Michigan regulators say they seized dozens of illegal gambling devices and thousands of dollars in cash during a raid at an Adrian business, the latest move in a wider crackdown on unauthorized gaming activity across the state.

Investigators executed a search warrant June 4 at Games 4 U, located at 2984 Treat Highway, Unit C, in Adrian, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The operation grew out of a joint investigation involving the gaming regulator and the Michigan Department of Attorney General, with assistance from the Madison Township Police Department.

During the search, authorities took possession of 42 slot-style gambling machines and 10 computer-based gambling machines. Officials also seized $8,715 in cash along with 20 gift cards that they said were tied to illegal gaming activity at the business.

Michigan law generally prohibits gambling activity unless it has been specifically authorized. State officials say businesses that operate unlawful gaming machines can face criminal penalties, financial sanctions, or both.

Investigation targets alleged illegal gambling operation in Adrian

The Adrian raid comes as the Michigan Gaming Control Board continues an aggressive enforcement campaign targeting both physical and online gambling operations that regulators believe are operating outside state law.

In recent months, the agency has announced enforcement actions against offshore gambling businesses, including cease-and-desist efforts involving dozens of operators. Regulators have reported action against 45 illegal offshore gambling websites, issued cease-and-desist letters to 12 offshore gambling operators in another enforcement effort, and said they have sent nearly 100 cease-and-desist letters as part of a wider campaign against unauthorized gambling offerings available to Michigan residents.

Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams said the agency intends to keep pursuing alleged violations.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring compliance with all state gambling regulations,” Williams said in a press release. “We will continue to work diligently to identify and eliminate any illegal gambling activities that pose a threat to the integrity of the industry and the welfare of the public.”

Officials stressed that anyone identified in connection with the Adrian investigation remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The agency said it is committed to respecting the rights of all involved parties and allowing legal proceedings to unfold without prejudging any outcome.

Regulators also encouraged residents to report suspected illegal gambling activity. According to the agency, public tips can play an important role in helping investigators locate unlawful operations and protect consumers from unregulated gambling businesses.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board released details of the Adrian enforcement action on June 10. No criminal charges were announced as part of that announcement, and officials did not identify any potential defendants or discuss possible future court proceedings.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Featured image: Canva

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The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has taken its fight with federal gaming regulators to court, filing a lawsuit that could determine the future of its Crystal Shores Casino in Benzie County, Michigan.

Filed June 9 in federal court in Washington, the case challenges a regulatory policy known as the “one-bite rule.” Tribal leaders argue the policy improperly blocks gaming on land that otherwise qualifies under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s restored lands exception.

The tribe argues that the Benzie Parcel site, where Crystal Shores Casino opened in January 2025, satisfies federal requirements because it was placed into trust after federal recognition was restored and holds longstanding historical and cultural importance to the Band.

Federal regulators reached a different conclusion. According to the complaint, officials determined that the tribe’s “existing gaming facilities precludes a finding” that the Benzie Parcel qualifies under the restored lands exception. Regulators later rejected an amendment to the tribe’s gaming ordinance and issued a Notice of Violation directing the casino to stop operations.

The tribe alleges the requirement “finds no support in the text or purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)” and is “wholly inconsistent with the NIGC’s and Department of the Interior’s past interpretation of IGRA.”

Tribal casino disputes continue across the country amid Michigan lawsuit 

Court battles over casino approvals are unfolding in several states as tribes, regulators and competing interests continue to contest how gaming laws should be applied.

In Michigan, the Grand Traverse Band says Crystal Shores employs roughly 40 people and provides stable jobs and health benefits in a region where year-round employment can be limited. The complaint states the casino “exemplifies IGRA’s goals of ‘promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.'”

The lawsuit also points to earlier litigation involving Turtle Creek Casino, where courts and agencies recognized the tribe as a restored tribe. According to the filing, the existence of other gaming facilities did not affect those earlier determinations.

Similar legal fights are underway in California. In March, a federal judge paused litigation involving the Koi Nation casino proposal in Northern California while related appeals move forward. Earlier this week, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians sued to block the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from advancing a planned resort casino in Madera County. Another lawsuit filed by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation challenges Vallejo approvals connected to a temporary casino project backed by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

Back in Michigan, federal regulators warned that continued operation of Crystal Shores could trigger civil penalties reaching $65,655 per violation per day.

