The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska marked the soft opening of the Two Coppers Casino last week (June 5), unveiling a project tribal leaders say reflects both economic growth and tribal self-determination.

Built on North Douglas Island near Juneau, the facility includes electronic gaming machines and is expected to create jobs while generating revenue for tribal services. The launch follows years of planning, regulatory work and investment by the tribe and its partners.

“Projects like this do not happen overnight,” Tlingit & Haida President Richard J. Peterson said during opening ceremonies. “They require patience, courage, and a willingness to believe in a future that cannot yet be seen.”

Peterson thanked the George family along with tribal leaders, employees and supporters who helped bring the project to completion.

“For Tlingit & Haida, this enterprise represents opportunity,” Peterson said. “Opportunity for jobs. Opportunity for career advancement. Opportunity for Tribal citizens and residents seeking meaningful employment.”

Tribal leaders say casino revenue will help strengthen programs and provide a more durable economic foundation for future generations.

Tribal legal landscape remains in flux as Tlingit & Haida open Two Coppers Casino

The casino opens against a backdrop of continuing legal and political disputes over tribal gaming authority. In February 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a solicitor’s opinion, supporting the view that Alaska Native allotments generally fall under the same jurisdictional principles applied in the Lower 48 and that Alaska tribes are presumed to have jurisdiction over Native allotments unless exceptions exist.

It later became part of the legal reasoning behind federal approvals connected to projects such as Two Coppers. The department reversed its position on September 25, 2025, withdrawing the opinion and restoring the older perspective. Federal officials said the withdrawn opinion did not represent the best interpretation of applicable law.

Even so, Tlingit & Haida leaders have continued moving ahead and expressed confidence in the casino’s legal standing.

“This soft opening is only the first step,” he said. “Over the coming weeks we will continue welcoming invited guests, learning from the experience, refining our operations, and preparing for our official grand opening on July 1.”

Gaming General Manager Janice Hotch said the operation was developed with extensive regulatory oversight in mind.

“Gaming is one of the most highly regulated industries in the country,” Hotch said. “This is not simply about operating a gaming facility. It is about earning and maintaining the trust of our Tribal citizens, our partners, our regulators, and every guest who walks through our doors.”

Questions over tribal gaming authority extend well beyond Alaska. In Northern California, a federal judge recently paused litigation involving the Koi Nation casino proposal while related appeals proceed. Another dispute continues in Madera County, where the Picayune Rancheria is challenging approvals tied to the planned North Fork Mono Casino & Resort. Separately, four California tribes have urged officials to delay gaming activity linked to a proposed temporary casino in Vallejo until federal reviews and legal questions are resolved.

For Tlingit & Haida, however, the week centered on a milestone years in the making.

“This enterprise represents opportunity,” he said, “and an investment in the future of our people.”

Featured image: Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska via release

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Honolulu police say an alleged illegal gambling operation in Nanakuli has been shut down after officers carried out a search warrant on Hakimo Road.

The warrant was served on June 4 by the Honolulu Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Gambling Detail with support from the District 8 Crime Reduction Unit and the Specialized Services Division. According to police, officers entered the game room and recovered gambling equipment along with cash believed to be connected to the operation.

Investigators reported seizing 14 gaming machines during the search. The department did not disclose how much money was recovered and did not announce any arrests or criminal charges in its statement.

Recovery follows warrant execution during Nanakuli gambling raid

Police identified the location as an illegal gambling-type game room and said the enforcement action resulted in the closure of the operation. The department highlighted the recovery of the machines as a primary outcome of the search and said cash was also taken from the site.

The Nanakuli case is the latest in a series of gambling-related investigations across Oʻahu. In March, officers served a warrant at a suspected gambling room in Wahiawā along Mala Street. During that operation, investigators removed 10 gambling machines and seized more than $5,000 in cash. Police said the search was conducted by the Narcotics and Vice Division with assistance from the District 2 Crime Reduction Unit and the Specialized Services Division.

A similar enforcement action took place in Pearl City in June 2025. Officers executing a search warrant near Hoolehua Street recovered 16 gambling machines and $3,855 in cash. Police also arrested a man on suspicion of promoting gambling in the second degree and possession of a gambling device.

Another Honolulu gambling investigation later that year resulted in the seizure of 16 machines and more than $5,000 in cash from a suspected backroom operation. It was also carried out by a combination of vice investigators, crime reduction personnel, and specialized police units.

The continuing enforcement activity comes as city leaders have sought stronger tools to address illegal gambling. In 2025, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi introduced and later signed measures aimed at curbing backroom gambling operations. The legislation increased penalties tied to the number of gaming devices discovered and expanded the authority available to police and property owners dealing with suspected gambling activity.

Hawaii remains one of the few states without a state lottery and continues to maintain some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. Debate over legalized sports betting has continued in recent years, although concerns about gambling-related crime and social harms remain part of the discussion. One critic of a gambling proposal previously described it as “a turd”.

For now, police say enforcement efforts against illegal gambling rooms across the island are continuing.

Featured image: Honolulu Police Department via Facebook

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A Charlotte police operation aimed at suspected illegal gambling activity ended with several arrests, the seizure of more than 100 machines, and the recovery of cash and firearms.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers from its Alcohol Beverage Control Unit, working alongside the SWAT team, served a search warrant at 999 Arcade in the 6400 block of East Independence Boulevard. Investigators said the action was tied to an ongoing case involving alleged illegal gambling at the business.

According to police, officers confiscated 102 illegal gambling stations during the search. Investigators also recovered $37,983 in cash and two firearms.

Four people were arrested or charged as a result of the operation, while another individual received a citation.

Charlotte police investigation remains ongoing after gambling raid

Police said Jianwang Zhu, 40, was arrested and charged with three felony gambling offenses and six misdemeanor gambling offenses. Haiong Zhang, 54, and Xiong Yang, 43, were each charged with four felony gambling offenses and nine misdemeanor gambling offenses.

Authorities also arrested Aaron Johnson, 34. Police said he faces four felony gambling offenses and nine misdemeanor gambling offenses. In addition, Johnson was charged with one misdemeanor count of providing unlicensed armed security.

Jose Garcia, 33, was issued a citation for a misdemeanor gambling offense, according to investigators.

CMPD said the case remains active and is part of a broader effort by the ABC Unit to investigate locations authorities believe are facilitating illegal activity. The department said officers continue to focus on businesses suspected of operating outside state law and on activities officials believe can contribute to wider public safety concerns.

The agency said those enforcement efforts involve cooperation with local and federal partners. Police stated that investigators are working to identify individuals involved in unlawful gambling operations and to shut down businesses found to be operating illegally.

The latest raid follows other gambling-related enforcement actions reported in the Charlotte area and elsewhere in North Carolina. Recent cases highlighted by our previous reporting involved alleged illegal gambling machines, ABC violations, and investigations into suspected gambling operations that drew the attention of law enforcement agencies. Authorities have repeatedly said such cases remain a priority as officers continue targeting businesses suspected of violating state gambling laws.

CMPD encouraged anyone with information about illegal gambling activity to contact the department’s ABC Unit or Crime Stoppers.

Police did not release additional details about the current investigation, including how long it had been underway or whether more arrests or charges could follow. Officials said anyone seeking more information should reference the report number associated with the case.

