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TechnologyTuberville Campaign Gets $130,000 From VGW Amid Alabama Gambling UncertaintyTechnologyRobinhood Routes Football Contracts to Crypto.com’s OG.comTechnologyTribes Win Appeal, Sending Kalshi Case Back to Lower CourtTechnologyTribal Sovereignty Wins a Senate Pause on the CLARITY ActTechnologyStolen Cards Targeted Polymarket in $10 Million Fraud AttemptTechnologyHyperliquid’s Product Expansion Drives Record Open InterestTechnologyLoss Predictions Shaped DraftKings’ Betting PromotionsTechnologyStates Clash Over Whether Event Contracts Are Gambling
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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Tuberville Campaign Gets $130,000 From VGW Amid Alabama Gambling Uncertainty

VGW, the operator behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Casino, and Global Poker, has escalated its political spending in Alabama, donating $100,000 to US Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s gubernatorial campaign on top of an earlier $30,000 contribution this year. The combined $130,000 in direct donations, disclosed in September campaign finance filings, makes Alabama one of the clearest examples of VGW’s strategy of funding candidates in states where the legal status of sweepstakes-style gaming remains unsettled. Tuberville has not publicly commented on VGW’s business model, and the company’s payment should not be read as a sign that he intends to back sweepstakes-friendly legislation. VGW’s spending in the state extends past the governor’s race. Disclosures show the company has also funneled money into political action committees and state legislative candidates, generally favoring contenders with strong odds of winning — a pattern consistent with trying to build goodwill with lawmakers ahead of any future gambling debate. Alabama’s Regulatory Vacuum Alabama has never implemented a comprehensive gambling framework, leaving sweepstakes casinos in a legal gray zone that VGW appears eager to influence before lawmakers act. Tuberville has previously said the legislature should decide gambling policy, including the possibility of sending the question to voters as a referendum, but no gambling bill is currently before lawmakers. That absence of active legislation makes the timing of VGW’s contributions notable. The company seems to be positioning itself early, well before any bill materializes, in a state where the rules governing its product could still be written from scratch. Mounting Legal Pressure Elsewhere The Alabama spending comes as VGW contends with rising legal exposure national

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Robinhood Routes Football Contracts to Crypto.com’s OG.com

Robinhood is expanding its prediction-markets business through a multiyear partnership with Crypto.com and its OG.com platform, and began routing selected football event contracts to OG.com on Sept. 8, according to Reuters and Axios. The move gives Robinhood customers another regulated venue for trading event contracts as the company’s volumes keep climbing – customers traded 13.6 billion contracts in the second quarter alone, and more than 30 billion in the first eight months of 2026. OG.com operates a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated exchange and clearinghouse, and Robinhood is taking equity stakes in both OG.com and its parent, Crypto.com. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though Robinhood said its Crypto.com equity will be priced in line with a recent Citadel Securities investment that valued Crypto.com Group at $20 billion. The OG.com routing doesn’t replace Robinhood’s existing venues – the company said it will continue sending event contracts through Kalshi, ForecastEX and Rothera, the CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse it built through a joint venture with Susquehanna International Group. JB Mackenzie, Robinhood’s vice president and general manager of futures and prediction markets, framed the addition as a liquidity play, saying routing contracts to multiple venues helps create a stronger, more diverse and resilient marketplace. Scale and the Regulatory Backdrop The numbers underline why Robinhood keeps adding venues. More than 45 billion event contracts have traded on its platform since it launched prediction markets roughly two years ago, and the growth trajectory has only accelerated through 2026. That expansion is unfolding against a messier legal backdrop. Axios reported that event contracts remain caught in ongoing disput

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Tribes Win Appeal, Sending Kalshi Case Back to Lower Court

The Ninth Circuit ruled 3-0 in favor of the Blue Lake Rancheria and Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians on Wednesday, reversing a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction concerning Kalshi’s sports-event contracts on the tribes’ California lands. The case returns to the district court for further proceedings rather than ending in a final judgment, according to CDC Gaming. The tribes sued Kalshi and Robinhood in 2025, arguing that sports prediction markets infringed their exclusive sovereign right to regulate gaming on their reservations. The Ninth Circuit panel found that Kalshi’s sports-event contracts constitute gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and concluded that the tribes were likely to succeed on claims that Kalshi’s products on tribal lands violated IGRA and the tribes’ gaming ordinances. Both tribes operate casinos under tribal-state gaming compacts with California, agreements that grant them exclusive rights to offer gaming within their territory. The appellate panel sent the case back to the district court, which must now weigh the remaining factors required to grant a preliminary injunction. How the Lower Court Got Here The district court had previously denied the tribes’ injunction request, accepting Kalshi’s position that its sports-event contracts function as federally regulated derivatives under the Commodity Exchange Act rather than as gambling products. That court also rejected the tribes’ Lanham Act claim, treating Kalshi’s advertising as a nonactionable opinion about the legality of its own products rather than a false or misleading statement. The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, originally part of the lawsuit, withdrew from the proceedings last August. That same month, the Ninth Circuit issued a separate ruling

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Tribal Sovereignty Wins a Senate Pause on the CLARITY Act

The U.S. Senate rejected a procedural motion needed to advance the CLARITY Act on Tuesday, blocking legislation that tribal-gaming operators and lawmakers said was a crucial step toward stopping prediction-market companies from offering sports-event contracts outside state and tribal gaming systems. Senators voted 49-50 against cloture, falling well short of the 60 votes required. The failed vote rejected a procedural step that limits debate on whether to take up the legislation at all. The CLARITY Act would establish rules for crypto markets and clarify the respective responsibilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Even if cloture had passed, the bill would still have needed to return to the House for consideration, and it is now likely dead for 2026, with no realistic path to reconciliation until after the November midterm elections. Cortez Masto Cites Illegal Gambling Concerns Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, said the bill would allow prediction markets to continue operations she characterized as illegal gaming that ignores state and tribal law. She said the version under consideration marked a step backward from language passed out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and argued it undermined law enforcement’s ability to investigate crypto crimes, according to a statement following the vote. Senator Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, joined Cortez Masto in voting no. Supreme Court Petitions Loom Over the Fight Cortez Masto’s objections come as Crypto.com and Robinhood have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to consider whether the Commodity Exchange Act preempts states from regulating sports-event contracts through their own gaming laws. That filing follows a Ninth Circuit ruling affirming a

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Stolen Cards Targeted Polymarket in $10 Million Fraud Attempt

Polymarket’s U.S. betting platform was targeted in a stolen-card fraud scheme that attempted to siphon off at least $10 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. The scheme surfaced in February, when a company processing debit-card transactions for Polymarket’s U.S. app alerted the company to a flood of fraudulent activity. According to the Journal, attackers linked stolen debit cards to Polymarket US accounts, used them to place wagers and then attempted to withdraw money to clean cards or accounts under their control. At the peak of the activity, the processor rejected more than 80% of the deposits it handled as fraudulent. The Journal reported that the rate was far above an industry standard of roughly 1%. Polymarket employees quickly raised their concerns with Chief Executive Shayne Coplan, according to people familiar with the events. What Coplan is alleged to have said People familiar with the events told the Journal that members of the compliance team were alarmed by Coplan’s response. Their account described him as urging staff to continue prioritizing growth despite the prospect of regulatory consequences. The allegation has not been independently verified in the supplementary reporting. The episode drew attention to the relationship between expansion and fraud controls at the platform. Supplementary reporting said fraud levels remained elevated for several months after the February spike. It also reported that Polymarket eventually introduced tighter restrictions on the number of debit cards that could be linked to accounts. A pattern of platform vulnerabilities The fraud report is part of broader concerns about security and account protections at Polymarket. Supplementary reporting said the company confirmed in June that some users lost funds after a thi

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Hyperliquid’s Product Expansion Drives Record Open Interest

Hyperliquid’s open interest reached a record $16.36 billion, according to BlockBeats, as the exchange’s push beyond crypto perpetual futures into stocks and prediction markets drew fresh trading activity to the platform. The figure tops the previous record, which was set on September 18 of last year. BlockBeats attributed the increase directly to Hyperliquid’s expanding product lineup rather than a single asset class or trading event. How HIP-3 and HIP-4 Fed the Number Hyperliquid introduced HIP-3 in October 2025, letting third parties deposit HYPE to launch their own perpetual futures markets rather than relying solely on listings from the core team. Markets built on HIP-3 now include contracts tied to U.S. stocks, gold, crude oil, the S&P 500 and private companies such as SpaceX. As of early September, cumulative trading volume across HIP-3 markets had exceeded $548 billion, roughly 30% of Hyperliquid’s total trading volume over the prior 30 days. That’s a meaningful share for a product line that didn’t exist a year ago, and it suggests third-party-built markets are no longer a side experiment but a core driver of activity on the exchange. Hyperliquid layered on a second expansion in May 2026 with HIP-4, a framework for prediction-market products tied to the outcomes of specific events. In late August, the company opened HIP-4 to third-party launches as well, mirroring the builder-driven model already running on HIP-3. From Perpetuals to General Trading Infrastructure The shift matters because it repositions Hyperliquid from a crypto-only derivatives venue into something closer to a general-purpose on-chain trading platform, one where equities exposure, commodities and event contracts sit alongside standard perpetual futures. The expansion into private-company contrac