The tribe is asking the court to strike down the one-bite rule, overturn the Notice of Violation and ordinance disapproval, and prevent future enforcement actions tied to the challenged policy. Local officials have largely supported the casino. Benzie County Sheriff Kyle J. Rosa stated: “Receiving just six calls in a year is almost unheard of for a business the size of the Crystal Shores Casino. I have no concerns about Crystal Shores Casino contributing to crime in any way.”

Featured image: Google Maps

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier unveiled the results of a major illegal gambling operation in Southwest Florida and paired the announcement with a warning to payment processors that handle transactions connected to offshore betting sites serving customers in the state.

Over several days in Lee and Collier counties, investigators arrested 11 people, confiscated 479 illegal gaming machines, and recovered $294,150 in alleged illicit proceeds. The operation brought together the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, and local sheriff’s offices in both counties.

At the same time, Uthmeier released a June 10 letter sent to Visa General Counsel Julie Rottenberg. In that letter, he argued that offshore gambling operators depend on payment networks to process deposits, withdrawals, and other customer transactions. The state says Visa may be providing services to online gambling businesses operating illegally in Florida, including SportsBetting, BetNow, BetOnline, Lucky Rebel, BetUS, XBet, and Bovada.

Florida targets payment processors amid statewide gambling enforcement efforts

State officials described the Southwest Florida action as part of a wider enforcement campaign that has steadily expanded across the state. Recent efforts have included gambling investigations in Manatee County, raids in Sarasota County that resulted in the seizure of 69 machines, and a separate statewide crackdown that removed 623 illegal machines from operation. The Florida Gaming Control Commission has also intensified enforcement activity in multiple regions as authorities continue targeting unlicensed gambling businesses.

“Illegal gambling operations pose a threat to public safety and undermine our compact with the Seminole Tribe, which provides billions of dollars to the state to protect our environmental resources,” Uthmeier said. “These illegal casinos fuel larger criminal enterprises that contribute to drug and human trafficking. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to shut down all illegal gaming operations across the state.”

The attorney general’s letter argues that Florida law largely restricts gambling to licensed operators and authorized tribal gaming. It also contends that payment processors knowingly facilitating transactions tied to illegal gambling enterprises could face exposure under state money-laundering laws and Florida’s RICO statute.

Uthmeier additionally pointed to the financial impact of illegal gambling. The letter cites an industry estimate valuing the illegal online gaming market at roughly $510 billion annually and claims states lose more than $13.3 billion in tax revenue each year nationwide. Florida’s legal gaming industry, by comparison, generated $241.8 million in slot-machine tax revenue during the last fiscal year.

Since the start of 2026, authorities say they have seized 3,114 illegal gaming machines, recovered about $1.7 million in proceeds, and arrested 81 people.

“I want to thank Attorney General James Uthmeier, Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown, and their respective offices for their partnership in keeping our community safe,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “These illegal and unregulated gambling businesses and machines provide zero consumer protections, no guarantee of fair play, and no recourse if an operator simply disappears with their money. Unregulated machines take advantage of customers. Make no mistake–these are not harmless establishments.”

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the operation demonstrated coordination among state and local law enforcement agencies.

“This coordinated, multi-agency effort led by the Florida Gaming Control Commission, working alongside the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office shows the residents of Southwest Florida that we are a law-and-order state,” Marceno said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the agents, detectives, and prosecutors that worked on this operation.”

Florida Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown said the agency plans to expand its enforcement presence in the region.

“The Florida Gaming Control Commission is grateful for the continued support of Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Florida Legislature, and our law enforcement partners as we carry out this important public safety mission,” Brown said. “Because of that support, the FGCC will establish a new law enforcement squad in Southwest Florida in the coming year, expanding our ability to confront illegal gambling and protect Floridians from those who would exploit our communities for profit.”

Featured image: Office of the Attorney General

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a new legal opinion concluding that electronic amusement machines can fall under Texas gambling laws when chance plays any part in whether a player receives something of value.

The June 10 opinion came after state Sen. Bob Hall asked for guidance about machines that combine a traditional chance-based game with a separate skill feature.

Under the setup described to the attorney general’s office, a player first inserts money or tokens and receives credits. The initial game resembles a video slot machine. Symbols appear randomly on the screen, and players cannot influence where they land. Whether a player wins or loses depends on the outcome of the spin.

A second feature called “Follow Me” becomes available after a losing spin. In that mode, the machine displays numbers from one through nine, and the player must repeat a sequence generated by the machine. The sequence grows longer as the game continues. Completing 20 numbers in the correct order returns the amount lost during the previous spin.

