Better Markets has criticized the CFTC's event contracts proposal, claiming it deviates from congressional intent. The organization warns that the proposal could inadvertently encourage an increase in insider betting across sports, political contests, and other public events.
Former iGaming lobbyist Laila Mintas, through her new venture 365Prediction, is entering the prediction market sector. She argues that the US gambling industry initially built on a flawed foundation and sees significant potential in the event contract market.
The ongoing legal dispute between prediction markets, the CFTC, and various states highlights a critical debate over whether sports-related prediction market contracts should be classified as gambling. Lawyers are advising prediction markets to proactively engage with regulators to avoid further legal challenges and navigate this complex regulatory landscape.
Birmingham City, co-owned by Tom Brady, has signed Coral as its new shirt sponsor. This deal highlights how Championship clubs are benefiting from the recent ban on gambling sponsors on the front of shirts for English Premier League teams, shifting sponsorship opportunities to lower leagues.
Sweepstakes casino operator VGW is shutting down its LuckyLand Slots platform in September. However, its other brands, Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Casino, and Global Poker, will continue to operate.
A Minnesota judge has ruled in favor of prediction markets, preventing the state from banning most event contracts. This decision comes despite former Senator Chris Dodd indicating that the rule cited should prohibit sports-event contracts, suggesting a legal conflict regarding legislative intent.
The National Football League has expressed dissatisfaction with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's proposed rules for prediction markets, urging the CFTC to ban certain sports-related contracts and implement stricter insider trading rules and user protection protocols. The NFL's stance highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of sports and consumer welfare within these emerging markets.
FeedConstruct has renewed its exclusive worldwide streaming and data rights deal for the Ukrainian Premier League and other domestic football competitions. This extends their coverage to all top-flight matches, the Ukrainian Cup, and youth leagues for multiple seasons. The agreement showcases FeedConstruct's continued role in distributing Ukrainian football content globally.
Buenos Aires Province is considering new legislation that would mandate session limits, biometric identity verification (facial recognition), and other responsible gambling measures for all online betting operators licensed in the region. This bill, introduced by Deputy Mayra Mendoza, aims to enhance player protection on platforms authorized by the IPLyC.
BetMGM anticipates its revenue and adjusted EBITDA for 2026 to fall at the lower end of its previously projected guidance, despite a year-on-year revenue increase in Q2. This revision comes as the company notes 'higher player generosity' but also a significant 97% drop in retail revenue.
GBI Racing has expanded its British and Irish horseracing content into Malaysia through a new partnership with Global Tote and local turf clubs. This deal provides Malaysian bettors with access to selected UK and Irish race meetings via Global Tote's wagering network, commencing with the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
BetMGM reported a profitable second quarter in 2026, with net revenue increasing 3% year-on-year to $711 million. This growth was primarily driven by its iGaming business, which offset flat sportsbook revenue, leading to $74 million in Adjusted EBITDA.
Kenneth Dart, through his investment vehicle Candle Lake, increased his stake in Evolution AB to over 30%, triggering a mandatory takeover offer under Swedish law. This major investment could lead to significant strategic changes for the live casino giant. Dart also holds a considerable stake in Flutter Entertainment, raising questions about his future intentions across the industry.
ChatBet has partnered with iSolutions to integrate its AI-powered conversational betting platform into iSolutions' sportsbook offerings in Africa. This collaboration will allow operators on the iSolutions platform to extend betting functionalities through popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as web and in-app chat interfaces.
The South African Bookmakers’ Association is calling for a ban on unlicensed prediction markets due to concerns about game integrity, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, and potential tax revenue losses. This move highlights the industry's focus on maintaining fair play and responsible gambling practices within the South African betting market.
Bally's Intralot has secured a £261.7 million senior secured sterling term facilities agreement from institutional lenders. This new loan facility is intended to support the company's acquisition ambitions, including the ongoing takeover of evoke.
Public Health Wales has allocated £1.4 million in grants to charities and NGOs to combat gambling harms. This initiative aims to 'denormalize' gambling and provides support, particularly for high-risk individuals.
Experts warn that the Netherlands' impending gambling advertising ban could inadvertently boost the black market, citing experiences in Denmark and Italy where similar restrictions led to a rise in unregulated gambling. They argue that instead of reducing gambling, the ban might only shift consumers towards illegal operators. This sentiment was shared in a recent iGaming Business article.
Estonia is implementing significant tax cuts for its gambling sector, aiming for a 4% GGR tax by January 2029, to position itself as a major European iGaming hub. This move comes alongside potential stricter marketing regulations, which could temper the positive impact of the tax incentives.
Oddin.gg's Marek Suchar discusses strategies for sportsbooks to retain first-time bettors acquired during major events like the World Cup. Research from the previous World Cup is used to advise operators on maximizing customer lifetime value post-tournament. The article emphasizes how to leverage the influx of new customers for sustained business growth.
Italian betting operator Lottomatica reported a 5% year-over-year revenue growth in H1, demonstrating strong performance under Italy's new regulatory regime. This positive financial result suggests the new framework is proving beneficial for major players in the Italian market.
VERSUSbet, the sportsbook arm of Grupo Orenes, has announced an expanded five-year partnership with Real Madrid. This deal is central to the company's South American growth strategy, particularly in Brazil.
A roundtable discussion highlights the significant challenges of entering the highly competitive UK racing market, citing regulatory changes and the growing black market as key concerns. These factors make it difficult for new companies to gain a foothold in this specific sector.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an advisory warning firms against overly broad self-certification of event contracts, particularly those resembling gambling or having a negligible economic purpose. This move signals increased scrutiny on prediction markets and their compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Fanatics has brought its prediction market operations in-house through a deal with BGC Group, enabling it to directly list and clear prediction market contracts. This move is aimed at strengthening Fanatics' presence in the growing event trading sector.