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Loss Predictions Shaped DraftKings’ Betting Promotions

DraftKings built a machine-learning model in 2023 using customer betting records to identify which gamblers were more likely to respond to promotions by betting – and losing – more, according to a New York Times investigation published Sept. 19. The reporting draws on internal documents and interviews with dozens of former DraftKings employees, several of whom said they worried the company’s targeting efforts were harming problem gamblers. How the Scoring Model Worked At the time DraftKings built the model, the company was spending hundreds of millions of dollars annually on promotional incentives – free bets and bonuses pushed through emails and phone alerts – without a clear picture of which offers actually worked, according to the Times. The model assigned each customer a score based on betting habits; the higher the score, the more money that gambler was predicted to lose for every promotion sent their way. Jayden Butts, a DraftKings data analyst, was assigned to test the model roughly a year into his job, prioritizing free bets and bonuses for the customers flagged as likely to lose the most, the Times reported. Butts told the Times the underlying logic amounted to searching for traits indicating a good investment, and that by that financial logic, a problem gambler would qualify. Six former employees said DraftKings has since continued refining its data-science methods to direct promotions toward losing gamblers in ways that encourage more betting, the Times reported. Separately, four other former employees told the Times that DraftKings stalled or squashed a parallel effort to use similar technology to predict which customers might be developing a gambling problem based on their betting activity. The excerpt reviewed does not include a response from DraftKings. A

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

States Clash Over Whether Event Contracts Are Gambling

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is pursuing cease-and-desist action against prediction-market companies operating in the state, while Montana has agreed to pause enforcement against Kalshi under a stipulation filed in federal court. The developments, reported September 18, 2026, mark the latest moves in a state-by-state fight over how sports event contracts should be regulated. Hanaway told Heartland News that she views sports event contracts as gambling under Missouri law regardless of how prediction markets structure their fees compared with traditional sportsbooks. She said the products function the same way FanDuel and other licensed operators take bets on sporting events, even if the fee model looks different on paper. Missouri’s Enforcement Path Missouri’s stated goal is to bring prediction-market companies under state gaming law and require them to pay gambling taxes. Hanaway said her office is open to a settlement and is hopeful one can be reached, pointing to Kentucky as a state that pursued enforcement earlier this year and is now close to a deal. If no agreement materializes, Hanaway said Missouri will sue. She also raised consumer-protection concerns tied to Kalshi and Polymarket, including age verification and the potential for insider trading, and acknowledged that prediction-market companies could respond by filing suit against the state in federal court. Montana’s Stipulation With Kalshi Montana’s arrangement with Kalshi is procedural rather than a resolution on the merits. Under a joint stipulation filed September 17, Montana agreed not to pursue enforcement, investigations or cease-and-desist proceedings against Kalshi’s event contracts until the later of a denial of further Ninth Circuit review or an en banc decision. Kalshi, in turn, is d

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Genius Sports brings prediction markets into one consumer hub

Genius Sports has launched Prediction.com, a consumer platform built through its Legend business that lets users compare equivalent event contracts across multiple prediction-market venues and track how probabilities shift as events play out. The platform brings markets and pricing from major prediction-market platforms into one destination, according to a Genius Sports press release. Users can view how equivalent contracts are priced across different venues, while the platform is designed to help consumers discover markets and follow their development as events unfold. Prediction.com also includes a proprietary pricing engine for comparing multi-leg contract combinations across venues. For sports markets, the platform combines Genius Sports’ live game data with real-time prediction-market pricing, allowing users to follow play-by-play action alongside changing probabilities, prices and market signals in the same view. Legend’s Consumer Bet The launch runs through Legend, Genius Sports’ consumer media and technology business, whose operations include a portfolio of sports brands reaching millions of fans. Prediction.com builds on Legend’s existing consumer and comparison technology while establishing a new flagship brand for the prediction-market category. Genius Sports says the platform addresses fragmentation in the consumer experience as the category develops. The company already provides official sports data and integrity services to prediction-market platforms. With Prediction.com, it is creating a direct consumer presence where users can discover markets, compare contracts and pricing, follow live events and track outcomes. A Crowded, Unsettled Category Prediction.com arrives as the prediction-market category expands and consumers have access to a growing range of

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Quant Teams Get Standardized Access to Kalshi Historical Data

BMLL and Kalshi have formed a strategic partnership that folds Kalshi’s historical prediction-market data into BMLL’s standardized capital-markets data environment, giving quantitative research teams, macro funds, and systematic hedge funds a structured path into Kalshi’s market data for the first time. BMLL describes itself as an independent provider of harmonized, continually engineered historical Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1 data and analytics for capital markets. Under the deal, BMLL will normalize Kalshi’s historical order book into the same unified schema it already uses for CME Event Contracts, according to the announcement on Markets Media. That standardization is meant to eliminate the manual work of pulling piecemeal data from disparate APIs, a process the companies say has consumed years of engineering time that could otherwise go toward strategy modeling. Kalshi’s contracts trade between 1¢ and 99¢ and, because they represent financially committed capital, the announcement frames those prices as well-calibrated real-world probabilities rather than raw sentiment. Why BMLL and Kalshi Say Institutions Need This Paul Humphrey, CEO of BMLL, said: “Our systematic hedge fund and quantitative clients have shown urgent and active demand for high-fidelity, historical prediction market data to support macro-level research.” He added that normalizing Kalshi’s dataset to the CME Event Contracts schema removes the burden of data engineering, letting quant teams bypass complex API parsing and access macro signals directly through Snowflake, SFTP, or the BMLL Data Lab. Andy Ross, Head of Institutional at Kalshi, said institutional participants increasingly need better ways to price and manage event-driven risk directly, rather than relying solely on proxy assets, and want

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Weaver Targets Illinois Levy on Sports Wagering, Fantasy Contests

State Rep. Travis Weaver, R-Peoria, filed House Bill 5814 on Monday to repeal an Illinois tax on sports wagering and fantasy contests. The measure targets a levy Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in June as part of a broader state revenue package. What HB 5814 Would Do The bill, filed as House Bill 5814, seeks to repeal the tax on sports wagering and fantasy contests. Weaver told The Center Square that he believes the tax could face a court challenge, citing his view that no other state has adopted a similar levy and questioning its legal basis. Part of a Wider Repeal Push The sports-wagering and fantasy-contest tax was included in a revenue package passed by the General Assembly last spring and signed by Pritzker in June. The package also included taxes on digital assets, prediction markets and digital advertising, along with a social media platform fee. Weaver said the package created five new taxes that had not been tried in other states. He has separately filed House Bill 5806 to repeal the social media platform fee and House Bill 5807 to repeal the digital advertising tax. Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, also filed House Bill 5798 to repeal the digital assets tax. The Center Square reported that Cabello filed that measure less than a week after Pritzker signed the revenue package into law in June. The Cost-of-Litigation Argument Weaver’s objections extend beyond the taxes themselves to the potential cost of defending them. He said lawsuits had already been filed against three of the revenue measures and argued that challenges to the separate taxes could require funding for the attorney general’s office to defend the state. According to Weaver, the state was anticipating costs associated with the new taxes rather than revenue from them. He said litigation coul

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Fed Rate Bets Become a Robinhood Prediction-Market Favorite

Lead Robinhood’s futures and prediction-markets vice president and general manager, JB Mackenzie, said trading activity in prediction markets was rising ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. In comments reported by MarketScreener, citing MT Newswires, Mackenzie said interest in contracts tied to the Fed had grown substantially over the previous year. The comments came as markets were pricing in roughly an 85% chance of a 25-basis-point hike, according to the report. Mackenzie discussed the activity with Romaine Bostick on Bloomberg’s The Close. He characterized Fed-related contracts as moving from relatively muted early adoption to one of Robinhood’s most popular contract categories. The interview did not disclose specific trading-volume or revenue figures for contracts tied to the Fed. As a result, the reported popularity of those contracts should be read as Mackenzie’s description of activity within Robinhood’s broader event-contract offering rather than as a separate, quantified financial result. Deal or Result Detail Separate reporting has described substantial growth in Robinhood’s overall event-contract business. Crypto Briefing reported that the business grew roughly 15 times year over year in August. The same report said Robinhood generated $156 million in event-contract revenue during the second quarter of 2026 and that 13.6 billion event contracts traded during that quarter. Those figures cover the event-contract segment as a whole, not Fed-related contracts specifically. They therefore provide context for the scale of Robinhood’s broader activity but do not establish what portion of revenue or trading volume came from macroeconomic contracts. A widening product catalog Robinhood’s event-contract offering has expanded from politically themed contracts