How the Texas opinion on chance-based elements applies to gambling devices

Paxton’s office noted that the legality of any particular machine ultimately depends on the facts surrounding that device. Even so, the opinion explains how Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code generally applies to machines with the characteristics outlined in Hall’s request.

State law defines a gambling device as an electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance that requires consideration and offers the chance to obtain something of value when the result is determined “solely or partially by chance,” even when skill is also present.

According to the opinion, Texas law and prior court rulings have repeatedly treated any chance element as significant. The attorney general’s office said a game does not need to be entirely based on chance to qualify. Even a predominantly skill-based activity may still meet the legal definition if chance influences whether value can be obtained.

It focuses on the fact that players must first participate in the slot-style game before reaching the skill component. Because entry into the second mode depends on the outcome of a random spin, the opportunity to recover value remains connected to a chance-driven event.

As a result, the opinion states that machines offering both a chance-based game and a skill-based mode are gambling devices under Chapter 47 “so long as chance plays any role in determining whether the player receives something of value, regardless of the presence of skill.” The office therefore declined to address a separate question involving prizes awarded in games of skill.

The opinion arrives as Texas authorities continue targeting suspected illegal gambling operations. In April, Bexar County deputies raided a location on West Hildebrand Avenue in San Antonio, arresting three people and detaining eight others. Investigators seized about 50 machines and filed allegations including gambling promotion, possession of gambling devices or equipment, and engaging in organized crime. Authorities have said that the investigation remains active.

Featured image: Canva

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A new proposal from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is setting the stage for what could become one of the prediction market industry’s favorite recurring traditions, i.e., arguing with regulators.

The agency has released a 267-page notice of proposed rulemaking, Prediction Markets; Public Interest Determinations, outlining how it intends to decide whether certain event contracts should be prohibited for conflicting with the public interest—a phrase that, as always, promises lively debate over what exactly the public’s interests happen to be.

In response to the plans, CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig stated: “The CFTC will protect the integrity of our regulated markets without standing in the way of responsible innovation.

“This proposal gives the Commission a durable, transparent framework to identify the contracts Congress directed us to scrutinize while letting legitimate markets move forward.”

It arrives as prediction markets continue their steady extension into sports, politics, and other areas guaranteed to attract attention, controversy, and lengthy legal briefs. It also follows several years of litigation, hearings, and regulatory soul-searching over the CFTC’s authority to oversee event contracts, with virtually every stakeholder insisting that the future of the industry depends on getting the answer right.

The commission is proposing a more flexible framework. Instead of deciding that certain subjects are off-limits on sight, regulators would evaluate contracts based on a variety of factors when determining whether they involve unlawful activity, terrorism, assassination, war, gaming, or any future category that regulators may later decide belongs on that list. Unusually, while murder contracts would be prohibited, an “event contract that settles on whether Bernard Madoff is convicted of securities fraud” appears to be permissible.

How the CFTC wants to draw the line in the prediction markets proposal

The agency’s approach reflects arguments that prediction market operators have been making for years. According to industry participants, event contracts can facilitate price discovery, risk management, and information gathering.

Under the proposal, the central question is whether regulators would examine how the contract functions, how it settles, and whether it creates wider public-interest concerns.

Exchanges seeking regulatory certainty will likely welcome that distinction. Others may view it as a potentially elegant way of calling something “not gambling” while it looks suspiciously like gambling from across the room.

One of the most closely watched sections addresses sports-related markets. The CFTC indicates that contracts tied to professional or collegiate sporting outcomes may not automatically be contrary to the public interest. Markets based on objective settlement criteria, including final scores, point spreads, win-loss records, tournament advancement, and season performance metrics, could potentially qualify.

It also suggests safeguards that might support such products, including market surveillance programs, trading restrictions, and coordination with sports governing bodies. In other words, trust, but verify.

Mick Mulvaney, Executive Director of the advocacy group, Gambling is Not Investing, criticized the CFTC’s proposed Rule 40.11 amendments, arguing sports event contracts are sports betting and should remain subject to state and tribal regulation.

In a statement provided to ReadWrite, he said: “Let’s call this what it is: sports betting.

“It is settled law that states and tribes are the rightful regulators of sports gambling. State and tribal officials have established thoughtful, voter-approved frameworks – complete with age minimums, consumer protections, integrity standards, and tax structures to support investment in community programs.

“Now the CFTC wants to supplant state and tribal law and anoint itself a national gaming regulator, allowing companies to simply route sports betting through federal commodities law and avoid the rules.”