Investigators said officers are still reviewing evidence collected during the search as the inquiry continues.

Featured image: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via Facebook

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A long-running dispute over a proposed casino in Madera County has returned to federal court, with the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians seeking to block the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from opening its planned gaming resort.

The lawsuit, filed June 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, names North Fork, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the commission’s chair as defendants. Station Casinos LLC and Red Rock Resorts Inc. were also included because of their involvement in developing the North Fork Mono Casino & Resort.

The 305-acre site in Madera County was taken into federal trust in 2013. Picayune argues that California voters rejected the project through Proposition 48 in 2014 and says later court rulings established that the gubernatorial concurrence relied upon by North Fork “never had any legal effect.”

According to the complaint, a California appellate court ruled in 2025 that North Fork lacked the state approval needed to conduct gaming. The California Supreme Court then declined to review that decision on April 1, 2026. Picayune maintains that “the California courts have therefore conclusively established that North Fork lacks the state-law approval necessary to operate its planned casino.”

Federal approvals remain disputed in North Fork casino case

Even with those rulings in place, Picayune says North Fork continues to advance the project through federal approvals. The tribe is challenging a management contract approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission in 2024 that allows Red Rock and Station Casinos to help develop and operate the casino. The complaint argues the approval was unlawful because North Fork is not eligible to conduct gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act without valid state concurrence.

The lawsuit also targets Secretarial Procedures issued by the Department of the Interior in 2016. Picayune contends those procedures authorize gaming only on lands “on which Class III Gaming may lawfully be conducted under IGRA,” a requirement it says cannot be satisfied.

Construction appears to be moving ahead. The complaint cites statements on the project website saying construction “has begun and will continue to ramp up in the next few months[]” and that developers expected “a grand opening date in Fall 2026!”

The filing comes as tribal casino disputes continue across California. In March, a federal judge in Washington paused a lawsuit involving the Koi Nation casino proposal in Northern California while related appeals moved forward, saying a delay could prevent conflicting legal outcomes. Separately, four California tribes recently raised concerns about a temporary casino proposal in Vallejo, arguing that gaming activity should wait until federal reviews are completed and legal questions are resolved.

Picayune, which operates Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, says a competing North Fork casino would significantly reduce gaming revenue and affect funding for tribal programs and services. The tribe is asking the court to overturn the gaming commission’s management-contract approval and prevent gaming operations from starting at the site.

Featured image: North Fork Mono Casino / W.E. O’Neil

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Four former Alabama State men’s basketball players took part in a plan to influence the outcome of a December 2024 game against Southern Mississippi in exchange for money from outside bettors, according to an NCAA infractions decision released Thursday (June 5).

The NCAA said betting-related integrity violations involved former players Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines and Tony Madlock. Investigators found that before the December 5, 2024, matchup, “Known Bettor 1 offered money for the team to throw the institution’s game against the University of Southern Mississippi.”

According to the ruling, Fulcher added teammates to a group chat with the bettor on Dec. 4, 2024. The players later joined a FaceTime call on the morning of the game. The NCAA stated that “the group agreed on the Facetime call to throw the game.”

Investigators concluded that Knox and other teammates “conspired and agreed to lose or attempt to lose by more points than the betting spread identified by sports book operators.” The players later received a combined $2,000 from people connected to the scheme.

Fulcher and Madlock each received $700, while Knox and Hines each received $300. The NCAA said Fulcher’s share was larger because the bettors were his contacts, while Madlock provided advance information that he would not play because of an injury.

Details from the NCAA decision on the Alabama state basketball players

The NCAA found that Knox violated standards of honesty and sportsmanship by participating in the arrangement and intentionally underperforming for financial gain. His case was resolved through a negotiated agreement approved by the Division I Committee on Infractions.

The ruling also determined that Hines and Fulcher knowingly shared information with individuals involved in sports wagering. In one finding, the NCAA said Fulcher “provided information to individuals that the institution would lose by more points than the betting spread identified by sports book operators, in a conspiracy with outside bettors for pecuniary gain.”

Madlock was found to have provided information before the game and later accepted payment. The NCAA further concluded that Hines and Fulcher failed to cooperate fully by giving false or misleading information during the investigation.

The Alabama State case is one part of a much larger federal investigation. Prosecutors have charged 26 individuals in an alleged point-shaving network that authorities say affected NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and contests in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Federal court records cited by the NCAA show that Fulcher and Hines were indicted in January 2026 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on charges including bribery in sports wagering contests, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud tied to the Southern Mississippi game.

In recent months, former Abilene Christian player Airion Simmons was permanently ruled ineligible by the NCAA after investigators said he accepted $3,500 and agreed to “play[ing] bad” during a March 2024 game against Tarleton State. Simmons, Fulcher and Hines all appear among the individuals identified in the wider federal case.

The Committee on Infractions classified the Alabama State violations as Level I, the NCAA’s most serious category of misconduct.

Featured image: Ron Cogswell via Flickr / CC BY 2.0

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Rhode Island moved closer to ending its single-operator sports betting model after the state Senate approved legislation that would bring several new sportsbooks into the market and overhaul the way betting revenue is distributed.

Lawmakers passed Substitute A to Senate Bill 3118 on Thursday (June 4). The measure, introduced by Sens. Frank Ciccone, John Burke, and Stefano Famiglietti, would revise state laws covering sports wagering, table games, and video lottery operations.

The proposal builds on a wider debate that has been underway in Rhode Island for more than a year. Since sports betting launched in 2019, International Game Technology has operated under an exclusive arrangement that effectively gave the company control of the state’s sports wagering market. Industry observers have long viewed Rhode Island as one of the few remaining states with a sportsbook monopoly.

Rhode Island opens the market to more sports betting operators

Under the bill, the Rhode Island Lottery Division would be required to seek additional sportsbook partners. The legislation says, “No later than January 1, 2027, the division shall issue an open invitation to applicants for sports-wagering vendor contracts and then shall award additional sports-wagering contracts until the total number of individual sports-wagering vendors operating in the state is no less than four (4) and no more than six (6).”

State officials would evaluate applicants based on technical capability, regulatory compliance records, experience in other jurisdictions, and their ability to generate revenue while limiting gambling-related harm. Any approved operators would face licensing obligations, audits, and consumer protection requirements.

The idea of expanding competition is not new. Earlier legislation introduced in 2025 proposed replacing the exclusive IGT arrangement with a system that would award at least five sportsbook licenses. It reflected growing interest in attracting major national brands and increasing overall betting activity.

The latest bill also redraws the revenue-sharing formula. Current law gives sportsbook vendors 32% of sports wagering revenue and host facilities 17%. The new structure would shift more revenue toward operators while reducing the share going to host casinos.

The state would collect 51% of sports wagering and online sports wagering revenue until it receives an amount equal to fiscal year 2025 revenue levels. After that point, the state’s share would drop to 12%.

Vendors would receive 40.5% until the benchmark is reached. Afterward, “the state’s authorized sports-wagering vendors shall receive seventy-nine and one-half percent (79.5%) of sports-wagering and online sports-wagering revenue.”

Host facilities would receive 8.5% of revenue, with a guaranteed minimum annual payment of $4.5 million. Lincoln and Tiverton would continue receiving $200,000 each as host communities.

