, but Ball and the bill’s other sponsors want to prohibit all of these bets because of the temptation among athletes to take bribes to influence outcomes for gamblers.

    The bill also aims to curb the barrage of television advertisements and phone notifications that people see during sporting events.

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    Noelle Phillips

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  • Sports Betting News: UFC’s Tom Aspinall Undergoes Eye Surgery

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    Posted on: February 15, 2026, 01:18h. 

    Last updated on: February 15, 2026, 01:24h.

    • Aspinall undergoes eye surgery, return date unknown
    • Holloway has kind words for upcoming lightweight division opponent Oliveira
    • NBA Commissioner: We have a tanking problem

    The news isn’t good for UFC fans looking for a boost to the company’s faltering heavyweight division, hoping for a Tom Aspinall comeback.

    Britain’s Tom Aspinall leaves the ring after being hit in the eye while fighting France’s Ciryl Gane during their UFC heavyweight title bout at UFC 321 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last October. (Image: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

    The Manchester native underwent surgery on both eyes earlier this month to try and deal with the aftereffects of the eye gouging he received at the hands of Ciryl Gane in their title fight at UFC 321 in Dubai last October. That fight ended in a no contest, since Aspinall couldn’t see anything.

    Gane poked Aspinall in his eyes several times during the fight, which didn’t get out of the first round. What came out of that fight, as is the case when you’re talking about social media, were legions of faceless naysayers, making accusations that Aspinall was looking for a way out of the Gane fight, that he was losing, and that he should have muscled through.

    Uncertainty About the Heavyweight Division

    What really bothered Aspinall were comments by UFC CEO Dana White post-fight that Aspinall chose not to continue the fight.

    “Slightly disappointing, because he hadn’t spoke to me [when White made his comment after the fight],” Aspinall said on “The Ariel Helwani Show”. “[White] actually started giving updates that there was nothing wrong with my eyes when that isn’t the case right now … I feel I’ve done a lot for the UFC, so yeah, I am disappointment.”

    Surgery on Both Eyes

    More details were shared on Petesy Carroll’s Uncrowned podcast this week where Carroll talked about time he spent recently with Aspinall and his doctor. Aspinall talked about a black spot that’s in his eye, that’s there constantly. He is dealing with a double vision issue that makes him dizzy and nauseous when he tries to train, especially with footwork drills.

    Carroll, reporting on the fighter’s serious “visual field defects”, wrote that Aspinall had to wait until the healing process on his eyes ran its course before any surgical procedure could take place. Aspinall is working to get back to some normalcy back in his life before he even starts to think seriously about a return to the Octagon.

    Aspinall Still Favoured

    As Carroll wrote, Aspinall said he still loves martial arts. But he hates the business side of it. What happens from here on it, and what happens with the UFC’s heavyweight division, is anyone’s guess. The only UFC heavyweight fight of note through the end of March (no fights have been announced beyond that) is No. 7 Serghei Spivac versus No. 9 Ante Delija at next Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center in Houston.

    Still, Aspinall is -180 to be men’s UFC heavyweight champion on Dec. 31 2026, at DraftKings, followed by Gane (+400) and Jon Jones (+500), despite Jones still being retired.

    NBA Commissioner: We Have a Problem

    The NBA has a big problem – teams are tanking their seasons at a number and pace we’ve never seen, all openly trying to score the highest possible draft position for next June.

    The NBA just fined the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz $100,000 and $500,000 respectively for overt tanking around roster management.

    NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking at this weekend’s Allstar festivities, said it’s the worst in recent memory, and the league is working with the Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures and “root out this type of conduct.” Taking away draft picks is on the table, with the upcoming draft is expected to be one of the deepest in recent history. The NBA’s competitive integrity is on the line.

    In the short-term, the NBA Allstar Game gets going today at 5 p.m. EST. At BetMGM, current outright winner odds are World at +155 (59.2% of tickets, 74.2% of handle), USA Stripes at +160 (20.5%, 16.6%) and USA Stars at +200 (20.3%, 9.3%).

    Back to UFC

    With Justin Gaethje’s win over Paddy Pimblett in a memorable lightweight interim title bout at UFC 324 still fresh in people’s memory banks, here comes another lightweight division matchup, at UFC 326 March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with No. 3 ranked Charles Oliveira versus No. 4 ranked Max Holloway, defending his BMF title. That’s a rematch of their first bout way back in 2015, at a UFC Fight Night in Saskatoon, Canada, when Holloway won by first round TKO.

    Holloway is currently the betting favourite, at -200, at DraftKings, with Oliveira at +154. At FanDuel it’s Holloway -210, Oliveira +162. And at BetMGM odds are currently Holloway at -222, Oliveira at +165.

    Holloway Betting Favourite

    Oliveira is coming off a win by submission in round 2 over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Fight Night Oct. 11 in Brazil but unfortunately for him more memorable was a devastating first round knockout loss to current lightweight champ Ilia Topuria last June 28 at UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena.

    Still, Holloway was very complimentary of his upcoming opponent this past week on YouTube.

    “Oliveira? He’s just a killer,” he said. “Everyone knows about his jiu jitsu. His striking came a long way. If you see his finishes, a lot of the time it’s not Hail Mary submissions. He’s hurting them on the feet, then getting the submission. He’s a real mixed martial artist. Oliveira is dangerous everywhere.”

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    Mark Keast

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  • Cleveland Guardians Pitch-Rigging Scandal Grows New Indictment

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    Court filings describe Zelle transfers, coded texts and more than 100 wagers tied to Cleveland Guardians pitchers, as a new defendant is added to the case

    Federal prosecutors have filed a superseding indictment in the alleged pitch-rigging scheme involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, adding a third defendant accused of acting as a “middleman” between the players and bettors.

    Robinson Vasquez Germosen, described in court filings as an “associate” of All-Star reliever Emmanuel Clase, was previously arrested on a criminal complaint in December 2025 and released on a $100,000 bond. The superseding indictment alleges that between May 2023 and June 2025, Vasquez Germosen conspired with others to defraud online betting platforms through a scheme involving fixed pitches. The new filing does not add charges against Clase or co-defendant Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera. Both pitchers were charged in November 2025 in a four-count indictment alleging wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. The players have denied the allegations.

