Florida gaming regulators and local investigators say a large illegal gambling operation in Manatee County has been dismantled after a coordinated raid that seized hundreds of machines and more than $120,000 in cash.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission worked alongside the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations during the effort, which authorities called “Operation Silent Spin.” Officials announced Tuesday (May 12) that investigators confiscated 265 illegal gambling machines while also filing criminal charges and immigration detainers connected to the case.

Spin City Arcade accounted for the largest seizure. Investigators removed 155 illegal slot machines and recovered about $78,483 in cash from that location, according to the commission. Authorities also seized 61 illegal slot machines and roughly $24,157 from another arcade that was not publicly identified. At Mike’s Arcade, officers recovered 49 illegal slot machines and approximately $18,157.

State regulators say the operation reflects growing concerns about underground gambling businesses spreading across Florida. Investigators pointed to a recent armed robbery and shooting at another illegal gambling house in Manatee County where a customer was shot multiple times. Officials say those operations often involve large amounts of cash, weak security, narcotics activity, trafficking concerns, and schemes targeting customers.

“These illegal gambling businesses are not harmless storefront operations. They attract crime, generate illicit cash economies, and create serious public safety risks for surrounding communities,” said L. Carl Herold, Director of Gaming Enforcement for the FGCC.

Pressure builds for wider enforcement amid Manatee County illegal gambling raid

The Manatee County case follows several other recent gambling crackdowns across southwest Florida. Earlier enforcement actions that we previously reported included the seizure of 623 illegal gambling machines and another Lee County operation where investigators removed 134 illegal slot machines tied to arcade-style gambling businesses. Separate investigations in Lee County also focused on suspected illegal gambling arcades operating under storefront gaming models.

Officials say the cases are adding pressure on state lawmakers to approve more enforcement funding as budget negotiations continue in Tallahassee this week. The FGCC is requesting additional gaming enforcement squads, including a proposed unit dedicated to southwest Florida, where regulators say illegal gambling activity has surged.

“Operation Silent Spin sends a clear message: if you are operating illegal gambling in Florida, we are coming for your machines, your money, and your criminal enterprise,” Herold said. “As illegal gambling activity continues to grow statewide, including in southwest Florida, the FGCC remains committed to aggressively dismantling these operations before they evolve into larger organized criminal networks.”

Julie Brown, chair of the FGCC, said southwest Florida remains one of the agency’s top priorities as illegal gambling complaints continue increasing.

“Southwest Florida has seen one of the highest increases in illegal gambling activity in the state and is a prime location for our next enforcement squad,” Brown said. “As these operations continue to spread, the Commission must ensure it has the personnel and regional presence necessary to investigate complaints quickly, support local law enforcement partners, and protect Florida communities through sustained enforcement efforts.”

Featured image: Manatee County Sheriff’s Office via YouTube

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Four New Mexico tribes are taking prediction market company Kalshi to federal court, arguing that its sports contracts amount to illegal online sports betting conducted on tribal lands without approval from tribal regulators.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Pojoaque, and Pueblo of Sandia filed the lawsuit Tuesday (May 12) in federal court in New Mexico. The 33-page complaint, reviewed by ReadWrite, seeks court orders blocking Kalshi from offering sports event contracts on tribal lands, while three of the tribes are also pursuing civil penalties.

Tribal regulators say Kalshi’s mobile app lets users place wagers on sporting events through yes-or-no contracts that operate like standard sportsbook bets. The tribes argue the products qualify as Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, known as IGRA, and therefore require tribal authorization and compliance with existing tribal-state gaming compacts.

The document cites a 2016 Interior Department letter stating that “non-tribal Internet gaming” would conflict with the exclusivity promised to tribes under those compacts.

The complaint says Kalshi never obtained tribal licenses and allows wagering by users as young as 18, even though tribal gaming agreements in New Mexico prohibit Class III gaming for anyone under 21.

New Mexico tribes join growing legal fight against Kalshi

The filing describes Kalshi’s offerings as nearly indistinguishable from traditional sportsbooks, pointing to bets involving game winners, point spreads, totals, parlays, and proposition wagers. One example cited in the complaint involved contracts tied to a University of New Mexico Lobos versus New Mexico State Aggies game.

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

The tribes also pointed to Kalshi’s earlier court arguments against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, when the company reportedly argued that sports-related contracts resembled prohibited gaming activity. According to the filing, Kalshi shifted course after the 2024 election and began including sports contracts tied to the NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA beginning in January 2025.

The lawsuit references recent court rulings in Nevada and elsewhere that treated Kalshi’s products as sports gambling. The complaint quotes a federal judge who wrote, “As Justice Potter Stewart famously said about pornography in his concurrence in Jacobellis v. State of Ohio, ‘I know it when I see it.’ These are sports wagers and everyone who sees them knows it,” the Nevada court wrote, according to the filing.

The New Mexico case arrives as tribal governments continue challenging prediction market platforms. The Ho-Chunk Nation previously sued Kalshi in Wisconsin, and California tribes recently lost an appeals court effort seeking intervention in related litigation. Tribal leaders have increasingly argued that prediction markets threaten tribal gaming exclusivity agreements and undermine sovereignty protections negotiated with states.

The complaint also says Kalshi promoted itself through advertising and trademark filings describing its services as “bookmaking services” and “sports betting and gambling tournaments.” According to the tribes, geofencing technology already used throughout the gaming industry could easily block wagering activity on tribal lands.

The tribes claim Kalshi’s daily transaction volume rose from just over $4 million in December 2024 to roughly $800 million daily after sports betting contracts were introduced. It also cites reports valuing the company at about $22 billion following a recent funding round.

The tribes argue Kalshi’s continued operations bypass tribal safeguards involving fraud prevention, integrity monitoring, money laundering controls, and problem gambling protections.

Featured image: Kalshi / Canva

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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is pressing a federal appeals court to reaffirm that prediction markets fall under federal supervision instead of state gambling enforcement.

In a brief filed Tuesday (May 12) with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the agency asked judges to overturn an Ohio ruling tied to Kalshi’s ongoing dispute with state regulators. The filing argues that Congress already gave the CFTC sole authority over futures, swaps, and similar financial products traded on federally regulated exchanges.