The measure also gives operators more control over promotional activity. It states that “a sports-wagering vendor shall be permitted to make operational decisions with regard to marketing, advertising, and promotions” as long as those activities follow approved plans and regulations. 

According to the bill’s explanation, the measure “would redefine sports wagering sections and specifically change the percent the host facilities would receive on sports wagering.” 

The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage.

Featured image: Canva

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New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed suit against prediction market operator Kalshi, arguing the company is offering online sports betting in the state without the licenses required under New Mexico law. 

The case, filed Thursday (June 4) in Santa Fe County’s First Judicial District Court, seeks an injunction preventing Kalshi from continuing to offer sports-event contracts to New Mexico residents.

State lawyers contend that Kalshi’s sports contracts function the same way as traditional sports wagers and should be regulated under the state’s gaming framework. The complaint points to the company’s past marketing, including claims that it was “The First Nationwide Legal Sports Betting Platform” and offered “Sports Betting Legal in All 50 States on Kalshi.”

“Despite looking like a sportsbook, acting like a sportsbook, and proverbially quacking like a sportsbook, neither Kalshi nor any of its subsidiaries have sought licensure from New Mexico’s Gaming Control Board or otherwise abided by the State’s laws governing gambling and gaming within its borders,” the complaint states.

According to the filing, Kalshi accepts customer funds, settles winning positions, collects fees and uses a market-making subsidiary that can take the other side of trades. The state argues those activities mirror the role of a sportsbook.

New Mexico lawsuit against Kalshi comes as legal pressure builds against platform

The lawsuit arrives as Kalshi faces mounting opposition from tribal governments and state regulators around the country. Earlier this year, four New Mexico tribes, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Pojoaque and Pueblo of Sandia, filed a separate federal lawsuit challenging the company’s sports contracts.

The tribes argue the contracts amount to Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and therefore require tribal authorization. Their complaint says Kalshi permits participation by users as young as 18 and offers products that resemble moneyline bets, point spreads, totals, parlays and proposition wagers.

“Bookmakers have been providing the same service as Kalshi since at least the late 1700s,” the complaint states.

State officials make similar arguments in the new case. They say Kalshi began offering sports-related contracts in January 2025 and now lists markets tied to football, basketball, baseball, golf, mixed martial arts and tennis.

“Kalshi continues to operate as a digital platform for sports betting and continues to operate unlawfully within New Mexico,” the state said in the complaint.

Torrez said the action is intended to protect both consumers and the state’s gaming system.

“New Mexico has a longstanding and carefully balanced system for regulating gaming that protects consumers, ensures accountability, and respects tribal sovereignty,” said Attorney General Torrez in a separate release. 

“The only lawful gaming in New Mexico operates either under tribal-state gaming compacts, or under strict state regulations to ensure honest gaming free from corruption, and licenses gaming operators only after they explain how they plan to address compulsive gambling. Kalshi has ignored that framework entirely while offering online sports betting within the state. We are filing this lawsuit to protect the integrity of our laws, our regulatory system, and most importantly, consumers.”

Meanwhile, Kalshi continues to argue in separate litigation, including a Montana federal case, that its exchange is governed by federal commodities law and falls under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authority rather than state gambling regulators.

“By offering unlicensed online sports betting—including to underage players—Kalshi violates numerous provisions of New Mexico’s Criminal Code and Gaming Control Act,” the complaint states.

Featured image: Kalshi / Canva

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Bally’s Intralot has reached an agreement to acquire betting and gaming operator evoke in a recommended all-share deal worth roughly £243.1 million ($327 million), bringing together brands such as William Hill and 888 with its expanding lottery and online gaming business.

The deal follows a lengthy process that began with a strategic review launched by evoke in December 2025. This was prompted by UK gambling tax increases that raised concerns about earnings, debt levels and the company’s financial flexibility. Earlier this year, evoke confirmed takeover discussions after market speculation and disclosed an initial approach that valued the company at 50 pence per share.

Under the agreed terms announced Friday (June 5), evoke investors will receive 0.537 new Intralot shares for each evoke share. Based on Intralot’s market price, the offer values evoke at 52 pence per share. Shareholders can also choose a cash alternative at the same valuation, although total cash payments will be limited by an overall cap. At the time of writing, stock prices for evoke were up 6%.

Bally’s Intralot evoke deal part of creating a larger gaming group

If the transaction closes, the combined company would become one of Europe’s biggest lottery and online gaming operators, serving six core markets across sports betting, online casino, poker, bingo and lottery products.

Using fiscal 2025 figures supplied by both businesses, the merged group would produce approximately €3.2 billion ($3.7 billion) in revenue and €856 million ($997 million) in adjusted EBITDA. The companies also said the enlarged operation would rank as the UK’s second-largest iGaming operator and the fourth-largest online sports betting business by market share.

The deal represents the latest stage in talks that remained active through the spring. In April, evoke revealed discussions with Bally’s Intralot regarding a possible takeover. A month later, the company granted an extension that allowed negotiations to continue beyond the original deadline while advisers Morgan Stanley and Rothschild & Co worked with the board.

Intralot expects the addition of William Hill and 888 to strengthen its UK position while allowing it to combine evoke’s customer base with its technology platform and data capabilities. Management believes annual cost and capital expenditure savings could reach about £180 million by the end of the second year after completion through marketing efficiencies, operational changes and technology integration.

The acquisition also builds on the October 2025 combination of Bally’s International Interactive business and Intralot, a transaction designed to provide greater scale for future expansion.

After reviewing alternatives that included asset sales and other strategic paths, evoke’s board unanimously backed the proposal. The final agreement followed several months of discussions and an increase from an earlier 32 pence per share proposal made in January 2026.

“Following the announcement of the Strategic Review in December 2025, we have been resolutely focused on how best to maximise value for our shareholders in light of the significant UK duty changes and the constraints posed by the evoke Group’s existing capital structure,” evoke Chairman Mark Summerfield said.

“Having considered a range of options I am delighted to announce the Acquisition by Intralot and believe the agreed terms represent the most attractive and deliverable outcome for evoke shareholders.”

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim said the companies would create “a leading, diversified European gaming champion with greater scale, resilience and operational capability.”

The transaction still requires shareholder, regulatory and gaming-licensing approvals. Completion is expected during the fourth quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.

Featured image: Bally’s Intralot / evoke Plc

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A Florida appeals court has upheld a state law linked to Florida’s gambling overhaul and Seminole Tribe gaming compact, rejecting a challenge from Jefferson County Kennel Club and allowing regulators to move forward with revoking the company’s pari-mutuel wagering permit.

In a June 3 decision, the First District Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that favored the Florida Gaming Control Commission. The judges turned away several constitutional arguments raised by Jefferson County Kennel Club, known as JCKC, over a statute that requires regulators to revoke permits held by pari-mutuel operators that did not possess an operating license during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Florida backs permit ruling amid Seminole gaming overhaul

JCKC maintained that the measure functioned as an unconstitutional special law because only a small number of permit holders were affected. The appellate court found otherwise, concluding that lawmakers adopted the provision as part of a statewide effort to modernize gambling regulation after Florida outlawed greyhound racing and entered into a new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Writing for the court, Chief Judge Osterhaus said the challenged language was part of the Legislature’s “wider scheme for updating Florida’s regulation of gaming to align with a constitutional amendment and the Gaming Compact.”