    Luis Ortiz outside of Brooklyn Federal Court
    Luis Ortiz outside of Brooklyn Federal Court
    Credit: Lauren Conlin

    The updated complaint cites financial records showing multiple Zelle transactions between Vasquez Germosen and individuals identified as bettors in the indictment. In one example, authorities allege Vasquez sent $2,000 to a bettor in May 2023, and the following day, bettors won a whopping $47,000 after placing wagers on the speed of Clase’s pitches. In other instances, bettors allegedly transferred portions of their winnings back to Vasquez.

    Prosecutors also cited text messages and audio recordings in which coded language was allegedly used to refer to fixed pitches. Prosecutors allege that the Spanish word “gallo,” meaning rooster, was used as a code word in communications discussing predetermined pitch outcomes. The defense has previously claimed that the defendants were, in fact, referring to actual roosters.

    Major League Baseball rules prohibit players from betting on games in which they participate (or from providing inside information) for wagering purposes. Under MLB Rule 21, a player who bets on a game in which he has a duty to perform faces permanent ineligibility.

    As previously reported by Los Angeles Magazine, the case centers on allegations that bettors placed more than 100 wagers on specific pitches thrown by Clase and Ortiz over a two-year period. Prosecutors allege the scheme generated tens of thousands of dollars in illicit winnings. Attorneys for Clase have previously denied the existence of any pitch-fixing scheme. Court filings indicate that Vasquez Germosen also denied involvement during meetings with defense counsel, though prosecutors allege he declined to sign a written declaration stating he had no knowledge of the alleged scheme.

    The case remains pending in federal court in Brooklyn. It’s unclear whether or not Ortiz’ counsel will be filing for severance as they have stated a spring trial is too soon, also filing a motion to continue in early February. All 3 defendants are expected in court February 18 for a status conference.

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    Lauren Conlin

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  • Yasiel Puig Found Guilty in Illegal Sports Betting Case

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    Former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is facing up to 15 years in prison fo his role in illegal sports betting

    The Department of Justice announced today that former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty of one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making false statements for his involvement in an illegal sports betting operation.

    In May 2019, Puig started placing bets on various sports through someone named Donny Kadokawa, who would make bets on Puig’s behalf on an illegal website that Wayne Joseph Nix, a former minor league pitcher, was running. By June, Puig owed Nix $282,900.

    “Kadokawa and Benny Bonilla, another person who assisted Puig with payments to Nix, instructed Puig to make a check or wire transfer payable to a Nix gambling business client – Joseph Schottenstein – to whom the business owed at least $200,000 in gambling winnings,” the DOJ wrote.

    Nix didn’t allow Puig to use his website until he paid off his debt, which Puig eventually did. After Nix let Puig use the website again, Puig placed 899 bets between July 4 and Sept. 29, 2019. This led to Puig owing Nix nearly $1 million in debt, but Puig would never pay it back.

    In January 2022, federal agents interviewed Puig about the gambling, and this is where Puig’s actions would land him in illegal trouble. He was warned by authorities that lying would be a crime, yet he chose to lie anyway.

    “During the interview, he falsely stated that he ‘only’ knew Kadokawa from baseball and that he never discussed gambling with him, when in fact Puig discussed sports betting with Kadokawa hundreds of times on the telephone and via text message,” the DOJ wrote.

    Puig also claimed he didn’t know the person instructing him to send Schottenstein $200,000, and he placed a bet online with an unknown person on an unknown website, causing him to lose $200,000. Despite all of Puig’s denials, Puig sent Bonilla an audio message via WhatsApp where he admitted he lied to federal agents two months earlier.

    Additionally, during his naturalization process, Puig lied on an immigration form and while under oath during an interview when he said he never placed illegal bets or received income from illegal bets.

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    Dolly M. Gee, United States District Judge, scheduled a May 26 sentencing hearing, where Puig will face up to 10 years in prison for the obstruction of justice charge and up to five years for the false statements.

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    Tony Gleason

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  • Super Bowl LV To See Increased Betting In Pacific Northwest – KXL

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    Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

    Sports betting wasn’t even legal in Oregon the last time the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl over a decade ago. Fast forward and Seattle is once again looking for a championship.

    Greta Coe with the Oregon Health Authority says what addicting factors there are within sports gambling, which will be heightened on Sunday as the Hawks face the Patriots in Super Bowl LV.

    “What makes it slightly more harmful is the micro betting or live betting that can occur,” Coe said. “Placing rapid wagers on numerous small events in a game.”

    Betting sites opened up for business ahead of this Sunday’s Super Bowl earlier this week. Oregonians contributed over 8-million dollars during last year’s big game and the Lottery forecasts that record to be shattered with the Seahawks in the big game this season.

    “It’s important to weigh the risk before participating,” Coe said. “There’s potential for addiction, severe financial losses, including debt, and adverse mental health effects like anxiety, depression, and stress when you do participate.”

    Coe also says OHA’s Behavior Health Division offers innovative tools and support for those who need it.

    FROM OHA​

    Publicly funded treatment and counseling services are available free to any Oregon resident who is suffering from gambling related harms, either as:

    • An individual with a problem with gambling, or
    • A concerned other (people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s gambling problem, such as family, friends, significant others, and colleagues).​

    Problem Gam​​​​bling Helpline

    • Call 1-877- My Limit (1-877-695-4648) or
    • Get help by Instant Messaging/Chat/Email
    • Es: 1-844-TU VALES

    Help is free, confidential, and it works.​  Change starts here.

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    Noah Friedman

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  • Washington Editorial Board Branded Sports Betting ‘Terrible Bet

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    Posted on: February 6, 2026, 12:38h. 

    Last updated on: February 6, 2026, 04:58h.

    • A 2024 op-ed from the Washington Post scolded legal sports betting
    • About a third of the newspaper’s staff was let go this week in Washington

    The Washington Post continues to make headlines after the daily newspaper based in the nation’s capital laid off a third of its staff on Wednesday.

    Washington Post sports betting editorial
    The Washington Post headquarters in One Franklin Square in Washington, DC. The Washington Post opined in 2024 that the liberalization of sports betting was a bad bet for the country. (Image: Shutterstock)

    Among the biggest WaPo job casualties was the sports department, which is being entirely shuttered. Notable former Post sports journalists include John Feinstein, Michael Wilborn and Tony Kornheiser, who would go on to create and host ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” and Christine Brennan, the first woman to cover the Washington Commanders, then the Redskins, in 1985.

    DC has struggled to be a true “sports town” compared to other East Coast cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. The capital’s transient, politically-obsessed, government-focused population has been critiqued for being too occupied with those matters to care and support their local teams.