The case has become one of the highest-profile clashes between state gambling laws and the prediction markets industry. Ohio officials previously moved against Kalshi’s sports-related event contracts, arguing the products violate state gambling restrictions. Kalshi responded by challenging the state’s authority in federal court.

“The federal district court in Ohio took an improperly narrow view of the Commission’s jurisdiction, and we are asking the Court of Appeals to correct that error,” said CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig in a press release. “As I’ve said repeatedly, the CFTC will not allow overzealous state governments to undermine the agency’s longstanding authority over these markets.”

CFTC clashes against state regulators over Kalshi and other prediction markets

The commission told the appeals court that Congress established the agency in 1974 specifically to avoid fragmented state oversight of commodities trading. According to the document, lawmakers concluded that inconsistent state laws had weakened national markets and created confusion for exchanges and traders.

The CFTC argued that event contracts have operated under federal oversight for decades. The filing noted that exchanges regulated by the commission have listed contracts tied to “regional insured property losses, the count of bankruptcies, temperature volatilities, corporate mergers, and corporate credit events.”

According to the filing, “States cannot invade the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction by re-characterizing swaps trading on DCMs as illegal gambling.” 

In Arizona, regulators also attempted to pursue gambling-related enforcement against Kalshi before a federal judge temporarily blocked that effort earlier this month. The court signaled that federally regulated prediction markets may fall outside direct state gambling control while broader legal questions continue moving through the courts.

The CFTC and the Department of Justice have additionally backed other legal challenges involving state attempts to restrict sports-based prediction contracts. The recent brief warned that state-by-state oversight could subject exchanges to “varying and potentially contradictory legal standards.”

The agency warned that if states succeed in blocking sports event contracts, regulators could eventually challenge other event-based derivatives already traded under federal oversight. The commission also stressed that federal law already gives it authority to decide whether specific contracts violate the public interest, including products connected to gaming concerns.

Featured image: CFTC / Canva

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Honolulu police arrested two people and seized gambling machines, drugs, and cash during a raid on an alleged illegal gambling operation in Kalihi last week, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The raid happened Thursday, May 7, around 7:30 p.m. on Keaulikē Street. Officers assigned to the department’s Narcotics/Vice Division Gambling Detail served a search warrant at what investigators described as a suspected gambling game room. The District 1 Crime Reduction Unit and the Specialized Services Division also assisted with the operation.

In a Facebook post, police said officers arrested a 59-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man at the scene without incident. Both were booked on suspicion of second-degree promoting gambling and possession of a gambling device.

During the search, investigators recovered 12 gambling machines along with cash and illegal drugs that were allegedly connected to the operation. Authorities said all of the seized items were entered into evidence as the investigation continues.

Illegal gambling investigations continue across Honolulu amid Kalihi raid

The Kalihi raid is the latest in a series of enforcement actions targeting backroom gambling operations on Oahu. Earlier this year, Honolulu police also raided a suspected gambling room in Wahiawa, where investigators recovered gambling machines, drugs, and cash while making additional arrests tied to alleged illegal gaming activity.

Police have not publicly identified the suspects arrested in the Kalihi case. Investigators also have not released details about the type or quantity of drugs seized during the search warrant operation. Authorities likewise have not said how long the alleged gambling room had been operating before officers moved in.

State lawmakers have recently pushed for tougher measures aimed at curbing illegal gambling throughout Hawaii. Several bills introduced during the current legislative session seek to increase penalties for operating illegal game rooms, strengthen enforcement powers, and address concerns from residents who say underground gambling spots contribute to neighborhood crime and public safety problems.

Community complaints about backroom gambling operations have increased in recent years, particularly in residential areas where game rooms are often hidden inside storefronts or private buildings. Law enforcement officials say those locations are frequently linked to other criminal activity, including drug offenses and theft-related crimes.

The Honolulu Police Department said shutting down illegal gambling operations remains a priority for investigators working across the island.

“HPD remains committed to addressing illegal gambling operations that negatively impact the safety and quality of life in our communities,” the department said in a statement.

Authorities said the investigation tied to the Kalihi operation remains active, and additional arrests or charges could still be possible as detectives continue reviewing evidence collected during the raid.

Featured image: Honolulu Police Department

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Britain’s gambling regulator says bingo venues and other land-based operators will face stricter oversight as officials move to remove non-compliant gaming machines more quickly and expand action against illegal betting businesses.

Speaking at the Bingo Association’s annual meeting, acting Gambling Commission chief executive Sarah Gardner said the regulator wanted closer cooperation with compliant operators while also increasing enforcement powers across the sector.

“We know what we can achieve through our powers, but we know that we can achieve a whole lot more for our objectives by working with those in industry who are willing to work with us,” Gardner said in the speech.

The social nature of bingo is clearly identified as being a significant draw for in person bingo – something that whilst may make sense to everyone in this room – is now part of our official statistics. Working together, rather than retreating to the entrenchments, means we can build a shared understanding instead of creating mistrust. We can look to make progress instead of holding each other back.

The commission confirmed that new rules will take effect from July 29, 2026. Under the changes, non-remote gambling businesses must immediately take machines out of use if the regulator determines they were manufactured, supplied, installed, repaired or modified without the required technical operating licence.

Venues will also have to remove machines that fail to satisfy the association’s technical standards. Gardner said the changes are intended to speed up the process of removing unsuitable machines from gambling premises and improve consumer protections.

Bingo and gambling industry faces financial pressure

The tougher compliance measures arrive as gambling operators continue watching possible tax changes following recent budget discussions. Industry groups have warned that higher gambling duties could place additional strain on retail operators already dealing with rising operating costs and tighter regulation.

The commission also plans to increase investigations into illegal gambling activity after receiving £26 million ($35 million) in government funding spread across the next three years. Officials said the additional money would support stronger enforcement operations and better intelligence work targeting unlicensed gambling businesses.

Speaking about cooperation with the sector, Gardner said: “So as long as operators are committed to compliance at the first opportunity, we can and we will work with you, all to the benefit of consumers who get safer, fairer and crime free gambling as a result.”

The speech included updated figures showing Britain’s bingo sector generated £816 million ($1.1 million) in gross gambling yield during 2024/25, representing roughly 5% of the wider gambling market’s £16.8 billion ($22.8 billion) total. According to the regulator, non-remote bingo accounted for £650 million ($880 million), while online bingo contributed £166 million ($225 million).