The panel also rejected due process challenges. According to the opinion, Florida courts have consistently viewed gambling activity as a privilege granted by the state rather than a protected property right. The judges pointed to earlier rulings and wrote that “[t]here is no constitutional right to conduct a gambling business.”

The court further determined that the revocation requirement bears a reasonable relationship to legitimate government interests. Judges said the law can streamline oversight by reducing the number of permit holders subject to regulation and allowing state resources to be directed toward active operations. In the court’s view, “enhancing administrative efficiency is a permissible legislative goal.”

Another argument centered on procedural due process. The court said the legislative process provided opportunities for public participation and notice. Judges also noted that JCKC received notice of the proposed revocation and had avenues to contest the action through administrative and judicial proceedings.

The court was likewise unpersuaded by claims that the statute interfered with contractual obligations. Although JCKC had pursued a possible transaction involving the permit and obtained a letter of intent from a potential buyer, the judges found no binding agreement existed.

The ruling arrives as litigation tied to Florida’s gaming compact continues to draw national attention. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge targeting the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s online sports betting compact after lower courts upheld the arrangement. Before that, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the dispute did not belong before the nation’s highest court, supporting the position that previous rulings should remain in place.

“For these reasons, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED,” the court stated.

Featured image: Canva

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants the federal government to take a much closer look at gambling addiction as online sports betting continues to spread across the United States.

Reps. Dan Goldman of New York and Blake Moore of Utah have introduced the Gambling Disorder Health Study Act, a proposal that would launch a comprehensive federal review of gambling disorder, including its causes, progression and long-term impacts. Researchers would also examine prevention efforts, treatment options and intervention strategies over multiple years.

The legislation comes as legal sports betting has proliferated since the Supreme Court’s 2018 Murphy v. NCAA decision. Supporters of the bill say the number of jurisdictions with legal sports betting has climbed from a single operational state in 2017 to 39 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico by 2025. During that period, annual wagering volume grew from $4.7 billion to roughly $220 billion across sportsbooks and prediction markets.

Under the proposal, up to 10% of federal excise tax revenue generated from state-authorized wagers would be directed toward the study for as many as three fiscal years. The Department of Health and Human Services would also be required to submit annual reports and policy recommendations to Congress.

Federal study to address concerns over gambling addiction

Backers of the measure argue that the growth of mobile betting has outpaced research into its public health consequences. They point to estimates showing that 27% of Americans have an online sportsbook account, with participation particularly high among younger men.

Young men are the demographic most vulnerable to gambling-related harm in the United States, according to a recent report. Lawmakers supporting the study say more than half of men between 18 and 49 have an online sportsbook account, while one-third have used event-based prediction markets for sports wagers.

“Gambling addiction is a growing public health crisis, especially for young men, and the federal government needs to start treating it as such,” said Rep. Goldman in a press release. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense first step to help us understand the full implications of the apps and sites that have made gambling readily accessible 24/7; to identify those most at risk of addiction; and to develop strategies to intervene and treat them, just as we do with other forms of addiction. Congress must take a more active role in fighting gambling addiction and pass this bill.”

Moore said the expansion of betting products has created new policy challenges.

“We are in a new age of gambling addiction as sports betting and prediction markets have proliferated into every aspect of life,” Moore said. “Lawmakers and all Americans need to take a deeper look into the causes and effects of gambling addiction so we can best craft real solutions. This bill will go a long way in helping us address this crisis.”

The proposal arrives alongside other efforts to address gambling-related harm. New York recently launched a decade-long study focused on addiction trends and support gaps, while the bipartisan POINTS Act has sought to expand funding for treatment and recovery programs.

The Kennedy Forum, the Foundation on Drug Policy Solutions, the New York Council on Problem Gambling and several other organizations have endorsed the bill.

“As online gambling surges, permeating the lives of Americans, we are increasingly concerned about how this experiment will unfold for those who will inevitably develop dependencies that can hurt families, weaken relationships, harm finances, and destroy mental health,” Finke said. “The Kennedy Forum supports this bill so we can better understand the scope and scale of the issue and help curb the emerging wave of addictions for profit that rely on shame, isolation, and silence to proliferate in our culture.”

Featured image: Canva

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Former Rep. George Santos is disputing allegations that he improperly benefited from prediction-market trading as federal authorities reportedly examine activity connected to his account on Kalshi.

In a June 3 post on X, Santos said he learned through media reports that the Department of Justice could be looking into the matter. He said his attorneys had already contacted federal officials for clarification and that he would cooperate with any requests for information.

“The bases of the accusation is preposterous and I look forward to supplying any information asked of me to any agency that inquires,” Santos wrote.

Reports from NPR, the Associated Press and other outlets say investigators are reviewing trades tied to a market on whether Santos would attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Kalshi reportedly detected suspicious activity, froze the account in question and referred the matter to the DOJ and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The latest controversy comes months after Santos received executive clemency regarding a fraud case from President Donald Trump. A Justice Department clemency document dated October 17, 2025, shows Trump commuted Santos’ sentence in United States v. Devolder Santos, ordering that it be reduced to time served with “no further fines, restitution, probation, supervised release, or other conditions.” 

The grant applied specifically to the federal offenses covered by the case and was issued under the president’s constitutional clemency authority.

George Santos probe comes amid scrutiny on prediction market trades

Authorities are reportedly examining whether Santos traded using knowledge about his own attendance plans before that information became public. Kalshi’s rules prohibit participants from trading on outcomes they can directly influence, making the case part of a broader debate over insider information in prediction markets.

The attention on Santos comes as the industry faces increasing pressure from regulators, lawmakers and market operators. Earlier this year, Polymarket strengthened its rules across both its decentralized platform and regulated U.S. exchange. The company explicitly barred trading on improperly obtained confidential information, illegal tips and contracts tied to events a trader can influence.

“Markets thrive on clarity,” said Neal Kumar, Chief Legal Officer of Polymarket. “These rule enhancements make our expectations abundantly clear for every participant across both platforms and highlight the compliance infrastructure we have already built. As Polymarket continues to scale, we will build on our foundation with clear communication to Polymarket’s users to ensure our markets do what they do best — surface truth.”

Santos has long spoken favorably about prediction markets. During a March episode of his YouTube show, he argued that the sector would play an increasingly important role in politics and public discussion. At one point, he stated, “It is not a crime to do prediction market.”

The industry has recently faced several high-profile controversies. Polymarket reportedly ended a paid promotional relationship with Santos as scrutiny intensified. Separately, prosecutors charged U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke with using classified information connected to an operation involving Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to place profitable prediction-market wagers. Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty. 

Last week, federal regulators stated that a Google software engineer secretly used internal company information to place highly successful bets on Polymarket contracts tied to Google’s annual Year in Search rankings.

Santos continues to deny wrongdoing while federal authorities have not publicly detailed the scope of any investigation or announced charges.

ReadWrite has reached out to Kalshi and Polymarket for comment.

Featured image: U.S. House Office of Photography via WikiCommons

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“The first thing to understand is that geolocation controls are risk management controls, not absolute security controls.”

Trevor Horwitz, founder and CISO of TrustNet, neatly sums up the challenge currently facing prediction market platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi.