    “For decades, however, the Post treated sports as a vital part of life in the District. Whatever the rest of the country thought about Washington’s teams and fans, there was no better place to read about sports than the nation’s capital,” wrote Associated Press reporter Noah Trister.

    Scott Van Pelt, whose sportscasting career began in DC at FOX5, and today hosts “SportsCenter at Night” from Washington, also chimed in on the Post job cuts.

    “Growing up reading the Post, I didn’t realize it wasn’t like this in other cities. I didn’t know how lucky we were to enjoy giants of their craft like Kornheiser, Wilbon, Boswell, Kindred & Feinstein,” SVP wrote on X.

    Washington Post Sports Betting Coverage

    The Washington Post’s sports section is being remembered fondly by the people who worked in the department. But when it came to the legalization of sports betting across the country, an opportunity made possible by a May 2018 decision in the US Supreme Court, the Post was no fan.

    In a December 2024 opinion, the Washington Post Editorial Board concluded that legalizing sports betting was a “terrible bet.” The op-ed, one of many where the WaPo editors wrote against the landmark SCOTUS decision, held that legal sports betting has delivered societal harms to vulnerable people.

    When easy access to addictive substances or experiences, such as gambling, increases, so does addiction. Unsurprisingly, then, problem gambling and addiction are rising, along with associated financial distress, bankruptcies, foreclosures, job losses, and suicides,” the Dec. 2024 editorial read.

    The WaPo editors blamed the sportsbooks for the problems caused.

    “Legalized sports betting was supposed to enable gambling companies to identify and weed out problem bettors. Instead, the opposite has happened: High rollers who lose are targeted and courted as VIPs, showered with quick credit and other perks, and encouraged to gamble more — to ‘chase’ their losses, in industry parlance. Those who actually win big get limits imposed on how much they can bet,” the op-ed continued.

    Sports Betting Landscape

    Today, sports betting is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. In the nation’s capital, bettors can place legal sports bets online and in person.

    Anyone aged 18 and older can make a sports bet in DC.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Criminals plot to sack Super Bowl fans for a loss. Beware these scams targeting the big game.

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    Super Bowl Sunday this year is sure to feature bone-jarring hits, goofy TV commercials and fraudsters intent on separating you from your money. 

    “Unfortunately, fans need to be aware that criminal fraudsters may try to steal their money and personal information through a variety of illegal sports betting, ticketing and merchandise scams,” Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire and ranking member of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), told CBS News. 

    Democrats on the congressional panel are warning Americans to beware a range of Super Bowl scams circulating this year. Here’s what to look out for.

    Sports betting scams

    Americans are expected to wager a record $1.8 billion on Super Bowl LX, according to the American Gaming Association, driven by the explosion in online sports betting. This year, some criminals are creating fake websites that mimic actual gambling platforms, such as FanDuel and DraftKings — often with startling accuracy, according to the Joint Economic Committee.

    AI tools can duplicate graphics and other visuals with frightening accuracy, making it easier to fool consumers into thinking a website is legitimate

    AI tools have made it easy to duplicate graphics and other visuals, making it easier to fool consumers into thinking a website is legitimate. The scam sites often try to draw consumers in by offering “risk-free” bonuses to bet, but later demand additional deposits or withhold payouts.

    The lawmakers urge consumers to verify a sportsbook’s physical location before signing up to bet, and not wagering funds if it is not based in the U.S. Offshore sites are not subject to U.S. regulations and consumer protections, the committee notes. 

    Bettors should also ensure a site is licensed and regulated by state-based gaming commissions. Don’t be fooled by vague suggestions that gambling wins are “guaranteed.” 

    Ticket scams

    Super Bowl tickets this year are a hot commodity as usual, with the cheapest tickets going for about $5,000. Not surprisingly, scammers are eager to use the strong demand for seats to target consumers, according to lawmakers. 

    Fraudsters often pose as authentic ticket sellers. Beware vendors claiming on social media to have tickets for sale or who are selling seats through unverified websites. Purchasers could counterfeit digital tickets that will get flagged at the game — or no ticket at all.

    Anyone willing to spend the big bucks on a Super Bowl ticket should only make purchases through authorized sites, like the NFL, or reputable resale sites with buyer guarantees and other consumer protections, the JEC advised. Consumers should also be sure to use secure payment methods with built-in protections, like credit cards, rather than paying by wire transfer, gift card or with cryptocurrency. 

    Merchandise scams

    Sales of Super Bowl-related apparel and other merchandise can generate significant revenue, both for legitimate businesses and cybercriminals, according to the panel. 

    Before Super Bowl 54 in 2020, for example, authorities seized more than $120 million worth of counterfeit jerseys, jewelry, hats and other goods as part of a federal sting dubbed “operation team player.” Authorities also seized nearly $40 million in counterfeit sports merchandise ahead of last year’s Super Bowl.

    Such illegal sales leave victims with poor-quality — and often pricey — imitation goods. Often, the items they receive don’t match their descriptions. In some cases, consumers never receive anything. 

    The JEC urges consumers shopping for Super Bowl-related merchandise to verify sellers’ legitimacy with the Better Business Bureau, or to search attorney general websites for complaints against suspicious actors.

    Another way to verify an unknown online seller is to search for a verifiable physical address and working phone number. It’s also often wise to check a site’s shipping, return and refund policies before purchasing anything. 

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    Alain Sherter

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  • BetMGM Updates Terms to Explicitly Ban Athlete Harassment

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    Online gaming and sports betting giant BetMGM announced that it has updated its terms of service, introducing new rules to shield athletes from harassment. The changes come amid a broader push against betting-motivated athlete harassment.

    BetMGM Wants to Protect the Sports Sector’s Integrity

    In its announcement, the betting company said that its terms of service now include wording that explicitly prohibits athlete harassment. As a result, BetMGM customers who are found to have abused professional sports players or personnel would now have their accounts suspended.

    For comparison, the previous terms allowed account suspension for “any lawful reason,” but did not include specific wording surrounding athlete harassment. The latest changes highlight the operator’s zero-tolerance policy toward bad behavior toward sports personalities.

    As mentioned, the changes come amid a push against the prevalence of cases of disgruntled sports bettors who harass athletes after losing a wager. Cases of harassment have plagued both the online sports discourse and live events.  

    The refreshed terms of service are subject to necessary regulatory approvals, BetMGM added.

    Rhea Loney, BetMGM’s chief compliance officer, commented on the changes to the operator’s terms of service, saying that they underscore the company’s “unwavering commitment to sports integrity.”