The American Gaming Association also chimed in, with its president Bill Miller, calling it “a mockery of congressional intent.”

However, the regulator is considerably less enthusiastic about certain other categories.

Player injury contracts are identified as raising “serious public interest concerns.” Regulators note that such products could create incentives that conflict with athlete welfare, rely on confidential medical information, and generate disputes over settlement outcomes. Put differently, markets perform many useful functions, but encouraging strangers to monitor MRI reports like earnings releases is apparently not one of them.

The agency also expresses concern about contracts tied to officiating decisions. Markets involving penalties, fouls, replay reviews, or ejections may depend heavily on a relatively small number of subjective judgments and could create risks for competitive integrity. Critics of sports officiating may be shocked to learn that not everyone agrees on every call.

Sports and election contracts aren’t completely off the table in the CFTC prediction markets proposal

The sports discussion may ultimately become one of the proposal’s most contentious elements. If federally regulated exchanges are permitted to offer sports event contracts across the country, state regulators and licensed sportsbooks are likely to argue that federal derivatives oversight is being used to enter territory traditionally governed by state gambling laws.

The agency said that it acknowledges that sports-related information has value beyond wagering. Broadcasters, advertisers, sponsors, fantasy sports operators, and analytics firms may all benefit from the pricing information these markets generate. Whether that observation settles the debate is another matter entirely.

Politics represents an equally significant fault line.

In language likely to draw attention, the proposal states that “political elections are not gaming.” Many previous disputes over election contracts have centered on whether such markets belong within the statutory definition of gaming.

The commission argues that elections differ fundamentally from recreational games. In its view, election outcomes are determined by voter decisions rather than the luck, skill, or athletic performance that characterize sporting contests and other traditional games.

Supporters of political prediction markets will view that reasoning as validation. Opponents will likely continue raising concerns about manipulation, misinformation, and the wisdom of turning democratic outcomes into tradable assets. The fact that both sides are certain they are defending democracy should surprise no one.

Regulators reject the notion that an activity becomes gaming simply because participants risk money on an outcome. Instead, gaming is tied to activities designed primarily for recreation or entertainment, operating under established rules and producing measurable outcomes that depend on luck, skill, or athletic ability.

Federal authority faces another test

Another major issue involves federal preemption.

The commission states that prediction markets operating as swaps or futures fall within the federal derivatives framework. The proposal argues that Congress grants the agency exclusive jurisdiction over such products and warns against a “patchwork of 50 state regulations”—a phrase that regulators in Washington often use when describing federal authority and that state regulators often hear somewhat differently.

It is unlikely to pass without resistance.

State regulators, commercial gaming operators, and tribal governments are all expected to scrutinize the proposal closely.

“The original rule didn’t allow the CFTC to ban certain types of prediction contracts that the CFTC determines are against the public interest. That is how Kalshi was able to win against the CFTC in their original lawsuit, which opened the floodgates. If the case had been litigated under this proposed rule, Kalshi might have lost.” – Peter Sanchez Guarda, former CFTC Special Counsel

The CFTC draws attention to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal-state compacts, and the importance of gaming revenue to tribal communities. Nevertheless, it maintains that event contracts traded as derivatives belong within the federal regulatory sphere. Tribal governments and other stakeholders are being invited to submit comments, which is regulatory shorthand for “the conversation is just beginning.”

The regulator’s role in prediction markets has already been tested in court. Recent litigation involving prediction market operators has elevated questions about the agency’s authority and helped fuel a broader debate over where derivatives regulation ends and gambling regulation begins.

Former CFTC Special Counsel Peter Sanchez Guarda told ReadWrite the proposal appears to reflect a strategic retreat from some of the agency’s earlier legal battles.

“It seems like they are trying to do as much as possible to promote prediction markets and abandon the fight for territory that they know they will lose in court,” Sanchez Guarda said.

He said prediction market advocates have advanced the view that “you can trade anything on an approved DCM and the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over it,” including products that resemble casino games. But, he added, that theory has already faced judicial scepticism.

“The derivatives markets have always been about hedging and price discovery, so things that don’t have those elements don’t belong there,” he said. “A roulette wheel doesn’t hedge any commercial risk, and there is no price discovery.”

Sanchez Guarda said the proposed rule partly reflects that concern by moving toward a contract-by-contract review. In his view, the CFTC gave prediction market supporters “part of what they wanted” by defining gaming and taking the position that many sports contracts may be suitable for prediction markets. But he said the agency had stopped short of drawing a bright line.