Regulators around the world have been stepping up scrutiny of event-based trading platforms, as prediction market operators have been put under the spotlight to see whether they’re doing enough to stop people from circumventing geographic restrictions.

Supporters argue they’re valuable tools that let people put their money behind predictions about everything from elections and economic data to sporting events and global affairs. Critics see things differently, saying the concept is essentially gambling packaged up in a more sophisticated form.

Until recently, that debate was mostly academic. Now, regulators and courts around the world are being forced to weigh in.

“The reality is that it is not realistic for any globally accessible online platform to guarantee that users from prohibited jurisdictions will never gain access.” – Trevor Horwitz, TrustNet CISO and founder

Recent actions in Spain and India show that pressure on the industry is building fast and the question of what prediction markets really are is becoming harder to avoid.

In Spain, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 opened sanction proceedings against Polymarket and Kalshi, alleging that both platforms were operating without the necessary administrative authorization. At the same time, Spain’s gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), ordered internet service providers to block access to the platforms while the investigation is ongoing.

Spanish authorities argue that prediction markets amount to gambling because users stake money on uncertain future outcomes. Regulators have also raised concerns that unlicensed operators may not provide the identity verification systems, age checks, self-exclusion tools and consumer protections required under Spanish gambling laws.

India has taken a similarly firm stance.

According to reporting by ThePrint, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has already issued a blocking order against Polymarket and has been preparing similar action against Kalshi after both platforms continued accepting Indian users despite regulatory restrictions. Indian authorities view prediction markets as incompatible with the country’s online gaming framework, which prohibits real-money online gaming activities.

The same debate is increasingly surfacing in the United States.

In Nevada, the pressure has already reached the courts. In April, Carson City District Court Judge Jason Woodbury granted a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, ordering the company to put geofencing and geolocation measures in place to stop Nevada residents from accessing activities that could violate the state’s gaming laws. The court gave Kalshi until May to roll out those controls and asked the company to explain any delays if it needed more time.

Woodbury also made it clear that, in his view, the sports-related contracts offered on the platform were effectively no different from traditional sports betting under Nevada law.

Taken together, regulators are increasingly asking whether these platforms can actually keep restricted users out.

Why geolocation on prediction markets is harder than it sounds

That may sound straightforward, but experts say it’s anything but.

“What regulators want now is evidence of layered and reasonable controls instead of a perfect solution,” said Julian Gage, a data privacy expert who previously worked on identity verification and geographic access restrictions at Coinbase and Robinhood.

“To prove someone is where they claim to be, you end up collecting liveness scans, device fingerprints and precise location, which can be argued to be against GDPR and other US/global privacy requirements. This means compliance teams will have to balance collecting more data to satisfy access rules and less to satisfy privacy law.” – Julian Gage, data privacy expert

Polymarket says it uses a combination of geolocation, identity verification and other compliance measures to enforce geographic restrictions, including blocking some VPN-associated IP addresses and requiring additional verification from certain users.

The platform is restricted in 33 countries and several other jurisdictions due to regulatory requirements and international sanctions. Although users may attempt to evade those restrictions through VPNs and other tools, no reliable public estimates exist for how many successfully circumvent geographic controls, and platforms generally do not disclose geolocation enforcement metrics.

That’s why many platforms no longer rely on simple IP address checks alone.

Instead, they use a mix of different data points to get a more reliable picture of where a user is actually located. That can include GPS data, device information, browser settings, language preferences, payment details and identity verification records.

The idea is if all of those signals point to the same location, platforms can be more confident that a user is where they claim to be. If the signals don’t match up, it can be a sign that additional checks are needed.

“If someone’s IP says they’re in New Jersey but their device timezone is set to Manila and their language settings are Filipino, that’s a meaningful contradiction,” Husnain Bajwa, vice president of product for risk solutions at SEON, told ReadWrite. “No single signal is definitive on its own and the value comes from checking whether all of them tell the same story.”

According to Dr. David Utzke, CEO and CTO of MyKey Technologies, many operators are now moving beyond traditional geolocation methods altogether. Rather than relying primarily on IP addresses, platforms increasingly use GPS data, Wi-Fi triangulation, cellular network information, device integrity checks and identity verification systems to verify a user’s location.

For regulators, geolocation alone is no longer enough. The focus is increasingly shifting toward proving that a user’s physical location matches their verified identity.

“The ultimate gatekeeper,” Utzke said, is linking location controls directly to a user’s legally verified identity. In some cases, platforms are no longer checking location only when a user signs up. Instead, location may be assessed continuously, including when a trade is placed or a transaction is executed.

The ongoing cat-and-mouse game

Even sophisticated systems face significant limitations.

VPN detection tools have become much better at identifying traffic from major commercial providers. But residential proxy networks remain far harder to detect because they route traffic through legitimate household internet connections. To a platform, those users can look almost identical to ordinary customers.

“A journalist using a VPN for security looks identical to a gambler trying to access a restricted market,” Bajwa said, creating a challenge for both operators and regulators. 

Linda Goldstein, partner at CM Law, said regulators generally view geoblocking and website restrictions as useful enforcement tools, despite their limitations.

“Users in restricted jurisdictions have reported that they can still access international prediction markets through inexpensive VPN services,” Goldstein noted, adding that platforms have responded by strengthening identity verification and monitoring systems.

Commercial VPNs, residential proxy networks, smart DNS services and hardware-spoofing tools continue to create new ways for users to disguise their true location. As platforms improve detection methods, new workarounds quickly emerge.

Geoblocking isn’t just a compliance issue

The impact of regional restrictions extends beyond regulatory headaches. Prediction markets depend on participation. The more people trading, the more liquid and potentially accurate those markets become.

That’s why geoblocking is said to have become more than a technical compliance challenge. It also has implications for the future growth of the industry.

Ryan Kirkley, co-founder and CEO of Global Settlement Network, said restrictions can limit both participation and the diversity of opinions reflected in market prices.

“They’re a bigger issue than many people realize because these markets depend heavily on participation,” Kirkley said. “If large parts of the world can’t access them, you end up with a smaller and potentially less representative pool of opinions driving prices.”

At the same time, he argues that long-term growth will ultimately depend on regulatory clarity rather than simply expanding access.

“If an industry can only scale by operating ahead of regulation, that’s usually a sign that regulators haven’t been convinced of its value yet,” he said. “Long-term sustainable growth will come from clearer rules rather than simply expanding access.”

Not everyone is convinced geolocation blocking on prediction markets work

While most experts describe geolocation compliance as a complex technological challenge, some industry figures argue that the problem is less about technology and more about incentives.

“The geo-blocks are easy to circumvent because the exchanges want them to be. If they genuinely wanted to keep restricted users out, the technology exists to do it. They don’t do it because the leakage benefits them.” – Adam Bjorn, Plannatech CEO

Adam Bjorn, CEO of Plannatech and operator of Prime Sportsbook, believes many restrictions are easier to bypass than regulators would like to admit.

“Not much,” Bjorn said when asked about the impact of geoblocking on the industry’s future growth. “The geo-blocks are easy to circumvent because the exchanges want them to be. If they genuinely wanted to keep restricted users out, the technology exists to do it.”

Bjorn argued that enforcement often falls short because meaningful restrictions would require tighter controls around payments, identity verification and account custody.