    Our legal, regulated environment enables us to identify misconduct, investigate reports, and take action when necessary. Any confirmed instance of harassment will result in decisive measures, including account suspension.

    Rhea Loney, chief compliance officer, BetMGM

    Barry Sanders, a football legend and BetMGM brand ambassador, praised the operator’s initiative, saying that respect is a key element of professional sport.

    As a professional athlete, I know how important respect is — both on and off the field. BetMGM is sending a strong message that harassment has no place in sports or sports betting. I’m proud to see BetMGM protecting athletes and promoting integrity.

    Barry Sanders, brand ambassador, BetMGM

    The latest update is also in line with the operator’s broader compliance and integrity initiatives, which have included a strong focus on responsible gaming.

    In other news, BetMGM recently announced that it has awarded a staggering $122.1 million in progressive jackpots in 2025 alone.

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    Angel Hristov

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  • NFL Won’t Allow Prediction Market Ads During Super Bowl

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    Posted on: January 29, 2026, 07:48h. 

    Last updated on: January 29, 2026, 07:48h.

    • League adds prediction markets to list of prohibited advertisers
    • DraftKings, FanDuel will still run sportsbook ads

    Fans of Super Bowl commercials shouldn’t expect to see advertisements from Kalshi, Polymarket, and other prediction markets during the big game because the NFL isn’t allowing it.

    The NFL logo. Prediction market companies are reportedly banned from advertising during the Super Bowl. from (Image: Shutterstock)

    Several media reports surfaced earlier Thursday indicating the league added prediction markets to its prohibited advertisers list, a group that’s rumored to include industries such adult entertainment, firearms makes, and tobacco.

    While NFL games have been important drivers of increased volume across prediction markets, the league itself has taken a hard line against sports event contracts, saying those derivatives are unregulated gambling that threatens league and game integrity. The league has gone so far as to ban players and staff from participating in prediction markets.

    That’s a departure from the NHL and Major League Soccer (MLS), both of which are embracing prediction markets. The NHL has agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket. Earlier this week, MLS announced a marketing accord with Polymarket.

    Familiar Betting Names Still Running Super Bowl Ads

    While Kalshi, Polymarket, and friends won’t be running Super Bowl spots, their sportsbook rivals, several of which are in event contracts space, will.

    For example, Fanatics Sportsbook is already generating buzz with a campaign poking fun at the Kendall Jenner “curse.” FanDuel and DraftKings, the two largest US online sportsbooks and recent entrants to the prediction markets industry, are expected to run Super Bowl ads tied to their sports betting operations. FanDuel, a unit of Flutter Entertainment, will reportedly run a pregame spot.

    For now, the list of Super Bowl advertisers doesn’t include other gaming companies, but it is chock full of familiar faces such as Budweiser, Google, Instacart, Pepsi, Toyota, Uber Eats, Wegovy, and Wix, among many others.

    Prediction Markets Saving Money by Not Running Super Bowl Ads

    If there’s a silver lining for prediction market operators in the NFL advertising ban, it’s that those companies — some of which are well-heeled startups — will save some cash. The Super Bowl has long been prime time to roll out new ad campaigns and pricing reflects that status.

    Reports suggest 30-second spots for the big game, which will air on NBC on Feb. 8, are selling for $8 million to $10 million. At the high end of that range, advertisers are paying a staggering $243,000 per second for exposure.

    Talk about inflation: A 30-second ad during the first edition of the Super Bowl cost just $37,500. If the $10 million figure is accurate, that means the cost has nearly doubled in a decade.

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    Todd Shriber

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  • Leading Operators Consider Super Bowl Prediction Parlays

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    US gaming operators are weighing whether to launch new parlay-style products within the growing prediction markets segment. This development could reshape how fans engage with the Super Bowl. However, operators remain wary of potential regulatory scrutiny and must weigh whether the engagement boost is worth potential risks.

    Parlays Offer New Engagement Opportunities

    FanDuel Predicts and DraftKings Predictions both appear poised to offer multi-leg football contracts pitched as “combos.” This development comes shortly after their exchange partner, CME Group, self-certified a new multi-leg football contract with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The filing clears the way for bundled outcomes tied to the Super Bowl, provided the regulator raises no objections.

    CME operates as a designated contract market where customers access contracts through brokers. FanDuel Predicts functions as a futures commission merchant, while DraftKings Predictions operates as an introducing broker. The two platforms currently allow users to trade single-outcome contracts on sports events. Introducing multi-leg offerings will represent a significant expansion opportunity.

    Parlays have been a longtime staple of traditional sportsbooks. They enable users to combine multiple game results into a single bet with a higher potential payout. However, converting that idea to prediction markets poses several difficulties. While sportsbooks price parlays internally, prediction platforms must rely on supply and demand, adding significant complexity to combo contracts.

    Implementation Poses Unique Challenges

    It is unclear whether users can create their own parlays or whether the exchange will provide only pre-made options. The user-created option could present significant liquidity challenges. Kalshi has resolved this issue through its request-for-quotes system that allows institutional market makers to respond after a trader creates a custom contract.

    This move aligns with a broader market push for multi-leg event contracts. Robinhood recently expanded its offerings with Kalshi’s parlay-style products, demonstrating that mainstream audiences are ready for more complex prediction tools. However, Flutter Entertainment remains cautious. CEO Peter Jackson previously suggested that FanDuel prediction market parlays could come sometime in 2026, hinting at a measured rollout.

    With fan excitement around the Super Bowl skyrocketing, operators have a limited time to gauge demand, test their infrastructure, and weigh regulatory risks. The launch of Super Bowl multi-leg event contracts could further blur the line between sportsbooks and prediction markets. However, such a move could also invite increased controversy, especially as platforms like Kalshi face escalating legal challenges.

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    Deyan Dimitrov

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  • Super Bowl Parlays Heading to DraftKings, FanDuel Prediction Markets

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    Posted on: January 28, 2026, 08:11h. 

    Last updated on: January 28, 2026, 08:11h.

    • CME self-certifies multi-leg bets in CFTC filing
    • The exchange operator is FanDuel’s prediction markets partner
    • It’s also one of the exchanges to which DraftKings Predictions connects

    Super Bowl combos — prediction market nomenclature for parlays — could be available on the event contracts platforms operated by DraftKings and FanDuel as soon as tomorrow.

    CME
    The CME Group logo. The exchange operator filed to bring Super Bowl parlays to the DraftKings and FanDuel prediction market platforms. (Image: CME Group)

    That after CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) self-certified multi-leg Super Bowl event derivatives in a new filing with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) –– the federal regulator overseeing prediction markets in the US.