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Tribal Gaming Group Seeks Betting Safeguards in CLARITY Act

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, not to bring up the CLARITY Act on Tuesday unless the bill closes what the group calls a prediction-market loophole and preserves federal, state, and tribal gaming law. The request, made in a letter from CNIGA Chairman James Siva, lands days ahead of a scheduled Senate cloture vote, as tribal leaders nationally warn Congress that prediction markets are gambling by another name. Siva’s letter argues that prediction-market operators are trying to use federal commodities law to offer nationwide gambling, sidestepping the framework Congress built through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and decades of tribal-state compacts. CNIGA wants any digital-asset market-structure bill to explicitly bar designated commodity markets from listing event contracts tied to sports wagering, athletic competitions, player performance, or casino-style gaming – anything already regulated under federal, state, or tribal gaming law. The coalition is also asking lawmakers to preserve IGRA and existing compacts outright, and to shut off any route by which digital-asset or decentralized-finance provisions could function as a backdoor for nationwide mobile gambling, a concern that echoes broader friction between federal prediction-market activity and state gaming authority. “Congress built a carefully negotiated federal, state, and tribal framework for gaming,” Siva said. “Prediction market companies want none of that. But just because you’re well-funded doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply.” A 630-Page Bill and a Tight Vote Count The Senate has scheduled a cloture vote on the 630-page CLARITY Act for Tuesday, a procedural step that requires 60 votes t

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Kalshi Hearing Tests Texas Authority Over Prediction Markets

Lead The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony Tuesday on whether online prediction markets such as Kalshi should be treated as federally regulated financial exchanges or as gambling platforms subject to state oversight and restrictions. The hearing documented a continuing policy debate over how Texas might address the platforms and the limits that federal regulation could place on state action. The committee heard from Kalshi, gambling-policy experts, and gaming-industry representatives. Kalshi describes itself as the first CFTC-regulated exchange dedicated to trading on the outcome of future events. The company offers contracts tied to elections, sports, weather, and pop culture, and says it charges a flat fee of about one cent per transaction. Action Detail Kalshi head of enforcement and legal counsel Robert DeNault told the committee that the platform offers Texans a regulated financial product for trading and managing financial risk. He compared prediction-market contracts with derivatives and argued that products can have similarities to insurance or sports-related risk management without being regulated as gambling. DeNault also argued that an effort to prohibit a federally regulated platform could direct customers to offshore services without consumer protections or federal oversight. He said prediction markets could work with states on consumer-protection measures, including marketing, advertising, risk disclosures, and protections involving particular demographics, without creating preemption problems. Critics Push Back on the Exchange Framing Tres York of the American Gaming Association challenged the view that prediction markets should be treated as financial exchanges. York told the committee that 85 percent of Kalshi’s gambling volume is tie

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Kalshi Takes 92.1% Share as Weekly Contract Volume Hits $14.1B

Kalshi and Polymarket Global combined for $14.10 billion in contract volume during the Sept. 7-13 week that opened the NFL regular season, according to a DeFi Rate volume report. That was up 9.3% from $12.90 billion the previous week, with football, US Open tennis, esports playoffs and Federal Reserve positioning among the main drivers of activity. Kalshi Widens Its Lead Total trades across both platforms climbed 10.7% to 86.50 million. Kalshi generated $12.98 billion of the combined volume, up 9.4% week over week, giving it a 92.1% share, a record for the platform. Polymarket Global rose 7.6% to $1.11 billion, or 7.9% of the total, while Polymarket US logged $818.52 million across its five available daily reports. Sports contracts were the largest source of retail trading activity during the week, with Kalshi and Polymarket Global combining for $3.76 billion. Kalshi accounted for $3.265 billion, while Polymarket Global’s sports volume jumped 104.7% to $498.81 million. On Kalshi, the New England-Seattle market generated $57.86 million. Other high-volume NFL markets included San Francisco-Los Angeles at $45.30 million and Washington-Philadelphia at $28.48 million. A Sixth Straight Week of Growth The Sept. 7-13 result capped a six-week period from Aug. 9 through Sept. 13 in which DeFi Rate reported five consecutive weeks of higher Kalshi volume. Weekly volume increased from $8.069 billion in the week ending Aug. 9 to $12.983 billion in the week ending Sept. 13, a 60.9% increase over the period. Kalshi’s September month-to-date volume through Sept. 13 reached $23.45 billion, 53.4% higher than the same period in August. Away from football, Polymarket Global’s Fed Decision in September market generated $48.85 million, up 48.8% from $32.83 million the week before. Four League

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Michigan judge orders Kalshi to halt sports wagering across state

A Michigan judge has temporarily shut Kalshi’s sports contracts out of the state, handing Attorney General Dana Nessel a preliminary injunction while her lawsuit against the prediction-market company moves forward. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina signed the order September 1, barring Kalshi and related parties from activities tied to sports wagering in Michigan until the court issues a final order. BREAKING: Michigan state court enters preliminary injunction requiring Kalshi to maintain geofencing to block Michigan residents and those within Michigan's borders from having access to its sports-event contracts. Violations of the order would result in a $500K per day fine. pic.twitter.com/0OOedKZ03j— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) September 2, 2026 Aquilina found Michigan had satisfied the legal requirements for preliminary relief. The order said, “Michigan and its most vulnerable citizens are suffering and will continue to suffer immediate and irreparable harm absent relief from being exploited by Kalshi’s sports betting operation masquerading as an investment opportunity.” “Kalshi long attempted to pass itself off as a legitimate gaming operation in our state, and I am relieved that this order further protects Michigan residents from its predatory, unlicensed practices,” said Attorney General Nessel in an accompanying statement. “My office will continue to defend Michiganders and enforce our gaming laws, which ensure gambling revenue is regulated and distributed back into our communities.” Kalshi faces Michigan sports betting ban and steep noncompliance fines Nessel brought the case in March, arguing Kalshi effectively runs an unlicensed sportsbook by letting Michigan customers trade event contracts tied to sports results without Michigan Gaming C

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Underdog Fantasy halts Drafts entries across seven states amid licensing conflict

Underdog Fantasy is pulling new Drafts entries from seven U.S. states this week after founder Jeremy Levine said regulators left the company facing a choice between state fantasy licenses and products licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Levine said on social media September 5 that the cutoff will take effect immediately after Wednesday’s kickoff in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Drafts community, I have some not fun news to share. Right after kickoff on Wednesday, we will be shutting down Drafts in seven states: MA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, PA and OH. Already entered drafts will continue as normal, but in those states you won’t be able to enter new drafts. If…— Jeremy Levine (@JerLevine) September 5, 2026 “Drafts community, I have some not fun news to share,” Levine wrote. “Right after kickoff on Wednesday, we will be shutting down Drafts in seven states: MA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, PA and OH.” Already-entered contests will still go ahead. Levine said existing entries will “continue as normal,” although customers in those states cannot submit new Drafts entries after the deadline. The change scales back one of Underdog’s earliest fantasy offerings at a time when daily fantasy sports rules continue to differ widely across the country. CFTC licensing clash forces Underdog to pull Drafts from seven states Levine said state regulators have taken a position Underdog disputes, linking the company’s ability to hold fantasy licenses with its CFTC-regulated offerings. “Those states have taken a legal viewpoint we disagree with: if we offer our CFTC-licensed products we cannot offer fantasy sports in those states,” Levine wrote. “So we had to choose.” He said Underdog’s options were to keep its fantasy licenses in those jurisdi

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Kalshi reverses Michigan market payout after stunning last-second touchdown chaos erupts