“Until someone forces real enforcement at the platform level — payment rails, KYC, custodial controls — geoblocking is theater more than barrier,” he said.

There is one point of general agreement between the experts: keeping restricted users off online platforms is often much harder in practice than it sounds on paper. 

Gambling, finance or something in between?

At the same time, regulators remain divided on a more fundamental question: what exactly are prediction markets?

Some jurisdictions classify them as gambling because participants risk money on uncertain outcomes. Others, particularly in parts of the United States, increasingly view them as regulated financial products.

Stephen Piepgrass, partner leader of regulatory investigations, strategy and enforcement at Troutman Pepper Locke, stated that federally regulated platforms such as Kalshi must comply with know-your-customer and anti-money laundering requirements that do not apply to many offshore prediction markets.

The disagreement over classification is one reason regulators are approaching the industry so differently around the world. While some authorities focus on gambling laws, others are examining prediction markets through the lens of financial regulation, derivatives trading and consumer protection.

The future of compliance

Industry observers expect compliance requirements to become even more demanding in the years ahead.

Regulators increasingly want continuous verification rather than a one-time location check during registration. In other words, platforms may need to prove not only where users are when they sign up, but where they are throughout the life of an account.

Utzke believes that trend will accelerate. He draws attention to tools such as behavioral monitoring, searchable IP audit trails, multi-source geolocation systems and continuous identity verification as examples of the safeguards regulators increasingly expect platforms to have in place.

But stronger verification comes with its own trade-offs. The more location and identity data a platform collects, the easier it may be to demonstrate compliance. At the same time, gathering and storing that information creates additional responsibilities around data security, privacy and user protection.

Prediction markets have attracted growing attention because of their potential as forecasting tools. Yet as the industry spreads, regulators are increasingly treating these platforms less like novel technology products and more like businesses operating in highly regulated environments, with the compliance expectations that come with them.

As Kirkley put it, “Long-term sustainable growth will come from clearer rules rather than simply expanding access.”

Even then, experts agree that no amount of technology will create perfect enforcement.

Horwitz adds: “The more practical objective is to implement a layered, risk-based control environment that makes circumvention difficult, increases the likelihood of detection, and provides defensible evidence that reasonable measures were taken to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.”

However, Bajwa reminds us that “regulators understand that determined actors will find a way in. What they don’t accept is operators who check a box at registration and call it done.”

ReadWrite has reached out to Polymarket and Kalshi for comment.

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A proposal that would require online sports betting companies in New York to send detailed monthly account statements to customers has now cleared both chambers of the state Legislature.

Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay introduced Assembly Bill A10329 on February 20, 2026. After its introduction, the measure was sent to the Assembly Committee on Racing and Wagering for review before moving through the legislative process.

If the bill becomes law, every authorized mobile sports bettor in New York would receive a monthly summary of account activity. Operators would have to deliver the reports electronically through push notifications, and the information would remain available through each bettor’s account.

New York bill calls for sports betting information in monthly statements

The legislation spells out a range of information that sportsbooks would need to provide. The statements would have to show how much money a customer deposited during the reporting period, the total amount wagered, and the overall value of winnings and losses.

The reports also would be required to display a bettor’s net gain or net loss for the month. Lawmakers say the disclosures are intended to give customers a clearer picture of their gambling activity and financial results.

Beyond financial totals, operators would need to disclose the total number of wagers placed during the reporting period. The statements also would have to include the amount of time a user spent logged into the mobile wagering platform.

Any promotional credits, bonus funds, or free bets used during the month would need to be listed separately in an itemized accounting. The bill also adds requirements aimed at increasing awareness of responsible gaming resources.

Monthly statements would be required to contain a “prominent and clear disclosure of responsible gaming resources,” including information about the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program and problem gambling assistance services, according to the legislation.

Another section of the legislation would require operators to make a bettor’s lifetime wagering history accessible. Customers would be able to review long-term account activity in addition to receiving monthly reports.

Sportsbooks would have no more than 15 days after the end of each calendar month to provide the required statements. The New York State Gaming Commission would be responsible for creating regulations covering formatting standards, readability requirements, and any additional disclosures needed to ensure the reports are easy to understand.

The measure would become part of an existing section of state law that already requires mobile sports wagering operators to maintain responsible gaming information and submit annual problem gambling plans.

The Assembly approved the bill on March 24 by a 143-0 vote, with seven abstentions. The Senate passed the legislation on June 2 after substituting Senate Bill S09415. Legislative records show the measure was then returned to the Assembly the same day.

With approval from both chambers now secured, the bill is expected to be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration. If signed, New York would become the first state to require licensed online sports betting operators to provide monthly account activity statements. The law would take effect on the first day of January following enactment.

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Qualified buyers have until June 26 to submit bids for Hawthorne Race Course as the historic Illinois racetrack seeks a buyer or investor during its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Hilco Global is running the sale through its real estate division alongside Province LLC. The offering covers both the operating business and the real estate tied to the property.

Located in Stickney, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Hawthorne has been part of Illinois racing since 1891. The site covers roughly 108 acres and includes around 1.12 million square feet of structures. Among them are a grandstand, clubhouse, barns, residential facilities and support buildings with capacity for more than 2,100 horses.

Hawthorne sale effort advances toward June deadline

The marketing effort is being presented as a dual-track opportunity. Potential buyers can pursue Hawthorne as an active racing and gaming operation or consider redeveloping the land for industrial uses.

The track holds several Illinois licenses and entitlements, including rights connected to a possible casino development with up to 2,000 gaming positions, a master sports wagering license, the state’s only harness racing organizational license and an off-track betting network operating 10 locations. Hawthorne also continues to offer Thoroughbred and harness racing, simulcast betting, pari-mutuel wagering and food and beverage services.

At the same time, Hilco and Province say the property’s heavy industrial zoning, large footprint and transportation access could attract logistics, manufacturing and distribution developers. The site sits along Cicero Avenue and is close to Interstates 55, 290 and 294, Midway Airport and major rail intermodal facilities.

“The Chapter 11 process creates a unique opportunity for qualified buyers to acquire an iconic regional asset through a court-supervised transaction structure designed to maximize value and provide execution certainty,” said Adam Rosen, partner at Province LLC. “Hawthorne combines a long-standing operating platform with valuable gaming entitlements and substantial real estate optionality, creating multiple paths for future investment and redevelopment.”

The sale arrives as the bankruptcy case continues to generate disputes beyond the marketing process. Earlier this year, Judge Timothy A. Barnes denied Hawthorne’s request for an emergency hearing connected to a motion seeking additional time to file required financial disclosures, ruling the matter did not qualify for emergency treatment.

More recently, Hawthorne and the official committee of unsecured creditors sought authority to investigate Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II and others over decisions involving Thoroughbred Fund distributions. Court filings alleged Hawthorne’s share of those funds declined after the bankruptcy filing, though the allegations have not been adjudicated. On May 27, Barnes authorized discovery efforts related to those claims.

“Whether as an ongoing race course and casino or as an industrial redevelopment, few properties in the Chicagoland market combine Hawthorne’s name recognition, scale, location and future potential,” said Madura. 

“With exceptional multi-modal logistics connectivity and strong surrounding market fundamentals, Hawthorne represents a truly rare opportunity to reimagine a landmark asset for its next chapter. Regardless of its future use, this sale is a once-in-a-generation chance to shape one of the region’s most distinctive properties.”