“What is surprising is that rather than a clear line, the CFTC will decide on a case by case basis which contracts are acceptable and which ones aren’t, based on a list of factors,” he said.

He added that the proposed framework could have changed the legal posture of earlier disputes over event contracts.

“If the case had been litigated under this proposed rule, Kalshi might have lost,” Sanchez Guarda said.

Former General Counsel of the CFTC Rob Schwartz wrote on X: “The final version ultimately will be challenged in court, but whatever you think about event contracts, the existing rules are problematic. 

“The statute is filled with undefined terms whose meaning has been left to the eye of the beholder. Again leaving policy choices aside for the moment, putting meat on the bones will be helpful to the public, the Commission, and its staff.”

Public hearings have exposed similarly sharp divisions among regulators, academics, industry participants, and critics. Depending on whom one asks, prediction markets are either powerful forecasting tools, innovative financial products, a new form of wagering, or all three before lunch.

For the CFTC, the proposal appears to reflect an effort to get ahead of unregulated and offshore markets before they gain a foothold.

What happens during contract reviews

The proposal also addresses the review process for self-certified contracts.

Under the framework, the Commission could initiate a 90-day review when a newly listed contract appears to involve one of the specified activities and may conflict with the public interest. That means trading could begin before the review is completed.

Although regulators could request that trading be paused, platforms would not be required to comply.

Supporters, such as the Coalition for Prediction Markets, argue that this prevents regulators from delaying innovation indefinitely and provides exchanges with greater procedural certainty. Critics counter that potentially problematic contracts could attract substantial trading volume before regulators reach a final determination. As with many regulatory debates, both sides are convinced they are defending market integrity.

The proposal also preserves the commission’s authority to identify additional comparable activities through future rulemakings. This may help regulators adapt to new products. But it may also ensure that lawyers remain gainfully employed for years to come.

UPDATE: Comments from Peter Sanchez Guarda added on June 11, 2026.

Featured image: G. Edward Johnson via WikiCommons / CC BY 4.0

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FanDuel Predicts is widening the range of event contracts available on its platform through a new agreement with Crypto.com and its CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse, OG Prediction Markets.

The company announced the partnership Tuesday (June 9) in Chicago, saying customers will gain access to additional sports and entertainment contracts as well as combination event contracts. By adding products from OG Prediction Markets alongside existing offerings from CME Group, FanDuel Predicts expects to significantly increase the number of markets available for trading.

“FanDuel Predicts was built to deliver a best-in-class prediction market experience to our customers,” said James Cooper, Senior Vice President, Flywheel and New Ventures at FanDuel. “These additional product sets give our customers more choices by expanding the breadth of sports and entertainment contracts on our platform.”

The latest move builds on FanDuel Predicts’ recent rollout and broader expansion strategy. Earlier this year, FanDuel launched its dedicated prediction markets app through its joint venture with CME Group and later expanded availability into 18 states. Parent company Flutter Entertainment has also signaled growing interest in regulated prediction markets as it looks to increase customer engagement beyond traditional sports wagering products.

New FanDuel Predicts and Crypto.com products arrive ahead of the World Cup

According to the company, customers will begin seeing contracts sourced from both CME Group and OG Prediction Markets this week, timed to coincide with the start of the World Cup. FanDuel said the addition should also create more opportunities for users interested in trading combinations of event contracts across different categories.

Crypto.com said the agreement allows FanDuel Predicts to tap into its regulated exchange and clearing infrastructure as the platform continues to expand.

“We are thrilled to partner with FanDuel Predicts to bring a new level of depth and experience to its prediction markets experience,” said Joe Anzures, Chief Business Officer of Crypto.com. “By leveraging our robust, regulated exchange and clearinghouse infrastructure, we are enabling a mainstream prediction markets experience just in time for the World Cup – underscoring our capability to deliver scalable, regulated derivatives infrastructure for the world’s biggest moments.”

FanDuel Predicts operates nationally and offers contracts tied to financial benchmarks and economic indicators, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, energy prices, gold, cryptocurrencies, GDP and CPI. In states where FanDuel does not provide sports betting, the company says that users can also trade contracts connected to sports and entertainment outcomes. Contracts are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, allowing customers to buy or sell positions based on whether they believe a specific event will happen.