Kalshi had to undo payouts on a college football prediction market after declaring Western Michigan the winner against Michigan before officials had actually finished deciding the game. The heavily traded “Western Michigan vs. Michigan” market drew about $18.6 million in trading volume, according to reports from CNN correspondent Marshall Cohen and NBC Sports. Kalshi first paid contracts based on a Western Michigan victory, then reversed those transactions and ultimately paid traders holding the winning Michigan contracts. NEW: Kalshi confirms they wrongly and prematurely settled the "Western Michigan vs. Michigan" market, as if Michigan lost. They clawed back payments to initial incorrect "winners," reimbursed the initial "losers," and then paid the right people. (This market saw $18.6m volume.)— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) September 6, 2026 “We corrected the result to a Michigan win, making sure all Kalshi customers got paid out correctly,” Kalshi said in a statement shared by sports betting reporter Bill Speros. UPDATE: @Kalshi Statement:“We corrected the result to a Michigan win, making sure all Kalshi customers got paid out correctly." https://t.co/xplC29mtaA— Bill Speros (@billsperos) September 6, 2026 No. 16 Michigan was trailing 12-7 when quarterback Bryce Underwood threw an apparent final Hail Mary. The pass fell incomplete and the clock showed zero, sending Western Michigan into celebrations. Officials then reviewed the play. They ruled Western Michigan’s Micah Davis had touched the ball after jumping from out of bounds while one second remained. The Big Ten later said Davis “started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position” and made contact before time expired. That decision handed Michigan another snap. Underwood found JJ Buchanan for a 47-yar

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
Technology

Underdog sues Ohio, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin as prediction market fight deepens

Underdog Exchange DCM, Inc. and UDM, LLC, which does business as Underdog Predict, have taken regulators in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin to federal court, after dropping Drafts in seven states this week. The company wants judges to stop both states from applying their gambling and sports betting laws to event contracts offered through its federally regulated market. Over the weekend, @Underdog announced it will give up its daily fantasy sports licenses in seven states. @JerLevine reported the states told the company it cannot offer both its prediction markets and DFS competitions in their jurisdictions.https://t.co/uma0Rgm3kx— RLinnehanSR (@RLinnehanSR) September 8, 2026 The cases, filed in federal courts in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, add Underdog to a widening legal fight over who gets to regulate prediction markets. Platforms argue these products fall under federal commodities law, while states increasingly view sports contracts as ordinary wagers that require local gambling licenses. In Ohio, Underdog sued officials including Attorney General Andy Wilson and Ohio Casino Control Commission Interim Executive Director Andromeda Morrison. It says its status as a designated contract market and futures commission merchant places the contracts within the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authority under the Commodity Exchange Act. Ohio has already taken an aggressive approach toward rival Kalshi. In April, the Casino Control Commission proposed a $5 million penalty for allegedly conducting unlicensed sports gaming. Kalshi has fought the state in federal court, although an Ohio judge previously declined to block enforcement while that litigation continued. Underdog says that leaves it facing the same regulatory threat: “The threat of Defendants’ enforceme

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Bally’s finance chief exits as casino giant faces costly expansion pressures

Bally’s Corporation is changing finance chiefs as the casino company pours money into major developments, deals with financial pressure and fights over video gambling terminals in Chicago. Mira Mircheva told Bally’s she plans to leave her jobs as executive vice president and chief financial officer for personal reasons, according to the company’s Thursday announcement. Her resignation becomes effective September 4, but she will stay with the company until September 30 to assist during the handover. Bally's announced its CFO resigned for personal reasons. This comes weeks after the company released its quarterly earnings that shows it's still operating at a loss with billions of debt. Construction slowed down on the new casino here in Chicago. @fox32news pic.twitter.com/xcRlgWvVgG— Bret Buganski (@Bret_Buganski) September 3, 2026 President George Papanier will temporarily handle the CFO duties in addition to serving as Bally’s president and sitting on its board. Directors are already looking for someone to fill the finance position permanently. The assignment puts a longtime gaming executive back into a familiar role. Papanier, who has more than four decades of industry experience, previously became Bally’s interim CFO in 2023. He is a certified public accountant and has overseen its land-based casino business since October 2021. Earlier, he spent February 2011 through October 2021 as Bally’s president and CEO. “On behalf of the entire Board and executive management team, I want to thank Mira for her dedication to Bally’s and we wish her great success going forward,” said Robeson Reeves, Chief Executive Officer of Bally’s Corporation. “Having spent more than two decades in key operating and financial leadership roles at Bally’s, George has been instrumental in developing

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Coinbase blames Kalshi for Michigan market error and protects payouts customers

Coinbase says Kalshi caused a mistaken prediction-market settlement tied to Michigan’s wild 13-12 win over Western Michigan. The crypto company plans to make affected winners whole while letting customers keep money they received because of the original error. The dispute stems from a game that appeared finished before officials restored one second, giving Michigan another play and changing the result. CNN correspondent Marshall Cohen reported Monday (September 7) that Coinbase customers were caught up in the problem. Screenshots reviewed by Cohen showed Coinbase apologizing for “an issue with the settlement” and saying it was “manually recalculating the balances for all affected accounts.” Update: Coinbase blames Kalshi for its Michigan prediction market snafu, but says it will let the wrongful winners keep the payouts. Here’s their full statement: https://t.co/byVWfzbv5f pic.twitter.com/4zYyvU2VAJ— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) September 7, 2026 Cohen later shared a Coinbase statement that pointed directly at Kalshi. “An erroneous settlement by Kalshi led to certain positions being underpaid.” Coinbase plans to credit affected customers with the full amount their winning positions should have paid. Customers who received money because of the earlier, incorrect result will also be allowed to keep it. “Payouts already made under the original incorrect settlement will stand and will not be reversed or recovered,” the statement said. That differs from Kalshi’s handling of the mistake, which involved reversing payouts issued when Western Michigan was initially treated as the winner. Coinbase will pay rightful Michigan winners without clawing back mistaken payouts No. 16 Michigan trailed Western Michigan 12-7 when quarterback Bryce Underwood launched what looked like the

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NFL betting growth stalls as prediction markets expand across United States

Americans are projected to legally bet $29.5 billion on the 2026 NFL season through regulated commercial sportsbooks, according to a new American Gaming Association estimate. That would barely move from the $29.4 billion wagered last season, pointing out a sharp slowdown after years of major expansion. The AGA says the numbers cover legal, state-regulated commercial sportsbooks. It argues that prediction markets are increasingly competing for sports wagers while offering contracts nationwide, including in states where conventional sports betting remains illegal. The AGA estimates $29.5B will be bet on the 2026 NFL season through commercial sportsbooks. That indicates no growth from last year as so-called “prediction markets” offering sports bets are exploding while paying no state gaming taxes. https://t.co/XDfXTktaGn— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) September 4, 2026 “We’re excited for the NFL season to kickoff, as are millions of fans eager to engage with their favorite teams. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban in 2018, legalized sports betting had seen tremendous growth,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “But this year is different. Since the widespread launch of backdoor sports betting on so-called “prediction markets,” the growth of legal handle has stalled.” Prediction markets squeeze growth in regulated NFL betting The slowdown follows a year in which prediction platforms sharply increased their visibility. Sensor Tower research compiled for the AGA found licensed sportsbook digital advertising impressions fell nearly 14% during 2025. Meanwhile, prediction-market advertising surged, and about 43% of digital sports wagering ads seen during early 2026 lacked state-mandated responsible gaming messages because they

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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NFL renews push to remove football contracts from prediction markets exchanges

The NFL is again asking designated contract markets to pull several types of football-related prediction contracts, making another push as the 2026 season gets underway. A September 3 letter says exchanges are still listing contracts the league flagged in an earlier March 29 request. NFL officials argue those markets could undermine game integrity while exposing players, coaches, officials and exchange participants to additional risks. “It is deeply concerning that bets within the objectionable categories that we identified months ago have been and continue to be listed as contracts on exchanges,” the NFL said in the letter, first reported by Front Office Sports. The NFL sent a letter to all registered DCMs (i.e. prediction market platforms) reiterating the bets it objects to. As @FOS recently reported, there will be no NFL-prediction-market deals when this season kicks off. https://t.co/k1CtcjrZje pic.twitter.com/KzrBRs1zKK— Ben Horney (@BenHorney) September 3, 2026 Four groups of contracts are targeted: outcomes that one person could readily manipulate, subjects the NFL considers inherently objectionable, officiating-related markets and contracts based on information available before the public knows it. The NFL pointed out proposed Commodity Futures Trading Commission rulemaking that discussed sports exchanges consulting governing bodies before listing event contracts. At the same time, the league continues working with conventional sportsbooks. DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Betting and Gaming are its three official sports betting partners for 2026. Their agreements require compliance with NFL integrity policies, including restrictions covering the same types of wagers the league is challenging on prediction exchanges. The NFL has drawn another distinction through

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Congress presses FanDuel again over VIP program and gambling safeguards concerns