Any transaction remains subject to approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Featured image: Hilco Global

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Nevada gaming regulators have secured another courtroom win in their campaign against prediction-market platforms, with a state judge granting a preliminary injunction against Polymarket US.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that Judge Woodbury of the First Judicial District Court approved the agency’s request for a preliminary injunction against QCX LLC, which does business as Polymarket US, on May 29. The board disclosed the ruling in a June 1 enforcement update and said a written order is expected later.

The latest decision follows several months of legal battles between Nevada regulators and the prediction-market operator. Earlier this year, the board obtained a temporary restraining order against Polymarket after arguing that the company was offering event-based contracts in Nevada without the licenses required under state gaming law.

“We are very pleased with Judge Woodbury’s ruling and will continue to vigorously enforce Nevada law to safeguard gaming in our state,” stated Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer.

Nevada legal challenges continue against Polymarket as injunction granted

Nevada officials view sports-related event contracts and certain other prediction-market products as wagering activity. Under the state’s regulatory framework, businesses offering those products must first obtain the appropriate gaming licenses.

The board said it has expanded enforcement efforts beyond Polymarket and has moved against several operators it believes were conducting business unlawfully in the state. Regulators noted that previous preliminary injunctions already prohibit Kalshi and Coinbase from offering or facilitating sports, election, and entertainment event contracts in Nevada.

According to the board, Kalshi’s activities violate multiple sections of Nevada law, including NRS 463.160, NRS 463.350, NRS 465.086, and NRS 465.092.

Polymarket has attempted to challenge Nevada’s actions in court. The company previously sought relief through federal litigation, arguing that federal law governing prediction markets and commodities regulation should limit Nevada’s authority over its operations. However, a federal appeals court determined that jurisdictional issues prevented the company from obtaining the immediate relief it sought.

The operator also asked Nevada’s appellate court to pause enforcement measures while litigation continued. This was rejected, allowing state regulators to move forward with their case and maintain restrictions on the platform during the proceedings.

In its latest update, the Gaming Control Board said it has now succeeded in blocking all known unlicensed prediction-market operators that had been active in Nevada.

The agency also pointed to Nevada’s long-established public policy on gaming regulation. Lawmakers have repeatedly identified the gaming industry as a vital part of the state’s economy and have required extensive licensing and oversight to protect public health, safety, morals, good order, and the general welfare of residents.

With the preliminary injunction against Polymarket now in place and earlier court orders affecting other platforms remaining active, the board said it will continue pursuing companies it believes are operating outside Nevada’s gaming laws while working to protect the state’s regulated gaming industry.

Featured image: Canva / Polymarket

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A sweeping law enforcement operation unfolded across Galveston County on Monday (June 1) as investigators moved to break apart what they say was a long-running illegal gambling network centered in La Marque and surrounding communities.

Members of the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force began serving 21 search warrants at about 9:30 a.m. on June 1. According to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, the coordinated action stemmed from an investigation into suspected organized criminal activity and money laundering connected to illegal game rooms.

Galveston authorities target illegal gambling rooms and financial records

Investigators focused on several game room businesses, related properties in Fort Bend County and a number of financial institutions believed to be tied to the operation’s finances.

Seven warrants were carried out at game rooms in and around La Marque. Those locations included Gold Chest, Pig Pen, TJ’s, Rusty’s, Purple Building and Double Diamond, along with the 24/7 game room in Alvin.

Authorities also searched two properties in Sugar Land. The sheriff’s office said one location was a residence linked to the owner and operator of the Gold Chest game room. Investigators believe the second property, a warehouse, was being used to store and distribute illegal gambling machines.

Another 12 warrants targeted financial institutions as detectives examined the money trail behind the alleged enterprise.

The operation comes as Galveston County agencies continue wider efforts to crack down on illegal gambling. Earlier investigations in the region led to raids on multiple commercial and residential properties suspected of supporting unlawful gaming businesses. During one January operation in Galveston, officers executed search and arrest warrants at five businesses and four homes, seizing gambling machines, cash and electronic records connected to an alleged criminal network.

At the time, Galveston police warned about the impact of such operations. “Illegal gambling operations are often a magnet for secondary crimes, including money laundering and narcotics distribution,” reads the official statement from Galveston Police Department. “Today’s action demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the safety and integrity of our neighborhoods by dismantling these unauthorized operations.”

More recently, a major gambling investigation in neighboring Hitchcock resulted in 33 arrests, the seizure of 749 gambling machines and more than $417,000 in cash, according to authorities. The probe also led to the arrest of Hitchcock Mayor Christopher Armacost on a felony charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Details of that investigation were reported by ReadWrite.

As Monday’s searches continued, members of the sheriff’s office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Unit remained at several locations gathering evidence. No immediate information about arrests, criminal charges or items seized was released.

Officials said the investigation remains active and additional details will be provided once they become available. Multiple agencies assisted in the operation, including sheriff’s offices from Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, along with police departments and prosecutors from across the region.

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Illinois lawmakers have signed off on a budget measure that would create what appears to be the first state tax aimed specifically at sports event contracts traded through prediction markets. The provision was included in the wider revenue package contained in Senate Bill 3019, which cleared both chambers on June 1.

Under the legislation, “any wagers offered under this Act shall be subject to incur a transaction tax equal to 1.75% of each exchange wager.” The bill also establishes a higher rate for operators with significant activity. After a licensee reaches five million exchange wagers during a fiscal year, the transaction tax imposed under this subsection shall increase to 3.5% of each exchange wager.

Rather than taxing operator revenue, the proposal is built around transaction volume. Revenue generated by the tax would flow into the Sports Wagering Fund before ultimately being transferred to the state’s General Revenue Fund. The legislation states that the tax “shall be deposited monthly into the Sports Wagering Fund” and outlines the transfer process for certified amounts.

Analysis circulated by Fairplaygov indicates that the measure would apply to sports-based event contracts, while non-sports prediction markets would not be subject to the same tax structure.

Illinois puts prediction markets in the spotlight with new tax

The move lands in the middle of an ongoing fight over who should regulate prediction market products tied to sporting events. Companies operating those markets have consistently argued that their offerings fall under federal oversight through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than state gaming authorities.

Fairplaygov has suggested the Illinois measure could invite another round of legal challenges from the industry. The organization noted that the CFTC has already taken legal action involving Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the Illinois Gaming Board as disputes over prediction market activity continue.

The new exchange-wager language is only one section of a much larger bill. According to the legislative summary, SB 3019 “amends the Illinois Gambling Act” and “amends the Sports Wagering Act,” including revisions involving “the privilege taxes imposed under the Act.”

The package also includes a 10% tax on targeted advertising services, a Digital Asset Tax Act that would impose a 0.2% levy on certain digital asset transactions, and new fees tied to large social media platforms based on Illinois user totals.The prediction market provision arrives as Illinois continues to explore new gambling-related revenue streams. We previously highlighted criticism surrounding other betting tax proposals in the state, including per-bet tax measures that opponents argued could reduce wagering activity and place added pressure on operators and consumers.

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Barry Diller’s People Incorporated has made a move to take MGM Resorts International private, putting forward a cash offer of $48.30 a share for the stock it does not already own.