The platform is run by FanDuel Prediction Markets, a joint venture between FanDuel Group and CME Group. The company stated that contracts available through FanDuel Predicts are listed on the CME Group and Crypto.com derivatives exchanges and remain subject to oversight by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Accounts are opened through FanDuel Prediction Markets LLC, a registered futures commission merchant and member of the National Futures Association.

Featured image: FanDuel / Crypto.com via press release

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The court decision that will allow Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to play despite NCAA gambling-related sanctions continues to draw strong reactions across college sports. While several administrators have sharply criticized the outcome, TCU athletic director Mike Buddie is urging colleagues to avoid rushing toward major decisions.

During an interview, Buddie said the industry should give itself time before responding to a ruling that has raised questions about NCAA enforcement power, competitive fairness, and the growing influence of the courts.

“History has taught me, Jay, that for about 72 hours after crazy things happen, you probably just need to take a deep breath and think on things,” Buddie said. “Not respond emotionally.”

Big 12 reaction on Texas Tech Brendan Sorsby ruling

Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen delivered one of the strongest responses, telling Sports Business Journal that Nebraska will no longer schedule Texas Tech in the future. Dannen reportedly characterized the situation as a fundamental breach of the sport’s integrity, arguing that a line had been crossed that was “without precedent in major sports.”

His position quickly gained support from other athletic administrators. According to reports, at least two other Power Four athletic directors indicated their schools may consider similar scheduling boycotts.

Georgia administrator Josh Brooks echoed those concerns on social media, writing that “true integrity means holding your program accountable when things go wrong, not buying custom legislation or running to a local courtroom to bypass the rules.”

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan also criticized the ruling, saying he was “disheartened” by the injunction and warning that allowing an athlete to compete despite NCAA sanctions undermines the “most basic tenets of competitive integrity.”

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has taken a more restrained public stance, noting that conference athletic directors held a productive discussion regarding the implications of the case and would continue those conversations internally.

Buddie, however, made it clear he is not interested in boycott conversations.

“Yeah, I certainly understand why people would say we’re not going to compete against Texas Tech, and in the way current competition is,” Buddie said. “Yeah, I don’t—I’m not going down that road.”

Rather than isolate a conference member, Buddie pointed to Texas Tech’s value within the Big 12 and stressed the importance of continuing competition.

“I think competition is really good, and to be honest with you, Texas Tech has been really good for the Big 12. They’ve had some great teams.”

His comments arrive as college sports faces growing scrutiny over gambling-related issues beyond the Sorsby case. In January 2026, federal authorities announced charges against 26 individuals in an alleged point-shaving scheme tied to NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and contests in the Chinese Basketball Association. According to the Department of Justice, those charged included alleged fixers and multiple current or former college basketball players connected to programs such as DePaul, Kennesaw State, Nicholls State, New Orleans, Tulane, Fordham, and others.

Against that backdrop, Buddie’s focus remained on preserving relationships and finding common ground.

“We just have to get back to kind of some semblance of community,” he said.

Buddie’s view is that the next step should be careful discussion rather than immediate retaliation.

Featured image: Big 12 via X / Cincinnati Bearcats via YouTube

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Kalshi is rolling out a new set of compliance measures designed to curb insider trading and market manipulation across its prediction markets.

The company said the changes take effect immediately and come from recommendations made by its independent Surveillance Audit Committee. This combines contract risk assessments, employment disclosure requirements for some traders, and expanded reporting channels intended to surface suspicious activity more quickly.

Under the updated system, Kalshi will evaluate markets and assign risk scores to contracts that may be more susceptible to insider information or other misconduct. The ratings, they say, will help determine when additional checks are necessary before users can participate.

For certain higher-risk markets, traders may be required to provide employment information before gaining access. Kalshi said the purpose is to identify people who could possess material, non-public information connected to a market’s outcome before any trades occur.

The company says these additions build on controls already in place, including customer identification procedures and continuous monitoring of trading activity.

“Market integrity is a more than just a lofty goal for us. It’s the reason we collect identification info from every trader, why we surveil our markets 24/7, and why we continue to expand our capabilities to prevent, detect, and punish misconduct,” Robert DeNault said in a statement announcing the changes.

Prediction markets let users trade contracts tied to the likelihood of future events. That structure can create challenges when a small group of people may know important information before it becomes public, making surveillance and enforcement a central issue for market operators.

Kalshi adopts employment verification and whistleblower tools amid insider trading concerns

Alongside the employment disclosure requirement, Kalshi is extending its whistleblower program. Users will now be able to submit reports directly from market pages, giving traders a simpler way to flag activity they believe deserves closer review.