    CME’s filing with the CFTC also indicates plans for NHL point spreads, event contracts on the upcoming Winter Olympics, and the Grammy Awards. Other prediction market operators have leaned on self-certification to bring football parlays to market.

    Under that process, a prediction market or exchange operator in the case of CME alerts the CFTC to its plans to bring new contracts to market. Those filings include a date on which the company intends to offer the derivatives. If the commission doesn’t respond before that date, those new event contracts are made available to customers.

    Super Bowl Could Be Big for Prediction Markets

    Some analysts are forecasting a modest downturn in overall Super Bowl wagering while acknowledging some of the pressure on traditional sportsbooks comes by way of prediction markets. Slated for Sunday, Feb. 8, Super Bowl LX marks the first edition of the big game where event contract platforms will feature broad sports menus, including parlays.

    The Super Bowl could also be an important test and client acquisition tool for DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts, both of which are new to prediction markets arena. DraftKings launched its event contracts platform in 38 states last month, but sports event contracts aren’t available in all of those jurisdictions, but those derivatives are available in California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia – states long coveted by sportsbook operators.

    FanDuel Predicts, the prediction market platform of CME Group and the sportsbook giant, debuted in five states last month and is now available in all 50. The app, which is separate from the standard FanDuel sportsbook app, features sports event contracts in just 18 states. California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas are part of that group.

    FanDuel, a unit of Flutter Entertainment, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange owner CME Group announced their partnership last August.

    CME Tapping Into Hockey Event Contracts

    While the NHL trails the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball in terms of betting handle, the top pro hockey league was the first of its counterparts to widely embrace prediction markets, inking deals with Kalshi and Polymarket.

    Whether or not that stokes increased interest among prediction markets bettors and traders remains to be seen, but CME is rolling the dice. The exchange operator is also attempting to self-certify derivatives on Olympic hockey games and medal counts, indicating those are the only Olympic events it will feature on the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms.

    As for the Grammy contracts, those are as follows: Album, record, and song of the year and best new artist.

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    Todd Shriber

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  • Sports Betting Fraud Ring Sentencing Raises Identity Theft Concerns

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    The sentencing of a Mid-South sports betting fraud ring this week marked the end of a scheme that exploited the rapid expansion of regulated wagering in the United States. The rise of similar cases underscores the growing challenges facing operators and regulators as malicious actors use increasingly sophisticated tools.

    The Perpetrators Had an Elaborate Scheme

    LaVonte Holmes received his final sentencing on January 20, 2026, after participating in a coordinated bonus fraud operation active from 2022 to 2024. Holmes received a 30-month federal prison term, joining four co-conspirators who also face sentences ranging from six months to three years. None of the perpetrators is eligible for parole.

    Federal prosecutors detailed how the group systematically abused sign-up incentives offered by legal sports betting apps. The defendants used stolen personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, along with compromised bank account details they purchased online. They used this data to create dozens of fraudulent betting accounts, cashing in on promotions intended for legitimate customers.

    While the operation was centered in the Western District of Tennessee, the defendants reportedly did not limit their operations to a single region. Members of the ring moved between states to open new accounts at locations where sports betting had recently launched, exploiting gaps in identity verification and cross-platform monitoring.

    All five defendants pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and unauthorized use of access devices after prosecutors emphasized the scope of the fraud and identity theft. US attorney D. Michael Dunavant noted that the case was a warning to others tempted to exploit the digital betting economy, as authorities remain on the lookout.

    With new and ever-changing technology, applications, and platforms, criminals are using more creative and disturbing ways to commit fraud against vulnerable victims, including identity theft.

    US attorney D. Michael Dunavant 

    The case is part of a broader pattern of betting-related fraud targeting regulated markets. In September 2025, Canadian authorities charged two men in Ontario for their involvement in a CAD 400,000 ($291,600) betting scheme that relied on compromised gift cards. The suspects reportedly wagered on both sides of the same events to lock in guaranteed payouts. That investigation led to charges of fraud, identity theft, money laundering, and conspiracy.

    Industry data suggests these cases are far from isolated. Identity verification firm IDScan.net reviewed more than 1.4 million transactions between 2024 and 2025. It reported a year-over-year jump of more than 50% in attempts to bypass ID checks. In Las Vegas alone, reported identity theft cases by late September 2025 were roughly the same as for the entire 2024, highlighting the rising scope of the threat.

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  • Illinois Casino Revenue Reaches a Record $1.9 Billion in 2025

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    Posted on: January 12, 2026, 09:38h. 

    Last updated on: January 12, 2026, 10:30h.

    • Illinois casino revenue reached $1.9 billion in 2025
    • 2025 was a record year for Illinois casinos
    • Concerns about VGTs in Chicago overshadow Bally’s $1.7 billion investment

    Gamblers in Illinois lost more money than ever before in 2025 at the state’s 17 physical casinos.

    Illinois casino revenue Rivers Des Plaines
    Rivers Casino Des Plaines again led the Illinois casino market in annual gaming revenue in 2025. The state’s 17 casinos won more than $1.9 billion on their physical slot machines and table games. (Image: Shutterstock)

    The Illinois Gaming Board reports that 2025 gross gaming revenue (GGR), or the amount of money the casinos kept after paying out winnings, totaled $1,943,722,561.89. The bulk of the winnings, about $1.49 billion, came on slot machines. Table games accounted for the remaining $457.8 million.

    The more than $1.9 billion in casino revenue represented a 15% increase from 2024, when GGR totaled approximately $1.7 billion. The 2025 mark represents a 29% jump from 2023 win of $1.5 billion, and a nearly 44% surge from 2019 prepandemic revenue of $1.35 billion.

    Rivers Casino Des Plaines remained the top casino in Illinois. The casino jointly owned by Churchill Downs and Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming reported GGR of $503 million for a 26% state market share.

    Wind Creek Chicago Southland, which opened in November 2024, was next at $198 million.

    State, Chicago Gaming Expansion

    2025 marked the first full year for Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a $529 million facility that was authorized through Illinois’ 2019 gaming expansion package. The bill, part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D) “Rebuild Illinois” initiative, authorized five casinos in the Chicago suburbs and an integrated resort casino destination in downtown Chicago.

    Last year was also the first full year for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Hard Rock generated 2025 GGR of $146.2 million to place third.