Three members of Congress have renewed their pressure on FanDuel, saying the betting operator still has not explained how its VIP program handles customers who may be struggling with gambling problems. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Paul D. Tonko and Valerie P. Foushee wrote to FanDuel CEO Christian Genetski on Thursday (September 3), following an August 14 response from the company that they considered insufficient. Sen. Blumenthal and U.S. Reps. Tonko and Foushee today sent a letter to FanDuel criticizing the company for what they allege were incomplete responses to questions regarding their VIP services.Congress members want responses to 8 questions regarding FD's programs by Sept 17. pic.twitter.com/VelOKj70UZ— RLinnehanSR (@RLinnehanSR) September 3, 2026 “We remain unconvinced that FanDuel is making an active effort to protect bettors from harmful gambling and instead appears to be promoting addiction,” the lawmakers wrote. FanDuel now has until September 17 to answer eight questions the lawmakers say remain unresolved. Their scrutiny began after reports about Terry Thompson, a FanDuel VIP customer who experienced severe financial hardship linked to gambling addiction. Lawmakers said his VIP manager repeatedly offered incentives designed to keep him betting, including a personalized video featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper. Thompson eventually wagered $18.5 million and lost more than $1.5 million, according to the lawmakers. He also took multiple mortgages on his home and sold business shares to fund his gambling. Harper has said he believed the video was a personal Cameo greeting and did not know FanDuel would use it for a gambling promotion. FanDuel VIP program faces scrutiny as MLB union backs restrictions Congress is now asking FanDuel to expl

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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New Jersey asks Supreme Court to settle Kalshi sports betting fight

New Jersey is taking its fight with Kalshi to the US Supreme Court, asking the justices to decide whether federally regulated prediction markets must also follow state sports betting rules. The state has petitioned for review after a divided Third Circuit prevented New Jersey from enforcing its wagering laws against KalshiEX LLC. At issue is whether Dodd-Frank blocks states from regulating sports contracts offered through Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated markets. “For more than a century, the States have been the primary regulators of gambling in this country,” New Jersey said in its petition. It also cited the Supreme Court’s 2018 Murphy v. NCAA ruling, where the justices said “each State is free to act on its own” when regulating sports betting. Here we go. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New Jersey Interim Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement Mary Jo Flaherty today filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court to hear prediction market sports event contract argument. pic.twitter.com/faQTbaRyth— RLinnehanSR (@RLinnehanSR) September 2, 2026 Kalshi added sports event contracts in January 2025, letting customers buy “yes” or “no” positions on outcomes ranging from tournament winners to player performances. New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement responded with a cease-and-desist letter in March 2025. The regulator also targeted Robinhood, alleging both companies offered unauthorized sports wagering. It reportedly demanded that wagers from New Jersey residents be voided and specifically raised the state’s restrictions involving local college teams and events. Kalshi then went to federal court. A district judge blocked enforcement, and the Third Circuit later agreed that qualifying contracts were swaps covered

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Kalshi urges targeted CFTC rules to curb prediction market manipulation risks

Kalshi wants federal regulators to tackle manipulation in prediction markets by going after misconduct and restricting specific traders, rather than placing sweeping limits on event contracts. In August 27 written comments, KalshiEX LLC responded to issues aired during the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee meeting on August 20. The federally regulated exchange concentrated on manipulation, so-called mention markets and questions over whether event contracts connected to corporate results might come under securities rules. Prediction Market Update@Kalshi pushies back against calls to restrict prediction markets over manipulation concerns.In a letter to the @CFTC following its recent advisory committee meeting, Kalshi argues event contracts face the same anti-manipulation rules as traditional… pic.twitter.com/30oSSaPcTC— Bill Speros (@billsperos) August 31, 2026 Kalshi, founded in 2018 and designated by the CFTC as a contract market in November 2020, said regulators should treat manipulation much as they would on established exchanges. “The existence of manipulation and similar trading misconduct on exchanges should lead us to work harder to root out that misconduct, not to ban or restrict legitimate trading on the platform,” Kalshi said. CME Group’s Terry Duffy had questioned the rapid pace of event-contract self-certifications and warned that some products could be manipulated during the committee meeting. Kalshi responded that prediction exchanges already face CFTC anti-manipulation requirements alongside surveillance, compliance and disciplinary obligations. The company said its own monitoring has identified suspicious activity for investigation and CFTC referral, while disciplinary cases have included trades valued below $

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Nebraska online sports betting measures qualify for November 2026 ballot vote

Nebraska voters will get a say on two online sports wagering proposals in the November 2026 general election. The Secretary of State’s office said August 21 that both petition campaigns gathered enough valid signatures to make the ballot. “The Secretary of State’s office announced today that signature thresholds have been met for both the Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment petition and the Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative petition to appear on the 2026 general election ballot,” the office said in a release. News release: Secretary of State certifies both online sports wagering petitions for November ballotFull release here: https://t.co/VE1oEpzP5C pic.twitter.com/FliglqP7hB— NE Secretary of State Robert Evnen (@NebraskaSOS) August 21, 2026 For the constitutional amendment, organizers needed signatures from 10% of registered voters statewide, plus 5% of registered voters in at least 38 counties. Officials verified at least 138,473 signatures, with the county requirement met in at least 64 counties. The statutory Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative needed signatures from 7% of registered voters statewide and the same 5% threshold in 38 counties. At least 96,918 signatures were verified, and organizers cleared the county requirement in at least 55 counties. Online sports betting debate now moves to Nebraska voters County election officials were not required to keep reviewing every submitted signature after the campaigns had safely exceeded the minimum. “The Elections Division instructed county election offices to conclude signature verification after the number of valid signatures met the 110% threshold as permitted in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1409,” the Secretary of State’s office said about each petition. Under Nebraska law, co

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States cite Ninth Circuit rulings, George Santos banned from Kalshi: today in prediction market news LIVE

Today in prediction market news, we’re following a fresh wave of legal and regulatory developments, including Kalshi urging the Tenth Circuit to block Utah enforcement while its federal appeal plays out, and Ohio and Rhode Island pointing to recent Ninth Circuit rulings as they defend state authority over prediction markets. We’re also tracking Kalshi’s permanent ban of former Republican New York Congressman George Santos following an investigation into his trading activity, along with the platform’s call for clearer CFTC guardrails as event contract markets grow. We’ll also be following the latest on enforcement actions involving political trading, Kalshi’s allegations against North Carolina congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout, and developments across prediction markets, regulation, politics, crypto and sports event trading throughout the day. The post States cite Ninth Circuit rulings, George Santos banned from Kalshi: today in prediction market news LIVE appeared first on ReadWrite.

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Connecticut sues Kalshi over sports contracts offered without state gambling license

Connecticut is suing Kalshi, asking a state court to stop the prediction market from offering sports contracts to residents without a gambling license. Attorney General William Tong announced the lawsuit Wednesday alongside Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli and Gov. Ned Lamont. Connecticut wants an injunction blocking Kalshi from continuing to offer contracts that officials consider unlicensed sports betting. Connecticut just filed this lawsuit to shutdown @Kalshi immediately, but they're okay with other prediction markets operating there in the meantime. This is the latest in a line of arbitrary and inconsistent enforcement by the states, which shows this has nothing to do with… pic.twitter.com/ZVnfeL4vnY— Jovy Dedaj (@JovyDedaj) August 26, 2026 On Kalshi’s exchange, customers trade yes-or-no contracts tied to future events. Its sports markets can involve game and season winners, league standings, win totals, point spreads, scores and individual player statistics. State officials argue those products function as sports wagers, meaning Kalshi must follow Connecticut’s gambling licensing requirements and consumer safeguards. According to the complaint, Kalshi has made sports contracts available to Connecticut residents through its website, app and other channels since January 2025 without obtaining or seeking a Department of Consumer Protection license. “Sports event contracts are no different than sports betting and are not magically shielded by federal law from Connecticut’s commonsense consumer protection laws,” said Attorney General Tong. Connecticut sues Kalshi as federal challenge fails to halt gambling enforcement Connecticut regulators sent cease-and-desist notices to Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com in December 2025, accusing the

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Kalshi challenges Times report amid widening prediction market regulatory battles

Kalshi is disputing a New York Times report about the expanding legal and political battle over prediction markets, including questions about sports betting, taxes, consumer safeguards and federal intervention. The company responded August 27 as 20 states face active litigation involving Kalshi or other prediction markets. Separately, 44 states signed a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission arguing the platforms have sidestepped state regulation and taxes. “The New York Times asked a series of questions, then ignored almost every answer that didn’t align with the narrative that was being pushed,” Kalshi said in its response. The New York Times published a story today about prediction markets. They asked us a series of questions, then ignored almost every answer that didn’t align with the narrative that was being pushed. So we’re sharing our answers below. https://t.co/j6TAYNWiGN— robertjdenault (@robertjdenault) August 27, 2026 The Times cited a Tax Foundation estimate that states could collect at least $2 billion annually by taxing prediction markets like sportsbooks. Kalshi questioned the estimate and pointed to North Carolina, where online sportsbooks generated about $130 million in 2025 tax revenue. “Federally regulated companies are subject to state taxes – we have never said otherwise,” the company said. “This is how almost all industries in America operate.” Kalshi challenges Times claims as regulatory fight intensifies States contend sports-event contracts amount to gambling. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, after securing a preliminary August court victory, said customers can wager on sporting outcomes. “That’s the same thing as gambling,” he said. “It’s flat-out wrong to say that Kalshi is ‘indistinguishable from traditional sports betting,