According to the company, the updated intake process is intended to collect tips efficiently and route them for investigation. Kalshi says combining those reports with its new risk-scoring framework should improve its ability to spot unusual trading patterns and react faster when concerns emerge.

The announcement follows earlier integrity-related actions reported by ReadWrite. This included tighter restrictions aimed at reducing insider-trading risks involving politicians and athletes, as well as enforcement actions against three political candidates connected to election-market betting activity. The company has also faced questions from regulators and critics about how prediction markets should monitor and police trades involving potentially privileged information.

Kalshi framed the latest measures as part of a broader push to strengthen confidence in its platform and the prediction-market industry more broadly.

“The work is never done, but we are proud to mark yet another big step today in leading the prediction market industry on the issue of integrity,” DeNault said.

The company said the new employment checks, market assessments and reporting tools are meant to reduce conflicts of interest, limit opportunities for misconduct and help preserve fair trading conditions.

Featured image: Kalshi via press release

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BBB National Programs said it will refer Kalshi Inc. to regulatory authorities after the prediction-market company declined to take part in an advertising inquiry opened through the organization’s marketplace monitoring program.

The referral will be sent to appropriate regulators, including relevant state attorneys general, according to an announcement released Monday (June 8). The organization said the matter could be reviewed for potential enforcement action.

Kalshi operates an online prediction market that allows users to trade on the outcomes of future events. Markets on the platform cover topics ranging from politics and economics to entertainment, weather, and other real-world developments.

Advertising inquiry focused on Kalshi influencer disclosure practices

The National Advertising Division said its review centered on whether influencers and affiliates promoting Kalshi on social media properly disclosed material connections to the company. The inquiry also examined whether Kalshi had taken adequate steps to ensure compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

According to the division, Kalshi chose not to participate in the self-regulatory review process. Because of that decision, the organization said it will move the matter to government authorities and other parties with oversight interests.

The division added that referrals will also be made to platforms where the advertising appeared, following procedures that govern its relationships with advertising platforms and regulatory bodies.

The referral arrives during a period of broader scrutiny surrounding prediction-market companies and their marketing practices. ReadWrite previously reported that Kalshi backed away from a student ambassador program after drawing criticism and backlash. It added to questions about how the company recruits and promotes advocates for its platform.

Since the period covered by the National Advertising Division inquiry, Kalshi has also revised affiliate-marketing policies related to election content. Public statements reported by journalist Bobby Allyn indicated the company now bars paid creators from questioning the integrity or accuracy of an election, legal ruling, or official election-related determination.

The changes followed criticism involving paid affiliates accused of spreading misinformation about California’s election. Allyn reported that Kalshi considers affiliate posts denying election results to be violations of terms requiring creators not to distribute false or misleading information. The company said it sought to have content from two paid affiliates lose sponsorship status.

Allyn also reported that rival platform Polymarket adopted a similar stance on election-result denial content. Separately, we previously reported that Polymarket’s chief legal officer apologized after a company social-media post by an alleged affiliate used racist language.

BBB National Programs said its self-regulatory efforts are designed to promote consumer trust and accountability. The National Advertising Division reviews advertising across multiple media channels and evaluates whether claims and practices meet standards for truthfulness and accuracy.

The announcement did not include a response from Kalshi regarding either the inquiry or its decision not to participate. According to the division, the referral is being made specifically because the company declined to engage in the review process.

ReadWrite has reached out to Kalshi for comment.

Featured image: Grok depiction of Kalshi

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Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby can rejoin the Red Raiders after a Lubbock County judge temporarily blocked the NCAA from enforcing a ruling that declared him permanently ineligible because of gambling violations.

Judge Ken Curry of the 99th Judicial District Court issued the injunction Monday, clearing the way for Sorsby to practice, play and take part in team activities during the 2026 season while his lawsuit against the NCAA moves forward. Court records say the NCAA is barred from “Prohibiting Applicant from practicing, playing, or otherwise participating on Texas Tech’s football team for the 2026 football season.”

The order says the court determined Sorsby had shown “a probable right to the relief he seeks” and that “the balance of equities is in his favor because of the hardship he would face in the absence of a temporary injunction.” The judge also found that urgent action was required because of “the immediate need to allow Mr. Sorsby to participate as a member of the Texas Tech football team to prevent irreparable injury to Mr. Sorsby.”

