States Review Sportsbook Draft Bets, But Not Kalshi’s 598,464 Contracts on Cardinals’ Pick
Kalshi, a federally regulated prediction market, saw significant trading activity on contracts related to the 2026 NFL draft. Customers traded 598,464 contracts on Jeremiyah Love being the third overall pick, highlighting the volume of activity on such platforms. This occurs as states review sportsbook draft bets, though Kalshi's offerings are distinct from traditional sportsbooks.
Summary based on reporting by Gambling Insider, which retains all rights to its text and images.
One email each morning with the stories that moved the betting industry — regulators, operators and market moves, summarised. Free for industry professionals.
No spam, no bonuses — just industry news. Unsubscribe any time.
The Gambling Commission's first open banking study into black market activity revealed that 91% of repeat illegal site users continue to bet with licensed operators. The research linked unlicensed platforms to a high concentration of gambling harm. These findings challenge the betting industry's argument that tax increases and regulatory pressures primarily drive players offshore.
Spain's gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), has outlined its regulatory perspective on prediction markets during the MERGE Madrid 2026 event.
Italy's government is planning tax increases, altered lottery commissions, and adjusted concession fees to generate approximately €1.9 billion ($2.13 billion) from the gambling sector between 2027 and 2029. A draft budgetary plan submitted to Brussels projects €718 million annually from gambling in 2027 and 2028, alongside €478 million in 2029. The fiscal measures form part of broader state revenue targets led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration.
The Federal Court of Australia has ordered The Star Entertainment Group to pay AU$260 million ($182 million) for breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The ruling comes in below the AU$400 million penalty proposed by financial intelligence regulator AUSTRAC. Justice Moore determined the reduced penalty after factoring in prior enforcement penalties and mitigating circumstances.
Georgia’s Parliament has passed legislation permitting domestic casinos to organize and host international gambling tournaments. Introduced by lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party, the bill secured final approval following a 73-5 vote. Lawmakers finalized the measure across two plenary sessions, during which adjustments to baseline regulatory thresholds were debated and approved.