    Caesars’ Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was fourth at $142.2 million, and the Bally’s Chicago temporary casino at the Medinah Temple, also authorized through the 2019 gaming bill, was fifth with GGR of $124.7 million.

    Bally’s continues to make headway on its $1.7 billion permanent casino in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Bally’s officials have an ambitious plan to open the resort by the end of the year.

    The casino company continues to oppose efforts to allow slot-like video gaming terminals (VGTs) to come to the city proper. Chicago aldermen are pursuing VGTs as a much-needed revenue source, though Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) called the $16.6 billion budget passed by the City Council “morally bankrupt” because of relying on VGT gaming, among other things.

    Through November, the most recently reported month, statewide VGT revenue in 2025 totaled more than $2.91 billion. In Aurora, one of the largest municipalities in the Chicago region with a population of about 200K people, 2025 VGT revenue in the city totaled more than $14.6 million.

    Sports Concerns

    While Illinois casino revenue continues to grow, there are concerns regarding the future of the state’s sports betting industry. As Casino.org’s Todd Shriber reported in November, the state’s recently implemented per-bet surcharge has led to fewer overall sports bets.

    Illinois now imposes a 25-cent per-bet charge on a sportsbook’s first 20 million bets. The surcharge jumps to 50 cents after the operator exceeds 20 million bets in a year.

    The Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition fighting for the expansion of sports gambling and favorable regulations, claims the per-bet charge led to five million fewer bets made in September 2025 than were placed in September 2024.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Dave Ramsey Says Online Sports Betting A ‘Portal to Hell’

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    Posted on: January 8, 2026, 12:22h. 

    Last updated on: January 7, 2026, 01:34h.

    • Dave Ramsey says the legalization of online sports betting has devastated young men
    • Ramsey calls online sportsbooks “pure evil” and a “portal to hell”
    • Ramsey critics say sports gambling is an individual’s choice, and some do win

    Dave Ramsey is no fan of gambling or sports betting. He’s made that abundantly clear over the years when callers into his nationally syndicated financial advice radio show have sought help for dealing with loved ones or colleagues struggling with gambling addictions.

    Dave Ramsey sports betting gambling
    Dave Ramsey shows a clip from a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show” in which he discussed the dangers of online sports betting, particularly how it preys on young men. Ramsey calls online sports betting “pure evil.” (Image: The Ramsey Show/X)

    During a recent edition of “The Ramsey Show,” which has aired for more than three decades and is among the most listened to daily financial broadcasts in the US, Ramsey doubled down on his abhorrence of sports gambling. The financial advisor opined that sports betting, which was only legal in Nevada seven years ago, but today is regulated in 39 states and Washington, DC, is preying upon young men.

    The fastest-growing addiction that is destroying young men in their 20s is online sports gambling. FanDuel is a portal to hell. DraftKings isn’t king of nothing except their own pocketbook,” Ramsey said.

    “They’re screwing an entire generation of young men. That’s why they can afford to buy all of these ads,” Ramsey continued.

    Sportsbook Foe

    Sports betting is, of course, a business. And sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel don’t spend many millions of dollars each year marketing their sports gambling operations and handing out free sign-up bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts, Ramsey said.

    “There are back-to-back ads every time you turn on a sporting event. They’re spending billions of dollars. You know where they’re getting that? It’s out of your kid’s freaking pocket. This is evil stuff,” Ramsey declared.

    Some viewers of his show commented that gambling, including sports betting, is an individual’s choice. Ramsey countered by opining that DraftKings and FanDuel are skilled at convincing young men how easy it is to win, when in reality they are almost guaranteed to lose.

    “You don’t win,” Ramsey declared.

    The American Gaming Association (AGA) reports that through 10 months of 2025, sports bettors lost $13 billion. That marked a 17.2% surge on the prior year.

    Americans bet about $14 billion a month through legal, regulated sportsbooks. The handle doesn’t include illegal sports bets with offshore websites or local bookies, nor bets made on event contract platforms like Kalshi.

    Sports Betting Participation 

    A 2025 study from the Research Institute at Siena University in New York concluded that half of all men aged 18 to 49 have an active online sports betting account. That data suggests that 22% of all American adults have an online wagering account, and more than half admitted to chasing a bet, or making another wager in hopes of winning back a loss.

    The study found that 37% of bettors have felt ashamed after losing, and 20% have encountered troubles meeting financial obligations because of their betting.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Virginia’s Monthly Sports Betting Revenue Hits New All-Time-High

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    The Virginia Lottery, which, among other things, oversees sports betting in the Old Dominion, has published its latest report regarding the wagering industry’s performance. The report covers the month of November (2025) and highlights a record-breaking revenue figure for the month.

    Sportsbooks Reported $95.3M in Revenue

    As mentioned, Virginia’s adjusted gross sports betting revenue for the month reached $95.3 million, which sets a new monthly record for the state. The report also shows that most of this came from the state’s mobile betting sector. For context, Virginia’s fourteen legal mobile sports betting operators reported revenue of $95.1 million for the month. In the meantime, $193,052 of the total revenue figure came from the three land-based casinos that are allowed to accept wagers.

    Official data also shows that the gross sports gaming revenues (handle) reached $798.9 million for November, making a 5% increase year-on-year. Mobile sports bettors wagered a total of $793.6 million and won back $694.6 million. Bettors at the Old Dominion’s three land-based casinos that are allowed to accept wagers, on the other hand, bet $5.3 million and won back almost $5.1 million.

    These figures suggest a hold percentage of 12.42% for the period from November 1 to November 30.

    Operators Paid $14.3M in Taxes

    The Virginia Lottery added that state law places a 15% tax on licensed sports betting revenue in the state. Of the state’s fourteen mobile sports betting operators and three casinos, ten operators reported net positive adjusted gross sports betting revenues for the month. As a result, these companies paid $14.3 million in monthly taxes.

    Under the local law, 97.5% of all betting taxes are deposited into Virginia’s General Fund, with the remainder going into the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. The former fund thus received $13.9 million in taxes in November. The Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, meanwhile, received $357,865.

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    Fiona Simmons

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  • The Top Sports Betting Events for 2026 • This Week in Gambling

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    Industry analysts have identified a list of the top ten sports betting events that are expected to drive record breaking handle and fan engagement throughout 2026.The primary highlight is the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This tournament is undergoing a historic expansion to forty-eight teams, creating a massive increase in the total number of matches available for wagering. Early odds suggest Spain, England, and France are the current favorites, while the United States remains a long shot.