Court weighs Brendan Sorsby eligibility and NCAA gambling concerns

In its findings, the court said Sorsby faced “a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury” if he could not participate. The order pointed to the loss of a full season of competition, Division I coaching and development opportunities, and the ability to make an informed decision about a possible NFL Supplemental Draft entry.

The decision arrived only days after the NCAA rejected Texas Tech’s appeal seeking Sorsby’s reinstatement. Sorsby previously acknowledged gambling violations that included bets on college football games, including contests involving his former school, Indiana.

Under the terms attached to the injunction, Sorsby will sit out the first two games of the 2026 season and remain subject to treatment, monitoring and compliance requirements.

“I’m very grateful for the endless support I have received throughout this entire process,” Sorsby said in an Instagram post. “I am also grateful for the chance to rejoin my teammates. This opportunity comes with the responsibility to remain focused on my personal growth, the ability to learn from this experience, and to be able to use my situation to help others going forward.”

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt backed the ruling.

“As we have said before, we do not believe that the circumstances of Brendan’s case warranted permanent ineligibility,” Hocutt said.

Hocutt said the university would continue supporting Sorsby through clinical care, monitoring and compliance checks.

The NCAA responded forcefully.

“The NCAA strongly disagrees with the court’s ruling in Sorsby’s case and is deeply concerned about the damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications of this outcome — which undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports,” the organization said in a statement.

The case lands amid growing NCAA concern over sports wagering. Recent investigations involving betting activity, point-shaving allegations and harassment of student-athletes by gamblers have heightened scrutiny across college sports. The NCAA has also reported increasing pressure on athletes tied to gambling-related abuse and has continued stressing enforcement efforts aimed at protecting competitive integrity.

For now, the NCAA can still appeal, but Sorsby remains eligible to return under the court’s conditions for the 2026 season.

Featured image: Cincinnati Bearcats via YouTube

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The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has taken legal action against the Vallejo City Council and the City of Vallejo over approvals connected to a proposed temporary casino backed by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

Court filings challenge the city’s approval of an encroachment permit and a memorandum of understanding tied to the planned facility. According to the complaint, Vallejo failed to follow requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, and the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act, often called the LAFCO Act.

The tribe argues that city officials moved ahead without first completing the environmental analysis required under CEQA. Instead, Vallejo relied on categorical exemptions that, according to the lawsuit, do not fit the scope of the proposed project.

The complaint also contends that the memorandum of understanding commits municipal services to Scotts Valley’s 160-acre federal trust property before securing approval from the Solano Local Agency Formation Commission, a step the tribe says is required by state law.

Yocha Dehe raises questions over temporary Vallejo casino process and legality

The legal challenge arrives as federal officials continue reviewing the underlying gaming eligibility determination for the larger casino proposal. The U.S. Department of the Interior is reconsidering that determination and has signaled concerns about the earlier approval process.

In a December letter to Scotts Valley, the department said the original gaming eligibility determination may have involved “legal error.” Federal officials also wrote that information submitted by local tribes and other interested parties “raise[s] questions” about whether the site qualifies for gaming activities.

The department additionally warned that Scotts Valley “would be ill-served” by relying on the earlier determination while the review remains active.

Yocha Dehe leaders say those unresolved questions make Vallejo’s recent actions especially problematic.

“The City of Vallejo’s decision to rush into a Memorandum of Understanding for the Scotts Valley project while the federal government is actively reconsidering whether the project is legal in the first place completely disregards the rule of law and proper process,” said Anthony Roberts, Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, in a statement seen by ReadWrite. 

“We were left with no choice but to file suit, not only to protect our Patwin ancestral homelands, but also to stand up for the thousands of Vallejo residents that deserve thoughtful decision-making grounded in facts and meaningful environmental review.”

The lawsuit follows criticism of the project from California tribal governments that have raised concerns about the proposed casino and the process surrounding its approvals. Opponents have pointed to environmental, legal, and jurisdictional questions that remain unresolved while federal review continues.

Despite the dispute, tribal leaders said their relationship with Vallejo residents and community organizations remains unchanged.

“Our Tribe remains deeply committed to the many community partners, residents, and organizations we have worked alongside in Vallejo for decades,” added Secretary Mia Durham. “These relationships are rooted in trust, partnership, and a shared commitment to the future of this region. We are proud of the work we continue to do alongside the people of Vallejo and remain committed to strengthening those partnerships for generations to come.”

A final decision from the Department of the Interior is expected by the end of July, a timeline the agency recently reaffirmed in a federal court filing.

Featured image: Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

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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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