Gardner also responded to concerns surrounding participation estimates contained in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain after discrepancies emerged between survey results and admissions data collected by the Bingo Association.

“Crucially though, with the data from the new question, we have found the GSGB estimates of those people playing bingo in traditional bingo clubs like the ones many of you run – 1.2 per cent – is much more closely aligned with the Bingo Association’s own estimates calculated from admissions data into those premises, which is 1 per cent,” Gardner said.

The Commission’s latest business plan also highlights continuing work linked to the Gambling Act Review, expanded use of industry data and closer engagement with operators on compliance standards.

Featured image: Canva

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Maine’s four Wabanaki Nations are asking a federal judge to throw out Oxford Casino’s challenge to the state’s new internet gaming law, arguing the measure is grounded in tribal sovereignty and Maine’s longstanding legal agreements with federally recognized tribes.

The filing is the latest development in a lawsuit over Maine’s Economic Opportunity Act, which Gov. Janet Mills signed earlier this year after a heated debate over online casino gambling. The law authorizes the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation to each receive one internet gaming license and partner with outside operators.

Oxford Casino, BB Development LLC and Churchill Downs Incorporated sued the state after the law took effect. The casino operators argue Maine created an unconstitutional monopoly by limiting online gaming licenses to the tribes alone. They claim the law violates equal protection protections and the Dormant Commerce Clause by excluding non-tribal businesses, including out-of-state companies.

The tribes rejected those arguments in forceful terms.

“From the Founding to today, the Supreme Court has recognized that tribal nations are sovereign governments, not racial groups,” the motion states. “For equal protection purposes, that means laws like the Act that benefit tribal nations draw political classifications—not racial ones.”

Wabanaki tribes defend Maine law in Oxford Casino lawsuit

The tribes argued federal courts have consistently treated federally recognized tribes as sovereign political entities rather than racial classifications. Because of that distinction, they said the law should be reviewed under the more deferential rational basis standard instead of strict scrutiny.

Their filing also drew attention to Maine’s unusual legal structure under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act and related agreements approved by Congress in 1980. According to the tribes, those laws established “a unique jurisdictional framework in Maine” that allows the state and tribes to work together on gaming policy.

State officials backed that position in a separate filing, saying Maine’s relationship with the Wabanaki Nations is “nationally unique.”

The tribes said internet gaming revenue would support essential tribal services and strengthen rural economies across the state.

“The law advances state and federal interests by enabling the Nations to fund essential government services,” the tribes wrote. “It also benefits Maine’s rural economies, advances cooperation between the Nations and the State, eases the strain on State finances, promotes a well-functioning internet gaming market, and remedies the historic exclusion of the Nations from gaming opportunities.”

The filing described tribal responsibilities that include police and fire protection, healthcare, housing assistance, schools, transportation projects and water infrastructure work.

The tribes also noted that Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino still maintain exclusive control over Maine’s brick-and-mortar casino industry. The motion says the new law “does not alter the longstanding monopoly on brick-and-mortar casino gambling in Maine held by Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino.”

“The Economic Opportunity Act is not such a law,” the tribes wrote. “It does not privilege in-state businesses as against out-of-state competitors. Rather, it privileges federally recognized tribal nations with whom Maine has a distinctive political relationship as against all others, in-state or out.”

Featured image: Wabanaki Alliance logo

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A federal judge in Wisconsin is allowing the Ho-Chunk Nation to continue pursuing its central claims against prediction market operator Kalshi, keeping alive a closely watched fight over whether sports event contracts amount to illegal betting on tribal lands.

In Monday’s ruling (May 11), U.S. District Judge William Conley said the lawsuit “principally concerns the ability of plaintiff Ho-Chunk Nation, a federally-recognized Indian tribe, to prohibit online sports betting from occurring on its tribal land.”

The dispute focuses on Kalshi’s online event contracts, which let users trade on sports outcomes and other real-world events through a market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Robinhood has partnered with Kalshi to distribute some of those contracts through its own platform.

Ho-Chunk Nation tribal lawsuit in Wisconsin against Kalshi survives key dismissal challenge

The Ho-Chunk Nation argued that the contracts qualify as class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because bettors located on tribal land can still access the platform without tribal approval. The tribe said that activity threatens its gaming compact and cuts into casino revenue that supports tribal government operations.

Conley agreed the tribe had plausibly stated a claim under IGRA. The opinion said Kalshi “does not appear to dispute” that its sports event contracts fit within class III gaming rules or that tribal users can access the offerings online.

The ruling also referenced a recent Arizona decision involving Kalshi. In it, another federal judge described the contracts as “sports wagers and everyone who sees them knows it,” while noting Kalshi markets itself as a “sports betting platform.”

Kalshi had pushed for dismissal by arguing that IGRA does not allow tribes to sue companies that are not parties to tribal-state gaming compacts. The company also argued that its New York headquarters and Ohio-based servers placed the activity outside tribal jurisdiction.

Conley rejected those arguments, writing that such a reading would leave tribes unable “to prevent illegal, non-tribal class III gaming operations on their lands.” He also concluded that gaming activity happens where the bettor is physically located.

Still, the court declined to immediately block Kalshi’s contracts while the case continues. The judge said the Ho-Chunk Nation failed to show urgent evidence of financial harm. According to the opinion, the tribe presented “no evidence showing: a measurable change in customer visitation or attendance numbers at its casinos; declines in consumer spending; changes in revenue or profitability at any of its casinos.”

Conley added that the court was “not persuaded that interfering with the status quo” was appropriate while broader legal questions surrounding federal commodities law remain unresolved.

The judge separately dismissed the tribe’s false advertising claims tied to Kalshi promotions calling itself “The First Nationwide Legal Sports Betting Platform” and saying sports betting is legal “in all 50 States on Kalshi.” Civil RICO claims against Kalshi and Robinhood were also dismissed.

Featured image: Kalshi / Ho-Chunk Nation

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A Kentucky man has filed a proposed class action against prediction market company Kalshi, accusing the platform of offering illegal gambling products to residents across the state.

The lawsuit was filed Monday (May 11) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Plaintiff Donovan Roberts named Kalshi Inc., related business entities, and Susquehanna-connected firms as defendants. He claims the company has been operating what amounts to an online sportsbook without following Kentucky gaming laws.