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Matt Gogel suspended six months after betting on PGA Tour competitions

Matt Gogel will spend six months away from PGA Tour-sanctioned competition after the Tour determined that the PGA Tour Champions member had been betting on golf competitions. The PGA Tour announced the discipline Wednesday (August 26), saying Gogel broke its Integrity Program by wagering on PGA Tour competition. The organization said none of those bets involved a tournament in which Gogel was competing. His suspension took effect August 23, 2026, and will remain in place through February 22, 2027. Until that penalty ends, Gogel is barred from playing in events sanctioned by the PGA Tour. Details about which competitions drew Gogel’s wagers were not disclosed. The Tour also gave no information about the individual bets, although it said Gogel fully cooperated with the process that resulted in the suspension. Matt Gogel says PGA betting involved small wagers on events he did not play In his own statement, Gogel acknowledged betting on golf during 2024 and 2025. He characterized the wagers as small recreational bets and said he had not realized they ran afoul of Tour policy. Statement from Matt Gogel: pic.twitter.com/fYLSwmlpz0— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 26, 2026 “In 2024 and 2025, I unknowingly violated the PGA TOUR policy by placing small recreational wagers on golf. I want to be clear that these wagers were not placed on regular PGA TOUR events, PGA TOUR Champions events or any tournament in which I participated. “I would never knowingly violate the integrity of the game of golf. I made an honest mistake and I look forward to playing in 2027 on the PGA TOUR Champions.” The wording of the two statements leaves a distinction that neither side explained further. In announcing its finding, the Tour described Gogel’s bets as wagers on “PGA TOUR competiti

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CFTC backs case against US soldier accused of Polymarket insider trading

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is backing the criminal case against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US Army master sergeant accused of using classified military information to make more than $400,000 trading Polymarket event contracts tied to Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro. In an August 21 notice, the CFTC asked the US District Judge Margaret M. Garnett for permission to file an amicus brief supporting prosecutors as Van Dyke seeks to dismiss Commodity Exchange Act charges. He argues the contracts are not swaps under federal law and says applying its anti-fraud provision to his conduct would be unconstitutional. The federal indictment against special forces soldier Gannon Van Dyke for betting on Polymarket with classified information about the Maduro operation will be an interesting test of the Commodity Exchange Act.His defense is not that he didn't do it, but that prediction market… pic.twitter.com/MGvoUDMth8— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) August 22, 2026 “Both contentions are wrong,” CFTC Counselor Cameron Sinsheimer wrote in the letter. The regulator argues Congress defined swaps broadly enough to include the event contracts Van Dyke traded. It says adopting his interpretation could also significantly restrict federal oversight of prediction markets. “Van Dyke’s distortion of the CEA’s text, if accepted, would undermine the Commission’s jurisdiction over a huge range of event contracts whose notional volume totals into the tens of billions of dollars,” Sinsheimer wrote. CFTC says Polymarket event contracts fall under federal swaps law in US soldier case Van Dyke, 38, served with US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Prosecutors say his role in Operation Absolute Resolve gave him access to classified and other nonpublic details about a m

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NFL expands betting partnerships with DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics for 2026

The NFL will head into the 2026 season with three official sports betting partners after signing multi-year deals with DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Betting and Gaming. DraftKings and FanDuel have held that status since 2021. Fanatics now joins them through a broader relationship with the league that already covers collectibles and official NFL merchandise. Making it official this season. Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino is now an Official Sports Betting and Online Casino Partner of the @nfl, bringing more fans closer to the game they love during the 2026-2027 season. pic.twitter.com/9HZAmIKyLt— Fanatics Sports & Casino (@FanaticsSports) August 27, 2026 Under the agreements, each operator can use NFL branding to market online and retail sportsbooks. Their partnerships also extend to league events such as the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, including hospitality opportunities and appearances across NFL-owned digital platforms. All three will get official real-time play-by-play data, proprietary Next Gen Stats and BetVision through Genius Sports, the NFL’s exclusive data distribution partner. “We are thrilled to have three world-class partners in the sports betting category,” said Renie Anderson, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at the NFL. NFL broadens betting partnerships at home and overseas Each operator must follow NFL integrity rules while cooperating on information sharing, advocacy and responsible gambling. That includes avoiding wagers the league considers objectionable, including bets connected to officiating, injuries, advance information or outcomes one person could easily manipulate. Ahead of another NFL season, we're proud to continue our partnership with the NFL and help grow a legal sports betting industry built around fans, responsibility and g

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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MLB players union backs VIP sportsbook marketing ban amid CBA talks

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is open to stopping players from appearing in personalized sportsbook marketing connected with VIP or tier programs. At the same time, it wants MLB to support wider restrictions on some bets tied to events during games. MLBPA General Counsel Jeffrey Perconte outlined that position in an August 24 response to Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee. The lawmakers had written to the union on August 10 after a personalized Bryce Harper video was reportedly sent to a FanDuel VIP customer struggling with gambling addiction. After Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked MLB, the MLBPA, and FanDuel about "predatory perks" for problem gamblers, the MLBPA has responded.It's open to banning players from "participating in personalized marketing campaigns connected to a VIP or tier program."Letter below: pic.twitter.com/x4ycBHFZfr— Ben Horney (@BenHorney) August 25, 2026 The issue has become part of collective bargaining between MLB and the union, including negotiations over the Sports Betting Policy covering players. The MLBPA believes players should retain opportunities for sportsbook endorsements similar to commercial relationships involving MLB and its clubs, but says those deals need boundaries. “We do not believe the ability of players to enter into such agreements should be unlimited, however,” Perconte wrote. “For example, we are prepared to support CBA restrictions that ban players from participating in personalized marketing campaigns connected to a VIP or tier program.” MLBPA backs VIP marketing ban, seeks wider in-game betting limits Beyond advertising, the MLBPA wants the league to help pursue restrictions on proposition bets and event contracts determined by in-game performance. Its proposal could co

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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY desk
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Novig and New Mexico seek yearlong pause in prediction market lawsuit

Novig and New Mexico officials want to pause their federal court battle over sports event contracts until August 2027, giving another case time to address a legal issue at the heart of their dispute. Ludlow Exchange LLC, which operates as Novig, joined the New Mexico defendants in asking the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico on Tuesday (August 25) to stay proceedings through August 13, 2027. Novig sued Attorney General Raul Torrez and New Mexico Gaming Control Board members on August 6 for declaratory and injunctive relief. 3 days into its launch of sports prediction markets, Novig has sued 4 states–New York, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Washington. What do these states have in common? They pursued TROs & PIs vs. DCMs in state court. Goal may be to tie up likely enforcing states in federal court. pic.twitter.com/McCTQZBfDr— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 9, 2026 The filing, seen by ReadWrite, came after discussions on August 17 and August 20. Novig said it planned to seek a preliminary injunction unless both sides could arrange a temporary pause. A separate Commodity Futures Trading Commission lawsuit against New Mexico is driving that request. The CFTC sued on June 12 and sought a preliminary injunction six days afterward. Injunction briefing finished July 30, followed by briefing on the defendants’ dismissal motion on August 7. CFTC lawsuit puts Novig dispute with New Mexico and Massachusetts on hold Both sides expect the CFTC litigation to address federal preemption, which also sits at the center of Novig’s case. They said a stay “would promote judicial economy and limit duplicative litigation.” New Mexico would also hold off on specified enforcement during the pause. Officials said they “will not initiate, pursue, or maintain any civil or c

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Alabama-Coushatta opens temporary Naskila Casino as permanent resort takes shape nearby

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has opened Naskila Casino Leggett, giving Polk County its first operating piece of a much larger casino resort planned for the property. Tribal members marked the occasion Monday (August 24) with a Tribal Membership Opening Day ceremony. Doors opened to everyone Tuesday and visitors began lining up early. Visitors inside the newly opened Naskila Casino Leggett in Polk County, Texas. Credit: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas via Facebook Operating around the clock, the temporary casino offers 300 electronic gaming machines and a dining facility. Local reporting says the operation has brought roughly 100 new jobs to the area. For tribal leaders, Leggett also signals a new period of economic development after years spent fighting in court over gaming. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas could not apply its gaming laws to stop electronic bingo on tribal land when state law did not prohibit the activity outright. Texas later abandoned its longstanding lawsuit against the Tribe. Naskila Casino Leggett opening signals wider tribal gaming and economic expansion Construction is already underway nearby on the permanent Naskila Casino Resort, which broke ground in June. Plans cover roughly 685,000 square feet, with about 3,400 electronic bingo machines and a 366-room hotel. Guests are also expected to find restaurants, bars and lounges, a resort-style pool complex and around 35,000 square feet for conferences and events. A grand ballroom is designed for crowds of up to 1,000 people. The opening of the first phase is targeted for late 2028. The development builds on Naskila’s existing operation near Livingston, which has been running since 2016. Tribal officials point to its wider role in the East Texas economy, including jobs and sp