The proposal, revealed Monday (June 1), values MGM at about $18 billion including debt. If completed, it would hand People control of one of the world’s biggest gaming and hospitality operators. The bid is non-binding and will be reviewed by MGM’s board.

People Incorporated, formerly known as IAC, already holds roughly 26.1% of MGM’s outstanding shares. Under the proposal, it would purchase the remaining shares and turn MGM into a privately held subsidiary. The company said it expects to own slightly more than 50.1% of MGM’s equity after closing, while some investors could keep minority stakes.

According to People, the offer stands 10.6% above MGM’s May 29 closing price and 24.1% above its 30-day volume-weighted average share price. At the time of writing, MGM Resort’s stock was up 15.8%.

The bid reflects Diller’s growing focus on MGM after years spent building media, internet and travel businesses. He has served on MGM’s board and steadily expanded his investment in the company since buying shares during the pandemic downturn.

MGM has become a major asset for People because of its mix of casino resorts and expanding digital operations. The company owns prominent Las Vegas Strip properties, operates regional casinos across the United States, has interests in Macau and Japan, and co-owns online betting platform BetMGM.

“We began investing in MGM nearly six years ago because we believed it represented a rare kind of business: one with real world assets that AI cannot easily replicate or disintermediate and exceptional digital growth opportunities. That conviction has only strengthened over time,” Diller said in a letter to MGM’s Board of Directors.

MGM board begins review of People Incorporated deal

MGM confirmed it received the proposal on June 1 and said directors will evaluate it with financial and legal advisers. The company stressed that shareholders do not need to take any action at this point.

“The Company’s Board of Directors, in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, will carefully review and consider the proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of the Company and all of its shareholders,” MGM said.

The offer arrives during a period of major consolidation across the gaming industry. Just days earlier, Fertitta Entertainment announced a $17.6 billion agreement to acquire Caesars Entertainment, combining casino resorts, digital gaming operations and hospitality assets under one umbrella. This would create a portfolio spanning 60 gaming properties nationwide.

MGM’s recent financial results also showcased why the company remains attractive to investors. For the fourth quarter of 2025, MGM reported revenue of $4.6 billion, up 6% year over year, while net income jumped 87% to $294 million. Growth was helped by strong results in China and expanding digital operations, although investors continued to watch softer performance on the Las Vegas Strip.

People said taking MGM private could allow management to pursue long-term plans away from public market pressures. Discussions remain preliminary, and neither company has indicated that a final deal is assured.

Featured image: Christopher Peterson via WikiCommons / CC BY 3.0 / The U.S. National Archives / S. Clyde

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A Burbank blood-testing laboratory owner who used Medicare reimbursement money to support a gambling habit, pay personal expenses and evade millions in taxes has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison.

Armen Muradyan, 60, from California, was ordered to serve 51 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt. The court also directed him to pay $15.16 million in restitution.

Muradyan pleaded guilty in August 2025 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. Federal prosecutors said his conduct involved a long-running effort to conceal his role in a laboratory business, obtain Medicare payments and hide income from tax authorities.

Court hears how Burbank laboratory owner devised scheme to fund gambling habit

According to court records, Muradyan owned and operated Genex Laboratories Inc., a blood-testing laboratory in Burbank. After Medicare barred him from submitting claims, prosecutors said he arranged for a longtime friend identified as “L.S.” in court documents to appear as the company’s owner.

Authorities said the move allowed Medicare reimbursement payments to keep flowing while masking Muradyan’s involvement. Court records show that Medicare deposited more than $23 million into bank accounts opened in L.S.’s name but controlled by Muradyan.

Prosecutors said Muradyan agreed to pay L.S. $2,000 each month in exchange for serving as the laboratory’s owner on paper. He allegedly told his friend that Medicare enrollment paperwork had to be filed under L.S.’s name because Muradyan was prohibited from filing claims himself.

Although L.S. was listed as the owner, investigators said he did not actually run the company. Instead, he reportedly came to the Burbank office to collect monthly payments and occasionally signed documents at Muradyan’s direction while Muradyan remained in charge of the business.

Federal prosecutors said Muradyan spent proceeds from the fraud scheme on personal obligations, including mortgage payments, gambling and other expenses.

The government also said the arrangement supported a tax evasion scheme that lasted from 2015 through 2023. During that period, Muradyan instructed L.S. to report Genex financial activity on personal tax returns using summaries that falsely suggested the company earned little profit or operated at a loss.

This was then provided to L.S.’s tax preparer, who prepared returns using the information supplied by Muradyan, according to prosecutors.

Authorities also said Muradyan filed personal tax returns that omitted Genex financial activity and reported average annual income of about $40,000 despite receiving and spending millions generated by the laboratory. He also failed to file tax returns from 2021 through 2023.

Prosecutors said he concealed roughly $23.9 million in taxable income, resulting in more than $11.2 million in unpaid federal taxes. Court records further state that California suffered about $2.7 million in tax losses.

The case also included a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan application submitted in July 2020 on behalf of an entity called GenMed. Prosecutors said Muradyan falsely claimed the business had employees and generated $800,000 in revenue during 2019. The Small Business Administration approved a $99,900 loan, and authorities said the money was later spent on personal expenses not allowed under the program.

IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice handled the prosecution.

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Two people were arrested after police and regulators carried out a raid at a suspected illegal gambling venue in central Manchester, according to authorities.

The action followed reports that a property on Chester Road had been hosting gambling activity without the licenses required under UK law. Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester team joined staff from the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council’s licensing department for the operation on May 28.

A 33-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were detained on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003. Police said both remained in custody for questioning as of Thursday evening.

When investigators entered the premises, they discovered gambling tables, chips, account books and records. Officers also recovered alcohol, cash, mobile phones and other materials they believe could be relevant to the case.

Financial investigators join Manchester gambling raid inquiry

What began as a gambling investigation has expanded into a wider probe. Greater Manchester Police said specialists from its Financial Crime Unit and money laundering team are now assisting with ongoing inquiries.

Authorities have not disclosed how large the suspected operation was or how long it may have been running. No charges had been announced when police released details of the raid.

PC Nial Vivian said the operation targeted businesses operating outside legal requirements.

“It is important that all businesses adhere to the laws put in place, and which is why we took action in the city centre yesterday,” Vivian said in a statement.

He also warned that unlawful gambling venues can be linked to broader criminal activity.

“Illegal gambling can cause many issues – from disputes about cash to money laundering – and it is important that we shut them down whenever we come across them,” Vivian said. “We have worked closely with our partners in both the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council.”

The Gambling Commission described the Manchester case as part of a wider national effort to tackle unlicensed gambling.

Sue Young, the commission’s executive director of operations, added: “Tackling all forms of illegal gambling is a focus for the Commission so we were keen to work in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council on this operation.”

The raid comes months after a separate enforcement action in Birmingham showcased similar concerns. In July 2025, police officers from Operation Fearless and the Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation unit raided premises in Ladywell Walk, where they uncovered an underground poker and gambling operation.

The investigation resulted in four arrests. Two men were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while two others were held over immigration offences. Officers also seized gaming machines believed to be connected to suspected money laundering and fraud, along with large amounts of cash, drugs and weapons.

Authorities said the Manchester investigation remains active, with further inquiries continuing.

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