According to the complaint, Kalshi users can spend real money on contracts tied to elections, sports, weather, and other future events. Roberts argues the setup mirrors traditional gambling despite the company presenting the contracts as financial products.

The filing says Kalshi’s “prediction market” is “nothing more than gambling, and it is untaxed, unregulated, and illegal in Kentucky.”

Roberts also claims the company allows users to “bet real money on everything from elections to tennis matches” outside the state’s regulated sports wagering system.

Kentucky Kalshi class action lawsuit targets prediction market model

The complaint points out several examples from Kalshi’s platform, including wagers tied to college football games, point spreads, total scores, and player touchdown props. Roberts argues those offerings resemble products available through licensed sportsbooks operating legally in Kentucky.

The lawsuit says Kalshi attempts to characterize the contracts as federally regulated financial instruments overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. But the filing argues the contracts “are nothing more than thinly veiled illegal wagers based on the outcome of specific future events.”

Roberts says Kentucky law only allows sports betting through licensed and regulated operators supervised by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. It also alleges Kalshi “has made no effort to comply” with those requirements while still targeting Kentucky users through online marketing, payment processing, and location-based advertising.

The case arrives as lawmakers in Kentucky discuss a gaming proposal that would raise the state’s legal sports betting age from 18 to 21 while also examining how sports prediction markets should be treated under Kentucky law.

Kalshi is also facing similar legal pressure outside Kentucky. A separate proposed class action filed in Oregon accuses the company of operating unlawful gambling products there as well.

The Kentucky lawsuit seeks to represent residents who allegedly lost more than $5 during any 24-hour period on Kalshi within the past five years. The filing relies on Kentucky’s gambling loss recovery law, which states that “the loser or any of his creditors may recover it, or its value, from the winner.”

The complaint also points to research connecting gambling addiction with financial hardship, mental illness, relationship problems, and suicide. Kalshi has not publicly responded in court filings to the Kentucky allegations.

Featured image: Kalshi / Canva

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Federal prosecutors say a former Pennsylvania bank manager stole more than $214,000 from a Citizens Bank branch and spent most of the money feeding a gambling habit, a scheme that has now landed him in federal prison.

Jonathan Lim, 42, of Wallingford, was sentenced this week to 18 months behind bars followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to bank fraud and bank embezzlement charges. Prosecutors said Lim took approximately $214,155 while serving as branch manager of the Citizens Bank location on West Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown.

Court records filed May 6 and seen by ReadWrite show U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson imposed concurrent 18-month prison terms on both counts. Lim was also ordered to repay Citizens Bank the full amount investigators said was stolen.

Authorities said Lim worked at the Citizens Bank “Thorndale branch” from June through November 2019. Along with managing the branch, he also performed teller duties during that period.

Investigators trace gambling losses to Pennsylvania bank ATM operations

Federal prosecutors said Lim became the branch ATM coordinator on July 30, 2019, putting him in charge of ATM cash operations and the weekly audits tied to balancing the machine.

Investigators alleged that Lim accessed the ATM roughly 59 times between July and November 2019. Authorities said he manipulated records to hide missing cash by falsifying settlement worksheets connected to ATM balancing procedures.

The indictment also alleged that Lim directed coworkers to sign paperwork “without telling those persons that the worksheets contained false information.” Prosecutors said those records were later used to conceal shortages connected to the ATM.

Federal authorities further alleged that Lim removed cash from the ATM and temporarily kept it inside a locked area of the bank vault that was under his control. Investigators said he later removed the money from the bank without documenting the withdrawals.

The theft was discovered shortly after Lim resigned from Citizens Bank in November 2019. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, an audit performed two days later revealed that the ATM was missing more than $178,000. Investigators also found an additional shortage of about $36,000 connected to Lim’s teller cash box.

Court documents stated that the ATM contained only about $13,435 during the audit, which was roughly $178,155 less than internal records showed should have been there.

Federal prosecutors said the total loss to Citizens Bank reached approximately $214,155. The sentencing order requires Lim to pay restitution in that same amount.

The Justice Department said Lim spent “the majority of the money gambling.”

As part of his supervised release conditions, Lim cannot work “in the banking industry or in any position of fiduciary responsibility,” according to court filings.

The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff handled the prosecution.

Featured image: Canva

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Entain is calling on England’s new soccer watchdog to intervene against Premier League clubs taking sponsorship money from gambling operators that are not licensed in Britain. The move increases pressure on clubs already facing scrutiny over the sport’s relationship with the growing black market betting industry.

The owner of Ladbrokes and Coral said the Independent Football Regulator, known as the IFR, already has the power to stop those arrangements under proposed licensing rules. Those draft rules would prevent clubs from accepting revenue tied to “serious criminal conduct,” which Entain argues includes gambling companies illegally taking bets from British customers.

The company made the case in its response to the IFR’s latest consultation covering licensing rules for clubs across the top five tiers of English men’s soccer. The regulator was created to strengthen financial oversight and improve governance standards throughout the game.

According to Entain, several Premier League sides currently have sponsorship agreements with gambling companies that do not hold UK licenses. The firm said those operators may be committing offenses under section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005 whenever they accept bets from customers in Britain.

Stella David, chief executive of Entain plc, said: “Premier League clubs are being sponsored by criminal gambling firms. The Independent Football Regulator can stop this tomorrow by simply acknowledging that unlicensed gambling companies targeting UK customers through English football are breaking the law – plain and simple.”

She added: “The regulator does not need any new powers, new legislation, or even a new rule to make this happen. In fact, it has already drafted one.”

Entain shares concerns over black market betting on the Premier League

The dispute arrives as English soccer prepares for major changes to gambling advertising. Premier League clubs agreed to phase out front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships from the start of next season, although betting companies will still be allowed to advertise through sleeve logos, pitchside boards and other commercial deals.

Campaigners and several sporting bodies have also faced growing calls to reduce gambling advertising more broadly, amid concerns that younger fans are being heavily exposed to betting promotions during live sports broadcasts and online coverage.

Entain argues that tighter restrictions on licensed operators are helping unlicensed companies gain visibility through football sponsorships and social media marketing. The company cited Betting and Gaming Council research estimating that unlicensed sponsorship could make up more than half of UK sports sponsorship spending by October 2027.