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Kalshi fights New York bid to move prediction market case to state court from federal court

Kalshi is pushing to keep New York’s lawsuit against the prediction-market operator in federal court, saying the state’s case cannot be resolved without answering key questions about federal commodities and gambling law. In an August 21 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kalshi challenged Attorney General Letitia James’ effort to send the dispute back to state court. “This case should not be remanded,” Kalshi said in the filing. Kalshi makes urgent bid to prevent remand of New York AG’s civil enforcement action to state court, repeats exaggerated claim that NYS seeks to ban Kalshi “from operating anywhere in the country” by targeting all event contracts offered for sale on its exchange, not just sports. pic.twitter.com/V4WgZP2dmh— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 24, 2026 New York sued Kalshi on July 31, accusing the company of operating an illegal gambling business without a state gaming license. The case cites the federal Wire Act alongside New York constitutional, criminal, racing and wagering laws. Officials want to stop Kalshi’s operations in the state and are seeking restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties and accounting information. Kalshi moved the lawsuit into federal court that same day. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) granted Kalshi designated contract market status in 2020. Kalshi maintains that its contracts are federally regulated derivatives and fall under the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction when traded on its market. Kalshi says federal commodities law overrides New York gambling claims Sports contracts joined Kalshi’s offerings in January 2025. When those products were self-certified, the CFTC asked Kalshi for information showing they complied with federal law, according to the filing. Kalshi r

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New Jersey regulators fine Caesars Sportsbook almost $300K over responsible gaming rule violations

Caesars Sportsbook has been ordered to pay more than $296,000 after New Jersey regulators found the company broke several rules designed to support responsible gambling. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement assessed a $251,250 civil fine and told Caesars to give up another $45,465.38, according to an order from the state Attorney General’s Office and Department of Law and Public Safety. The two payments add up to $296,715.38. Caesars agreed to the $251,250 penalty. The sportsbook will be required to pay the full amount after receiving an invoice from the Division of Gaming Enforcement. Regulators first took action against Caesars on August 5, 2026. The latest order makes that enforcement action final and says the sportsbook failed to comply with several New Jersey regulations covering responsible gaming. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a fine in the amount of $251,250 to Caesars Sportsbook (and a disgorgement of $45,465.38) for non-compliance concerning responsible gaming matters. pic.twitter.com/Go1iLzPUnv— RLinnehanSR (@RLinnehanSR) August 20, 2026 However, the document does not explain what Caesars did to violate those requirements. It gives no details about affected customers or individual transactions and does not say when the conduct happened. There is also no explanation for how officials reached the two financial amounts. The order does not show how much of the $251,250 fine relates to each violation, while the calculation behind the $45,465.38 disgorgement is also left unspecified. Caesars faces mounting regulatory penalties across multiple states The New Jersey case follows other regulatory action involving Caesars in major US gambling markets. In Nevada, Caesars Entertainment agreed in November 2025 to a proposed $7.8 million fin

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Michigan regulators seize suspected illegal gaming machines from Muskegon bar search

Michigan authorities took three machines suspected of being used for illegal gambling from a Muskegon bar during a search tied to an investigation of possible unlicensed gaming. The Michigan Gaming Control Board searched DJ’s Pub at 2064 Henry St. under a warrant, working alongside the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and Muskegon Police Department. Regulators began looking into the bar after the gaming board received a tip in January. During the search, investigators removed three machines they suspect were being operated as illegal slot-style games. Authorities also seized $1,200 worth of gift cards they believe the bar used to pay customers’ gambling winnings. Another $3,874 believed to be proceeds from gambling was taken during the search. Investigators collected records they say are connected to the suspected gambling activity as well. So far, authorities have made no arrests. The case is still under investigation. According to the tip received in January, DJ’s Pub allegedly had gaming machines running without the required license. The tip also claimed customers who won were being paid with either cash or gift cards. Over the next several months, investigators made multiple visits to the bar as they followed up on those allegations. They said they observed the machines being used during those visits. Michigan regulators say illegal gambling machines paid winnings in cash and gift cards at Muskegon bar Star 8, Inc. operates DJ’s Pub, which has previously faced state enforcement involving gambling at the establishment. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission took action against the business in 2021. That earlier proceeding ended with the commission finding violations of Michigan’s Liquor Control Code related to illegal gambling taking place at the bar. “Illegal gamb

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Fewer Americans gambling as lotteries and casinos lose participants, survey says

Americans are gambling less often than they did a decade ago, according to Gallup , with some of the biggest declines showing up in lotteries, casinos and workplace pools. Across Gallup telephone polls conducted in June and July, 45% of U.S. adults said they had participated in at least one type of gambling during the previous year. A decade earlier, that figure was 64%, roughly matching results from 2003 and 2007. More than 2,200 adults took part in the latest telephone surveys. The percentage of U.S. adults who report doing any kind of gambling during the past year is 45%, down from 64% a decade ago. pic.twitter.com/yAT4ZOUv6G — Gallup (@Gallup) August 17, 2026 Lottery tickets still lead Gallup’s list of gambling activities, though fewer people are buying them. From 1989 through 1999, a majority of Americans reported purchasing state lottery tickets. Participation later slipped into the upper-40% range and has now dropped to 31%. Casino gambling has moved in the same direction. While 20% of adults reported visiting casinos to gamble in 1989, the share climbed to 30% in 2003 before falling to 14% today. Internet gambling stands apart from that broader retreat. Gallup found 4% currently gamble for money online, the only measured category that has avoided a decline over time. Workplace pools have fallen from 15% in the early 2000s to 7%, while video poker participation has tumbled from a 20% high in 1999 to 5%. Sports betting has changed relatively little since 2003, although today’s participation remains below levels Gallup measured during the late 1980s and 1990s. Survey shows overall gambling falls for Americans while online sports betting gains ground Separate research points to strong growth in digital sports wagering. An online Siena Research Institute and St. Bonaventure University survey released in April found 27% of Americans had an active sportsbook account , up from 22% in 2025 and 19% in 2024. Among men ages 18 to 49, 52% reported having an account. The survey, covering 3,084 U.S. residents, found 22% of Americans currently wager on sports. It also identified growing concerns: 60% of bettors reported chasing losses, while 63% said they had wagered at least $100 in a single day. A separate 2025 TaxAct survey of 750 adults ages 18 to 64 found widespread interest in sports betting but limited understanding of taxes. Only 18% knew all gambling winnings must be reported to the IRS. Gallup, meanwhile, found declines across every major demographic group compared with 2016. Participation reached 54% among households earning at least $100,000, versus 45% for those earning $50,000 to $99,999 and 40% below $50,000. Men reported gambling more frequently than women, 49% to 40%. Adults 50 and older registered a 50% rate, compared with 41% among younger adults. Survey method also mattered. Gallup’s parallel online poll measured overall participation at 53%, while telephone polling found 45%. For sports gambling, those figures were 21% online and 15% by telephone. On potential harms, 3% of all adults and 7% of gamblers told Gallup they “sometimes gamble more than [they] think [they] should.” Another 9% said gambling had created family problems. Attitudes are shifting too. Gallup found 57% of Americans now consider gambling morally acceptable, down from 67% in 2016. Featured image: Canva The post Fewer Americans gambling as lotteries and casinos lose participants, survey says appeared first on ReadWrite .

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Washington and Crypto.com pause litigation, new federal bill targets wildfire markets, today in prediction market news LIVESource linked
Technology

Washington and Crypto.com pause litigation, new federal bill targets wildfire markets, today in prediction market news LIVE

Today in prediction market news, we’re following fresh legal and regulatory developments, including Washington and Crypto.com agreeing to pause their litigation pending a Ninth Circuit ruling, Connecticut urging the Second Circuit to deny Kalshi interim relief, and a new federal bill seeking to ban prediction markets on wildfires . We’re also tracking prediction market executives sitting out today’s White House meeting, questions surrounding Kalshi’s recently announced Catalist Sports partnership after related pages disappeared, and the latest developments across prediction markets, regulation, crypto, and sports event trading throughout the day. The post Washington and Crypto.com pause litigation, new federal bill targets wildfire markets, today in prediction market news LIVE appeared first on ReadWrite .