    In February, Super Bowl LX will take place at Levi’s Stadium in California. The championship game remains a cornerstone of the wagering calendar, consistently drawing the highest volume of single game bets in the country. This will be followed closely by the Winter Olympics in Italy, where international team and individual events provide a diverse range of markets for bettors over several weeks.

    College athletics will also make up a hefty portion of the sports betting events this year. March Madness is expected to remain a dominant force in the spring, with thirty-two games scheduled over the first two days of the tournament alone. Analysts noted that the transfer portal and roster shifts continue to create unpredictable outcomes that attract significant public interest. Additionally, the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami will serve as the first major betting milestone of the year.

    The spring and summer will feature traditional staples such as the Kentucky Derby and the Masters. At Augusta National, early favorites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are already drawing attention from the golf community. Meanwhile, the World Baseball Classic returns in March, pitting stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani against one another in a tournament that has grown rapidly in betting popularity.

    Professional leagues will round out the year with the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals in June. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Colorado Avalanche are currently positioned as frontrunners in their respective sports. These diverse sports betting events represent a mixture of annual traditions and rare international spectacles that are expected to define the financial landscape of the legal gambling industry in 2026.

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  • Chicago Budget Contains Sports Betting Tax

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    Posted on: December 23, 2025, 08:22h. 

    Last updated on: December 23, 2025, 08:22h.

    • Chicago’s newly passed budget features a new sports wagering tax.
    • It works out to 10.25% on operators’ revenue generated in the city.
    • Sports Betting Alliance warns tax lacks licensing framework, meaning some operators could leave the city as soon as January.

    Chicago’s $16.6 billion budget, which Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) said he won’t sign nor reject, contains his proposed tax on sports bets placed within city limits. A trade group warns the levy could chase operators out of the city and bettors to illegal bookmakers.

    VGT video gaming Chicago Bally's Brandon Johnson
    Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The city’s budget contains his proposed city-specific sports betting tax. (Image: Shutterstock)

    Johnson’s proposal calls for a 10.25% tax on operator revenue generated in the third-largest US city in hopes of raising at least $26 million. If the new levy stands, it’d push operators’ tax obligations on Chicago-generated receipts to 32.25%.

    That would compound gaming companies misery in Illinois, which has some of the highest sports wagering taxes in the country. Under a newly signed law that went into effect in July, Illinois applies a levy of 25 cents on an operator’s first 20 million booked bets and 50 cents thereafter. The Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) warns a city-specific tax will drive bettors to black market bookmakers.

    The new Chicago tax on sports wagering will drive more sports fans to illegal, predatory websites and bookies that are thriving online without any oversight or consumer protections, while avoiding tax obligations entirely,” according to the trade group. “Further penalizing players in the City of Chicago pushes more sports fans to unregulated, illegal alternatives and has serious implications for the sustainability of the legal market.”

    The city’s new budget also features a new $6.8 million levy on video gaming terminals (VGTs).

    Chicago Sports Betting Tax Raises Other Concerns

    There are concerns that the fresh sports wagering tax raises new licensing concerns that could ultimately lead some gaming companies to halt offering sports betting in Chicago.

    Those worries are born out of criticism that Johnson’s tax proposal doesn’t contain adequate regulatory framework and with it scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, operators may not have enough time to come into compliance. Then there’s the worry that if the city’s sports betting levy moves to the upside, bettors will be compelled to boost their wage sizes.

    “The city’s new tax has raised concerns of city leaders and industry experts who argue that raising the cost to bet will have unintended consequences by pushing more consumers to place higher bets or pushing more people to seek out illegal alternative,” adds the SBA.

    Recent data confirm the aforementioned state tax hike that went effect in July resulted in reduce bet count, but increased revenue for the state, indicating bettors are in fact betting less while increasing the size of their wagers.

    Why Chicago Needs Money

    A big part of the reason Chicago is cash-strapped is public pension debt — something the upcoming Bally’s casino is also tasked with improving. In fact, Chicago’s $53 billion in unfunded public pension liabilities exceeds the related tallies of 44 states, according to Illinois Policy.

    However, the Johnson budget that includes the sports betting and VGT taxes doesn’t include furloughs, higher healthcare premiums, or pay freezes for the city’s public workers. It actually calls for raises.

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    Todd Shriber

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  • Chris Christie Joins AGA to Fight Prediction Markets

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    Posted on: December 23, 2025, 12:18h. 

    Last updated on: December 22, 2025, 05:21h.

    • Chris Christie has joined the fight against sports prediction markets
    • Christie helped states win the right to legalize sports betting
    • Christie and President Trump are not friends, which could hamper Christie’s CFTC influence

    Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who championed the fight against the US federal government for states to possess the right to legalize sports betting, has a new target in sports prediction markets.

    Chris Christie prediction markets sports
    Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie opines that prediction markets licensed by the CFTC offering sports contracts are breaking the law. Christie recently partnered with the American Gaming Association to fight against predictive market exchanges facilitating events involving sports. (Image: CNBC)

    Christie, a two-term Republican governor in the blue Garden State, helped lead New Jersey’s legal challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The federal law had restricted single-game sports gambling to Nevada.

    After years in court, the US Supreme Court in May 2018 ultimately sided with New Jersey in that PASPA violated anti-commandeering interpretations of the Tenth Amendment. The landmark ruling led to 40 states and Washington, DC, passing sports betting laws.

    Now, Christie is joining the American Gaming Association (AGA), a trade group representing the interests of the commercial and tribal gaming industries, to campaign against the continued rise of sports prediction markets.

    CNBC’s Contessa Brewer, who covers gaming matters for the business news outlet, broke the Christie news last Friday.

    Sports Prediction Markets 

    Prediction markets licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) claim to facilitate the buying and selling of binary markets and yes/no contracts. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket initially focused on the outcome of real-world happenings and events, from the weather to politics, but more recently ventured into sports.

    State attorneys general, gaming regulators, and certain state lawmakers have said the sports prediction markets are nothing more than sports gambling, but Kalshi and the like do not hold sports betting licenses in states where they operate. They’re even operating in states like California and Texas, where sports betting is illegal.

    Several traditional sportsbook giants, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics, recently withdrew their AGA memberships to pursue their own prediction markets. DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts launched over the past week.

    The AGA is betting on Christie being able to change the narrative.

    They are clearly illegal in the sports gaming space,” Christie told Brewer. “The Supreme Court turned this [sports betting] over to the states. Regulation is very important,” Christie said. “This is not compliant with the law.”