The firm also pointed to analysis from Yield Sec claiming that 92% of online betting content in some social media categories directed users toward unlicensed websites. Other industry estimates suggest British consumers now spend roughly £4.3 billion ($5.9 billion) each year with black market gambling operators.

The UK government has already indicated it could tighten the rules further. In 2023, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced plans to consult on banning unlicensed gambling operators from sponsoring British sports teams as part of wider efforts to combat illegal gambling.

The DCMS is now expected to launch a consultation on measures to ban unlicensed operators from sponsoring British sports teams. Separately, the IFR proposed licensing regime is expected to consider funding sources for clubs and individuals as part of the application process and would include powers to restrict access to funding suspected to be linked to certain categories of criminal activity. The IFR’s second consultation on the licensing regime closed on May 5, with a response expected in due course.

UPDATED: Information regarding the IFR and DCMS consultations added on May 12, 2026.

Featured image: via Entain press release

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Colorado lawmakers are pushing ahead with a broad overhaul of the state’s sports betting industry, approving a measure that would tighten advertising standards, limit how often gamblers can deposit money, and block the use of credit cards for wagers.

Senate Bill 131 cleared House third reading on Friday (May 9) in a 50-13 vote, with two lawmakers absent, according to the legislature’s latest roll call. Part of the proposal already passed the Senate and now moves closer to becoming law.

Sens. Matt Ball and Byron Pelton are sponsoring the legislation alongside several Democratic lawmakers. In the House, Reps. Steven Woodrow and Dan Woog are leading the effort.

Lawmakers said the proposal is meant to address the explosive growth of online gambling since Colorado legalized sports betting in 2019. The bill’s legislative declaration states that more than $6.3 billion in online sports wagers were placed statewide in 2025, an increase of more than 130% compared with 2020 activity.

State officials also pointed to rising concerns about addiction and the impact betting advertisements may have on younger audiences. The legislation notes that “calls and texts to the problem-gambling helpline increased by about 45% in the year after legalization of online sports betting.” Lawmakers also wrote that “more than half of 18- to 22-year-olds have engaged in some form of sports betting.”

Colorado proposes new restrictions on sports betting operators and advertising

Under the proposal, sportsbook operators could not accept more than six separate deposits from the same person during a continuous 24-hour gaming period. Companies would also be banned from sending text messages or push notifications encouraging users in Colorado to place wagers or add funds to accounts.

The bill would also prohibit sportsbooks from accepting deposits funded by credit cards, including payments routed indirectly through linked accounts. Operators that violate the rules could face penalties reaching $25,000.

Advertising restrictions are another major piece of the legislation. Sports betting companies and marketing affiliates would be prohibited from targeting people younger than 21 or advertising in media where most of the expected audience is underage. Lawmakers wrote that children and adolescents are “frequently exposed to sports betting advertising and are influenced by its messages.”

The proposal would also ban enhanced payout promotions and instructions explaining how to place wagers in advertisements. Betting ads would not be allowed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. or during live sports broadcasts.

The measure arrives as Colorado continues debating broader gambling policy changes. Lawmakers have also considered House Bill 1311, which would end tax deductions tied to promotional free bets offered by sportsbooks. Separately, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes challenging aspects of Colorado’s sports betting system.

If approved, Senate Bill 131 would take effect in August 2026 unless voters challenge it through a referendum petition.

Featured image: Canva

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Kalshi is asking a federal judge in Seattle to temporarily halt Washington state’s gambling lawsuit while the company pursues an appeal before the Ninth Circuit.

In a motion filed May 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the prediction market operator argued that the court should freeze its remand order after sending the dispute back to state court earlier this month. Kalshi warned that moving forward in state court during the appeal could produce conflicting rulings and weaken the company’s ability to challenge the remand decision.

The company told the court that “[b]eing forced to engage in state-court litigation while the appeal is pending would render Kalshi’s appellate rights meaningless and unnecessarily burden the courts and the parties.”

Washington sued Kalshi in March, accusing the federally regulated exchange of offering contracts that violate state gambling laws. The lawsuit focuses on sports event contracts and other prediction market products traded through Kalshi’s platform. According to the filing, Kalshi argued the state’s complaint “is not limited to sports event contracts but arguably targets every contract Kalshi offers on its exchange.”

Federal jurisdiction gambling dispute against Kalshi continues in Washington

Kalshi operates as a designated contract market overseen by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The company has repeatedly argued that federal law preempts state attempts to regulate trading activity conducted on federally approved exchanges.

In its latest filing, Kalshi said “Federal law therefore preempts state regulation of trading on Kalshi,” pointing to the Commodity Exchange Act and its grant of “exclusive jurisdiction” to the CFTC.

The company previously moved the case from King County Superior Court into federal court, arguing that Washington’s claims hinge on federal commodities law and the scope of the CFTC’s authority. Kalshi maintained the dispute raises substantial federal questions because the contracts at issue are listed on a federally regulated exchange.

Washington regulators and state officials have pushed back aggressively against prediction markets tied to sporting events. ReadWrite previously reported that Washington moved to block certain prediction market offerings, arguing the products amounted to unauthorized gambling activity under state law.

Kalshi’s newest motion says the appeal raises “serious and novel legal questions,” including whether the lawsuit necessarily depends on federal law and whether the CFTC should have been included as a necessary party.

The company argued that Washington’s claims “cannot be adjudicated without resolving contested questions of federal law.” Kalshi also said a state court ruling against the exchange would directly interfere with rights tied to its federal market designation.

According to the filing, declaring Kalshi’s contracts illegal inside Washington “is functionally indistinguishable from one revoking Kalshi’s federal designation as applied to Washington.”

Kalshi additionally warned that allowing the case to continue in state court while federal appeals move forward could create “judicial chaos” and inconsistent outcomes. The company pointed to similar litigation nationwide, including the Ninth Circuit case KalshiEX LLC v. Assad, where judges recently heard arguments involving federal preemption and prediction markets.

Washington opposed the stay request, according to the filing.

Featured image: Kalshi / Canva

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The Ninth Circuit has turned away an effort to move a closely followed Kalshi appeal onto the same judicial track as a separate Nevada dispute involving sports event contracts.

In a short order issued May 6, the appeals court denied a request to reassign the case brought by Blue Lake Rancheria and other tribal plaintiffs against Kalshi Inc. and related defendants. The appeal is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit under case number 25-7504 after originating in federal court in San Francisco.