    The CFTC, which administers the Commodity Exchange Act, has allowed its Designated Contract Market (DCM) licensees to offer contracts on sporting outcomes. The CFTC, under the Trump administration, seems unlikely to force prediction markets to cease trading sports contracts. Even the president’s family is prepping a prediction market entry through its media group, and Donald Trump Jr. is a special advisor to Polymarket and Kalshi.

    The Commodity Exchange Act prohibits CFTC licensees from trading contracts involving “gaming” and events “contrary to the public interest” like war, terrorism, and assassination.

    “Just because people brazenly break the law doesn’t mean they should be permitted to do so,” Christie said.

    Sports Integrity in Focus 

    Christie says, unlike legal, regulated sportsbooks, which report suspicious betting activity to state gaming regulators and sports leagues when wagering patterns suggest a game or player could be compromised, predictive markets are like the wild west, where no such monitoring is occurring.

    The things that have happened in the NBA and MLB were discovered because the licensed sportsbooks are partnered with state regulators to look for irregularities. No one is looking for irregularities in sports prediction markets,” Christie said.

    “The CFTC has made it clear they aren’t regulating it with any rigor,” Christie continued. “The CFTC is not doing the job regarding sports, nor do they claim to be doing the job.”  

    Christie will try and help the AGA stress to the CFTC that prediction markets should not be allowed to offer sports contracts. It could be a tall task, as Christie’s relationship with Trump has soured greatly since his 2016 endorsement of the billionaire, something he’s called the “biggest mistake I’ve made in my political career.”

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • DraftKings hopes to score big with new prediction markets app

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    DraftKings is entering the red-hot prediction markets business, launching technology that lets users trade contracts linked to sporting and financial events. 

    DraftKings said event contracts will be available for trading in 38 states and that the company will eventually expand beyond sports and finance into other markets, such as entertainment and culture. The sports betting company announced Friday it is debuting DraftKings Predictions, a mobile app and web product that will be regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

    “Along with our operational footprint, marketing and analytics infrastructure and advanced in-house technology, we believe we are uniquely positioned to lead this space over the long term,” Corey Gottlieb, chief product officer of DraftKings, said in a statement.

    DraftKings said its app, which is expected to be available in major app stores within days, will connect with multiple exchanges, starting with the derivatives marketplace CME Group. 

    Once they have a DraftKings account, users can enter the DraftKings Predictions app and start trading by clicking on the yes/no questions associated with an event, such as an NFL game, and deciding how much money they want to wager. 

    More specifically, users originate the trades, while DraftKings acts as a broker, Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, the general manager of DraftKings Predictions, told CBS News.

    “We’re handling that order and it’s getting sent to an exchange for it to be executed,” she explained. 

    DraftKings faces growing competition from prediction markets — including Kalshi and Polymarket, now valued at $9 billion and $11 billion, respectively — that enable users to speculate on the outcome of sports and other events. 

    In October, DraftKings announced the acquisition of Railbird Technologies, a federally regulated prediction market. At the time, DraftKings said the deal supports its “broader strategy to enter prediction markets.”

    Some prediction market platforms lacking a license for sports wagering have faced pushback from state regulators. Event contracts traded on markets are regulated differently from sports bets, which are illegal in certain states.

    Others have criticized the move by prediction markets to facilitate speculation on sports. Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA, recently called out Kalshi on social media after the company filed forms to accept bets on the transfer decisions and status of student-athletes, saying it would threaten “competition integrity and recruiting processes.” 

    “We certify markets all the time that we do not end up listing,” Kalshi said on X on Dec. 18. “We have no immediate plans to list these contracts.”

    Headquartered in Boston, DraftKings was launched in 2012 as a sports entertainment and gaming company. Among its offerings are a fantasy sports product, which allows users to build virtual sports team lineups and compete against other users, and a mobile sports betting platform called DraftKings Sportsbook, where customers can place bets on sports, players, leagues and events.

    Edited by

    Alain Sherter

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  • Prosecutors Flag Conflict as Terry Rozier Pays Friend’s Legal Bills

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    Prosecutors question whether Rozier created a defense conflict by bankrolling his co-defendant’s attorney in the high-profile fraud case

    Federal prosecutors have alerted a judge to what they describe as a “serious potential conflict of interest” involving one of the defendants and close friends charged alongside NBA player Terry Rozier in a federal wire fraud case, according to a letter filed in court this week via EDNY.

    In the filing, prosecutors told the court that defendant Deniro Laster’s attorney is being paid by Rozier or entities associated with him, raising questions about whether Laster is receiving “conflict-free” legal advice. The letter, submitted by the US Attorney’s Office for the EDNY, asks the judge to conduct a formal hearing to determine whether Laster understands the risks of continuing with his current lawyer.

    According to prosecutors, financial records show Laster has “no meaningful income,” earning roughly $200 per month, and relied heavily on funds from Rozier’s company
    “GMB Chronicles,” which reportedly paid him more than $165,000 between 2022 and 2025. Laster’s attorney confirmed that Rozier is, in fac,t paying legal fees in the current criminal case. Rozier’s “GMB Chronicles LLC” houses the “Scary Terry” trademark for athletic shirts and sports gear.

    Prosecutors argued that such an arrangement could compromise Laster’s right to a lawyer whose sole loyalty is to him, noting that a co-defendant paying another co-defendant’s legal fees can create pressure on the attorney to avoid strategies that might harm the payer. They warned that Laster may be discouraged from considering plea negotiations or cooperation if those options could negatively impact Rozier.

    The filing also notes public statements made by Rozier’s attorney on national television, in which he suggested Rozier was innocent and implied that a “childhood friend” acted alone. Prosecutors wrote that the description “plainly refers to Laster,” highlighting a direct contradiction between Rozier’s defense strategy and Laster’s interests. The two are widely known as childhood friends, growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with Laster even living with Rozier at one point.

    The government asked the court to hold what is known as a Curcio hearing, a proceeding designed to ensure a defendant understands any conflicts stemming from their attorney’s representation. At such a hearing, judges typically advise defendants of their right to
    “conflict-free” counsel, their ability to seek a court-appointed lawyer, and the potential consequences of continuing with a conflicted attorney.

    Prosecutors said intervention is necessary now to protect Laster’s constitutional rights and to prevent future appeals based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

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    Rozier, Laster, and other co-defendants were charged in October 2025 of this year in a federal case alleging a wide-ranging fraud scheme with illegal sports and prop betting. The defendants are due back in court in March of 2026 for the next status hearing.

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    Lauren Conlin

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