The court said the request failed because the California dispute differed substantially from another case already argued before a separate Ninth Circuit panel involving North American Derivatives Exchange and Nevada regulators.

“Due to significant differences between this appeal and North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. v. State of Nevada, No. 25-7187, the motion to reassign this appeal to the panel that heard argument in that appeal (Dkt. No. 62) is DENIED,” the order states.

The one-page filing was signed for the court by Ninth Circuit Clerk of Court Molly C. Dwyer. Judges currently assigned to the Blue Lake Rancheria appeal were not identified in the order, and the court did not explain what legal distinctions drove the denial.

Related tribal disputes against Kalshi continue expanding

The California litigation has become part of a fight over whether federally regulated prediction markets can offer contracts tied to sporting events without violating state gambling laws or tribal gaming agreements.

California tribes previously sued Kalshi and Robinhood, arguing the companies were effectively offering unauthorized sports betting products in the state through event contracts tied to athletic outcomes. The tribes suggest the markets threatened the exclusivity rights tribes hold under California’s gaming framework.

Kalshi and Robinhood pushed back against the lawsuit by arguing the contracts fall under federal commodities regulation overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than state gambling enforcement. Court filings from the companies also argued that federal law preempts the tribes’ claims.

Earlier reporting on the case showed a federal judge sided with Kalshi on key procedural issues tied to the California dispute, allowing parts of the company’s arguments to move forward while the challenge continues through the courts. It drew attention because similar legal theories are emerging in multiple states where regulators and tribal gaming groups are questioning prediction market offerings linked to sports events.

The Nevada case referenced by the Ninth Circuit order centers on separate legal and regulatory questions involving sports event contracts and state enforcement efforts there. Even so, parties seeking reassignment had argued the overlap justified placing both matters before the same appellate panel.

The Blue Lake Rancheria appeal remains active, and the Ninth Circuit has not yet released additional scheduling details or hearing dates.

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A new economic study says proposed gambling reforms in Britain would likely cause far less damage to the wider economy than industry groups have repeatedly warned.

The research was conducted by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and the University of Glasgow. It examined measures included in the government’s 2023 white paper, High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age. Those proposals are expected to cut Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) by as much as £812 million annually. GGY measures the money gambling operators keep after paying winnings.

Researchers estimated the broader economic hit from that decline would total about £134 million, or roughly 16 percent of the expected reduction in gambling revenue.

Our analysis shows that of a projected £812 million reduction in GGY, £134 million—around 16 per cent of the total reduction—is translated into a net negative economic impact on the UK economy,” the report said.

How gamblers would redirect their spending

The study found that most consumers would not simply stop spending money altogether if gambling activity fell. Instead, many would redirect cash toward ordinary household costs, including groceries, housing, savings and debt repayments.

More than 800 regular gamblers participated in the project. Researchers asked them to imagine their monthly gambling budgets dropping from £100 to £50 because of tougher regulations. Participants then selected how they would use the remaining money.

Food, drinks, shopping, leisure spending and savings ranked among the most common alternatives. The researchers argued that this shift in spending would soften any broader economic losses associated with gambling restrictions.

“Consumer spending reallocation significantly mitigates the economic impact of gambling sector losses,” the study stated.

Debate over financial risk checks intensifies

The findings arrive during an increasingly heated debate over gambling regulation in Britain. Earlier this year, adviser James Noyes urged the government to pause its pilot program for financial risk checks until more evidence from ongoing testing becomes available. Industry groups have argued the checks could push some customers away from licensed operators.

The report also explored concerns that gamblers might move to unlicensed websites if stricter rules are introduced. Researchers found that 73 percent of respondents said they would avoid unlicensed operators entirely, while about 8 percent consistently selected illegal gambling options during hypothetical exercises.

When that possibility was included in the modeling, the estimated economic loss increased to roughly £189 million, or 23 percent of the projected decline in gambling yield.

Gambling sector faces growing regulatory pressure

Pressure on the sector has already intensified after Entain recently warned that higher gambling taxes and regulatory changes contributed to a £681 million quarterly loss. Still, the new study argued that online gambling businesses often create weaker economic links inside Britain than land-based venues, meaning some industry forecasts may exaggerate potential national losses.

Researchers cautioned that the analysis relied on hypothetical consumer behavior rather than observed spending patterns. Even so, they said the findings offer a stronger evidence base for judging the real economic effects of gambling reform.

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DraftKings entered 2026 with the kind of earnings report investors have long been waiting for, signaling that years of aggressive expansion are beginning to translate into sustained profitability.

The Boston-based sportsbook and online gaming operator reported $1.65 billion in first-quarter revenue on Thursday, a 17% increase from the same period last year. Improved sportsbook margins and steady customer engagement helped the company post a $21 million profit, reversing a loss recorded a year earlier.

The results suggest DraftKings is moving beyond the costly customer-acquisition phase that defined the early years of legalized sports betting expansion across the United States. Company executives said the core sportsbook business is now generating enough cash flow to fund newer initiatives without undermining profitability.

We are off to a fantastic start to the year as our first quarter results exceeded our expectations,” Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins said in the company’s earnings release. “Our core business is strong, and profitability is inflecting. That gives us the firepower to press our advantage in Predictions.”

Prediction markets emerge as a major growth focus

Robins said prediction-based products are becoming an increasingly important part of DraftKings’ long-term strategy. The category allows users to trade on the outcomes of sports, political, and entertainment events and has gained traction across the broader online wagering industry.

According to Robins, DraftKings plans to combine sportsbook technology, exchange systems, and betting products to “establish a leadership position in Sports Predictions before year-end.”

The initiative aligns with the company’s broader ambition to create a “super app” ecosystem that integrates sports betting, online casino gaming, media, and predictive trading products within a single platform. Executives believe a wider digital entertainment ecosystem can increase customer engagement, boost spending, and reduce churn.

Growth shifts from customer acquisition to customer value

Despite strong revenue growth, DraftKings showed signs of relying less on rapid user acquisition and more on generating higher spending from existing customers.

Monthly unique payers declined year over year, largely due to the company’s 2025 exit from the Texas lottery business. Excluding that operation, customer growth remained modestly positive.

At the same time, average revenue per user increased significantly during the quarter as sportsbook margins improved and engagement across online casino and sports betting products remained strong. Sportsbook revenue also outpaced total betting handle growth, indicating the company retained more profit from wagers placed.

Investment spending remains elevated

DraftKings continues to invest aggressively in key strategic areas even as profitability improves. Sales and marketing expenses exceeded $400 million during the quarter, while spending on software development and legislative lobbying also remained elevated.

International expansion remains part of the company’s broader growth plans. DraftKings already operates in Ontario and could eventually benefit from Alberta’s decision to approve 28 operators ahead of launching a regulated online gambling market in Canada’s second-largest province.

Chief Financial Officer Alan Ellingson said the company believes it can continue balancing expansion with stronger earnings performance.

“The business continues to scale efficiently as we grow revenue, expand profitability, and invest in high-return opportunities,” Ellingson said.

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The Indian Gaming Association joined the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, along with S&K Gaming, on May 5 to celebrate the opening of 400 Horses Casino in Polson, Montana. Tribal officials called the project a major investment in the region and a significant step for tribal government gaming operations.

Leaders from tribal governments across the area attended the event alongside elders, community members and gaming representatives. The celebration featured cultural performances, blessings and remarks focused on economic growth and tribal sovereignty.

This beautiful facility reflects the strength and vision of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and their commitment to investing in the future of their people,” Indian Gaming Association Chairman David Z. Bean said in a statement. “Tribal gaming continues to create opportunity, support families, and strengthen communities across Indian Country while protecting and exercising tribal sovereignty.”

A new destination near Flathead Lake

The new entertainment venue covers 35,000 square feet and sits near Highway 83 and the Polson Airport. Visitors will find nearly 300 gaming machines, expanded guest services and outdoor patio areas overlooking Flathead Lake and the Mission Mountains.

Inside the property, guests can also visit the 371 restaurant, named after the deepest point of Flathead Lake. Tribal leaders said the casino was designed to combine entertainment with cultural identity, including exhibits that share the history and traditions of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Casino project brings jobs and economic growth

Officials described the development as one of the tribe’s largest recent economic projects. Beyond the casino itself, leaders highlighted the employment opportunities connected to the facility and its construction.

More than 200 local jobs are tied to casino operations, with additional seasonal positions expected during the busy summer months. Construction of the project also created work for regional contractors and trade workers before the property opened ahead of schedule.

“Tribal gaming is about much more than entertainment,” Bean said. “It is about creating opportunities for future generations, strengthening tribal economies, and ensuring tribes have the ability to provide for their communities through their own success and leadership.”

400 Horses name honors tribal history

The name 400 Horses honors Chief Alexander of the Pend d’Oreille people, a historical leader remembered throughout the region. Tribal officials said the project was built to recognize that legacy while creating a long-term source of revenue and opportunity for the community.

Bean said the opening also demonstrated the importance of collaboration among tribal leaders and gaming organizations across Indian Country.

“The Indian gaming industry has always been built on unity, relationships, and tribal leadership working together,” Bean said. “The dedication shown by the Tribal Council, S&K Gaming leadership, employees, construction teams, and the entire community made this vision possible. This facility stands as another example of what tribal nations can accomplish through sovereignty, determination, and a commitment to their people.”

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Flutter Entertainment posted stronger first-quarter revenue growth Tuesday as the gambling company moved to tighten its focus on the U.S. business with a major management reshuffle centered around FanDuel.

The company behind FanDuel, Paddy Power, Betfair and PokerStars said revenue climbed 17% during the opening three months of 2026. Growth was supported by recent acquisitions in Italy and Brazil, continued strength in online casino gaming and more favorable sports betting results than the same stretch last year. Net income declined as the company absorbed higher financing expenses and integration costs related to recent deals.

Most of the attention, though, centered on leadership changes. Flutter said Dan Taylor, who currently runs the international division, will become president of Flutter Entertainment in a newly created role that gives him oversight of FanDuel while keeping his existing responsibilities. FanDuel president Christian Genetski will now oversee the broader U.S. operation.

The reorganization follows the departure of FanDuel CEO Amy Howe, who had led the sportsbook operator since 2021.

Chief Executive Peter Jackson said the company believes the new structure will help Flutter respond faster as competition across U.S. sports betting continues to intensify.

The US market, and FanDuel’s leading position within it, represents one of the most significant growth opportunities in our industry,” Jackson said. “It is essential that we have the right structure and leadership in place to fully capitalize on it.”

Jackson said Taylor’s experience scaling international operations made him “ideally suited” for the expanded role, while Genetski had been “instrumental” in building FanDuel into the market leader.

Prediction markets remain a priority

Flutter has been trying to regain momentum at FanDuel’s sportsbook business after customer activity weakened late last year. The company said U.S. sportsbook revenue increased only modestly from a year ago as customer churn and softer betting activity continued to weigh on results.

Executives said conditions improved as the quarter progressed, helped by promotional adjustments, stronger March Madness engagement and the rollout of a new sportsbook loyalty program.

FanDuel expands prediction market push

Flutter is also investing heavily in prediction markets through FanDuel Predicts, expanding the platform into states including California, Texas and Florida, where traditional sportsbooks remain restricted. The company recently signaled plans to continue building the product ahead of the next NFL season as competition grows around event-based wagering products.

FanDuel has also continued broadening its online gaming business beyond sports betting. The company recently received approval for a shared multi-state poker network in Michigan, allowing players to compete across state lines with users in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Flutter narrows focus on core gaming products

Flutter has additionally moved to shut down FanDuel TV Extra and its Picks platform as it redirects investment toward sportsbook, casino and prediction market products.

Flutter slightly lowered its full-year outlook, citing unfavorable sports outcomes and additional investment tied to prediction markets and its Arkansas launch. Even so, the company said it still expects double-digit revenue growth this year while reviewing its London Stock Exchange listing alongside its primary New York listing.

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Alberta is moving closer to the launch of its regulated online gambling market after provincial regulators approved 28 operators to enter the province ahead of the July 13 opening date.

An updated list released by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission includes several of the biggest sportsbook brands active across North America. BallyBet, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet Canada, and theScore Bet all appeared on the regulator’s latest roster.

Albertans will still have access to PlayAlberta, the government-run betting platform that currently operates in the province. Regulators also expect additional operators to join after launch, as Alberta continues efforts to shift gray-market gambling activity into the legal system.

A market designed to compete quickly

The commission’s update also identified 22 approved Critical Gaming Service Providers as of May 1. That group includes major industry suppliers such as IGT and Light and Wonder, which provide technology and gaming infrastructure for sportsbook and casino operators.

Alberta’s government has been preparing for market expansion for months as officials look to create a framework similar to Ontario’s system. In comparison, Ontario opened its regulated online betting market in April 2022 and now hosts more than 30 licensed sportsbooks and casino brands.

Provincial officials believe a competitive market could generate roughly CAD $100 million in annual tax revenue while giving consumers more regulated options.

Operators begin building customer databases

Some companies have already started collecting customer registrations before launch day, including BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings and theScore Bet.

The timing also lines up with a busy summer sports calendar. Alberta’s launch will arrive during the closing stretch of the World Cup, with the tournament final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York. The market also opens before Week 7 of the CFL season, including Calgary’s July 18 game against the Montreal Alouettes.

Google policy changes could boost competition

Google’s updated advertising policy could further accelerate competition. Following changes announced earlier this week, licensed gambling operators are now permitted to run Google ads in Alberta.

Still, not everyone supports the province’s expansion plans. First Nations casino operators previously raised concerns that a broader online gambling market could pull revenue away from community casinos that help fund local programs and services. Critics have also warned that the province must balance revenue goals with stronger responsible gambling protections as online betting access expands rapidly across Canada.

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A federal judge in Arizona has temporarily blocked state officials from pursuing gambling enforcement against Kalshi, handing the prediction market company another important court victory as legal fights over event-based trading continue spreading nationwide.

In a 17-page order released Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Michael Liburdi said federal commodities law likely takes priority over Arizona gambling rules when contracts are traded through exchanges overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The Court concludes that federal law preempts state gambling laws insofar as they seek to regulate derivatives exchanged on markets regulated by the CFTC,” Liburdi wrote.

The ruling granted a preliminary injunction requested by the United States and the CFTC after Arizona regulators accused Kalshi of offering illegal sports and event wagering. State officials had previously sent the company a cease-and-desist order demanding it “cease gambling operations in Arizona” while also warning that criminal penalties could follow.

Kalshi runs a federally regulated designated contract market where users trade contracts tied to election results, sporting events, and other real-world outcomes. The company has consistently argued that those products qualify as federally supervised financial derivatives rather than gambling activity controlled by individual states.

Judge says federal law likely controls event contracts

Liburdi said the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC “exclusive jurisdiction” over swaps and other qualifying derivatives listed on federally regulated exchanges. He also determined Kalshi’s contracts likely meet the legal definition of swaps under federal law.

Arizona officials argued contracts tied to sports outcomes should not receive the same treatment because they rely on game results instead of economic indicators. The judge rejected that position, writing that Congress intentionally used broad statutory language and that sports results still qualify as “events” or “occurrences” under federal commodities rules.

The order also said these contracts can carry financial consequences because businesses and investors may use them to hedge against risks tied to real-world developments.

Liburdi pointed to Congress expanding derivatives oversight through the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, saying lawmakers repeatedly strengthened centralized federal regulation. “Congress has consistently chosen centralized federal regulation of these derivatives,” the judge wrote.

National prediction markets fight continues expanding

The Arizona dispute is only one part of a larger national battle over prediction markets. Recent court decisions have produced conflicting outcomes as states challenge Kalshi’s operations. A federal appeals court in the Third Circuit recently sided with the company, while courts in other jurisdictions have allowed state gambling claims to move forward.

Separate lawsuits involving tribal gaming interests, including litigation connected to Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation, have added more pressure around whether sports-related prediction contracts improperly bypass state gaming agreements.

Supreme Court showdown remains possible

Other ongoing disputes involving the CFTC could eventually reach the Supreme Court as federal regulators and states continue fighting over jurisdiction.

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Lawmakers in Washington are preparing to take a deeper look at the booming sports betting business, zeroing in on how it could be reshaping competition and trust in games across the country.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who leads the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, has scheduled a May 20 hearing to dig into the issue. The session will explore how legalized betting, now widespread, is influencing both pro leagues and college athletics.

Rapid expansion of legalized sports betting

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, states have moved quickly to legalize wagering. What used to be tightly controlled has turned into a $165 billion industry spanning 39 states and Washington, D.C., with betting now just a tap away on mobile apps and newer prediction-style platforms.

Growing concerns over integrity and oversight

That rapid shift is raising alarms. Reports of suspicious activity, including possible manipulation of player performance and misuse of inside information, have surfaced across many prominent sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, UFC, MLS, and the NCAA. Regulators and researchers are also pointing to growing public concern, with recent surveys showing many Americans believe betting expansion is outpacing safeguards.

Examining risks to fair play

The hearing, titled “No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America,” will bring in voices from across the ecosystem. Scheduled witnesses include Bill Miller of the American Gaming Association, Mary Beth Thomas of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, Scott Sadin of Integrity Compliance 360, and former congressman Patrick McHenry, now tied to the Coalition for Prediction Markets. Another witness could still be added.

Blackburn framed the discussion as a necessary response to warning signs.

Fair play is the foundation of American sports, but recent match-fixing scandals in professional sports have put a spotlight on the risks facing the integrity of competition,” she said.

“As traditional online betting platforms and new entrants like prediction markets continue to intersect with sports, we need a clear understanding of how these platforms operate and what they mean for the integrity of the game. This hearing will examine how we strengthen oversight, protect the credibility of competition, and address the growing exposure of young people and children to betting platforms.”

International warnings and rising domestic scrutiny

Concerns are not limited to the U.S. Overseas regulators have issued similar warnings, including in Europe, where officials have cautioned athletes against betting on their own competitions. Back home, scrutiny is increasing as well. New York regulators are revisiting the role of player prop bets, and college sports leaders continue to wrestle with how gambling is affecting student-athletes, some of whom report harassment tied to betting outcomes.

Sen. Ted Cruz, who chairs the full Commerce Committee, said the core issue is whether fans can still trust what they’re watching. “Fans shouldn’t have to wonder if their favorite player missed a buzzer-beater or dropped a touchdown pass because of a secret bet,” he said. “Unfortunately, recent episodes have planted that seed of doubt and raised questions about whether changes are necessary to integrity in sports. I look forward to a productive conversation about the state of sports betting in the United States.”

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