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Kalshi battles regulators, Novig sues Wisconsin, Polymarket faces banking scrutiny, today in prediction market news LIVESource linked
Business

Kalshi battles regulators, Novig sues Wisconsin, Polymarket faces banking scrutiny, today in prediction market news LIVE

Today in prediction market news, we’re following another busy day for Kalshi, including its escalating geofencing fight with Nevada regulators , a Connecticut federal court’s rejection of its bid for an injunction pending appeal, and sports-mention markets becoming temporarily unavailable amid a federal investigation. We’ll also track Novig’s lawsuit against Wisconsin , JPMorgan’s reported decision to end its banking relationship with Polymarket over regulatory concerns, Trump’s meeting with crypto and prediction market executives, and breaking developments across prediction markets, regulation, crypto, and sports event trading throughout the day. The post Kalshi battles regulators, Novig sues Wisconsin, Polymarket faces banking scrutiny, today in prediction market news LIVE appeared first on ReadWrite .

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Bally’s slows parts of Chicago casino construction amid video gambling disputeSource linked
Business

Bally’s slows parts of Chicago casino construction amid video gambling dispute

Bally’s is slowing parts of construction on its $1.7 billion permanent Chicago casino as it pushes back against the possible expansion of video gambling terminals (VGTs) in the city. The company told the Chicago Community Builders Collective that it is “resetting the pace” of some work. For now, the corporation says that adjustment will not delay the casino’s planned early 2027 opening. “Bally’s issued a notification to the Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC) that it is resetting the pace of construction of elements of Bally’s Chicago permanent casino,” the company said. Bally’s poor decision making and reckless brinksmanship should not impact a city-controlled CDOT project. Bally’s sure needs bridges and roadways reopened if their alleged future casino operation wants to see any visitors… pic.twitter.com/N2sye4L7A5 — Brendan Reilly (@AldReilly) August 9, 2026 The company says the “potential for an uncontrolled proliferation” of video gambling terminals would run against commitments Chicago made when the casino agreement was reached. “The potential for an uncontrolled proliferation of video gambling terminals (VGTs) is in breach of the City’s commitment not to expand gaming in the Host Community Agreement (HCA) and creates uncertainty that could be harmful for Bally’s Chicago prospects,” the company said. “Initial opening of the permanent Casino remains unchanged for early 2027 and Bally’s Chicago intends to fully honor its commitments under the Host Community Agreement,” it added. Bally’s says VGTs threatens casino investment in Chicago but not opening date The slowdown could affect workers on one of Chicago’s biggest developments. Bally’s says up to 1,500 union tradespeople could potentially feel the impact. “We do not take this lightly because of the potential impact on many of the 1,500 union trades people who have been working hard to build Bally’s Chicago,” the company said. Bally’s says it is reviewing its options while hoping for “more productive discussions with the Mayor’s Office and City Council.” The dispute follows a major July milestone, when the casino reached its full structural height at 560 W. Grand Ave., according to our previous reporting. Crews installed the final steel beam at the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site. “This is a significant milestone for Bally’s Chicago and reflects the incredible effort of the union trades and partners who have made this moment possible,” Kim said at the time. “We’re proud of the progress to date and excited to move into the next phase as we deliver a one-of-a-kind destination for the people of Chicago.” Plans for the 30-acre River West property include 3,400 slots, 173 table games, 10 food and beverage venues, a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, parking and riverfront amenities. About 3,000 permanent jobs are expected. Construction has faced earlier setbacks involving debris entering the Chicago River, an unauthorized waste hauler and engineering changes that forced foundation revisions and relocation of the hotel tower. “We had some fits and starts,” Kim said during the July topping-off event. “We’re going to be done early next year. We’re excited to finish it all up.” The Illinois Gaming Board has extended operations at Bally’s temporary Medinah Temple casino through September 9, 2027. Bally’s had already moved in June to defend its investment, saying it assembled an “excellent and knowledgeable team” and hired RKF Global PLLC, where former Mayor Lori Lightfoot is a partner. “As we ramp up efforts to protect our investment in the city, we have also brought on the strategic counsel of RKF Global PLLC,” Bally’s said. Chicago officials have projected the permanent casino could eventually produce more than $100 million annually for police and fire pensions and other city priorities.  Featured image: Heron Agency / Bally’s Corporation The post Bally’s slows parts of Chicago casino construction amid video gambling dispute appeared first on ReadWrite .

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FanDuel pays Iowa $95K penalty after offering prohibited sports betting marketsSource linked
Sports

FanDuel pays Iowa $95K penalty after offering prohibited sports betting markets

FanDuel will pay Iowa regulators $95,000 after acknowledging that its sportsbook offered wagers the state had not approved. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved the stipulated agreement with Betfair Interactive US LLC, FanDuel Sportsbook’s operator. The case covers two compliance violations . During the period involved, Betfair held licenses for retail sports betting at Diamond Jo Dubuque and Diamond Jo Worth while also running FanDuel’s licensed online sportsbook in Iowa. FanDuel faces mounting scrutiny over Iowa betting compliance The larger penalty arose from wagers on the Philippines-based Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. FanDuel told regulators on May 7, 2025, that it had offered MPBL betting from June 4, 2024, through April 2, 2025. Iowa permits wagering on international professional basketball leagues only when they are their country’s top tier and are sanctioned or recognized by FIBA. The MPBL did not qualify. Customers made 21,638 straight, parlay and round-robin bets containing MPBL selections, producing $1,189,640.93 in handle and an initial FanDuel profit of $60,692.19. FanDuel later reviewed its basketball offerings and strengthened its process for checking international leagues. The company refunded affected Iowa customers’ net losses while leaving winning payouts intact. On July 9, 2025, FanDuel returned $154,898.99 to 1,665 customers and adjusted its July revenue filing by negative $60,110.03. A separate commission review on July 8, 2025, found FanDuel’s Iowa retail sportsbooks had taken wagers involving yellow and red cards in international soccer. Iowa prohibits proposition bets tied to officiating decisions, including soccer cards. FanDuel pulled those markets and began changing its filtering process. They had not appeared on its Iowa mobile sportsbook. Regulators identified one affected $134.58 parlay. Because FanDuel could not identify the bettor, it surrendered $44.86 through Iowa’s unclaimed-property process. FanDuel stopped operating Iowa retail sportsbooks on April 15, 2026. The latest action follows a separate $125,000 Iowa penalty reported in July 2025 covering five counts involving unauthorized wagers and responsible-gambling requirements. Commission official Daryle Olsen said at that hearing: “Five counts within a very short period of time is just too much, you know, and so I know they’re dealing with a big volume. I believe FanDuel is our number two operator in the state. But we just expect more. “I think in fairness, the Commission has to look at how we treat our out-of-state operators versus our brick-and-mortar casinos, because we need to be consistent, and that’s all we’re trying to do. We expect more. “I think our job is to tell them what we expect, lay out the concerns, and then hopefully they go back and fix it, and we don’t have to deal with this again.” FanDuel spokesperson Ben Roth said then: “We take responsibility for the matters represented in the settlement before the Commission today and understand that we did not meet the high standard that we hold for ourselves. “In response to the issues before you today, FanDuel has worked to remediate the various root causes through a combination of manual remediation efforts. “That includes increased training, more detailed checklists and runbooks for the deployment of content, and of course, automation wherever possible to avoid the potential for manual error. “FanDuel has addressed each issue by ensuring that no impacted customer has been adversely affected by these issues, and FanDuel has disgorged itself of any resulting revenue as a result of these.” Under the new settlement, Betfair accepted a $50,000 penalty for the basketball violation and $45,000 for the soccer markets. The money goes to Iowa’s general fund. Betfair CFO David Jennings signed the agreement July 24, 2026, and commission Chair Amy Burkhart approved it July 27. Featured image: Canva The post FanDuel pays Iowa $95K penalty after offering prohibited sports betting markets appeared first on ReadWrite .

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Lawmakers urge MLB union to curb sportsbook promotions after Harper videoSource linked
Business

Lawmakers urge MLB union to curb sportsbook promotions after Harper video

Three members of Congress want Major League Baseball (MLB) and the players union to tighten rules that allow athletes to appear in sportsbook promotions after a personalized video featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was sent to a customer battling gambling addiction . In an August 10 letter to Commissioner Robert D. Manfred and Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Bruce Meyer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Paul D. Tonko and Valerie P. Foushee argued the episode exposed serious weaknesses in current policies governing player relationships with betting companies. Congress just called FanDuel’s VIP a PREDATORY SYSTEM designed to keep problem gamblers betting. Three lawmakers are DEMANDING the MLB and the MLBPA end the rules that let them send a personalized Bryce Harper video to a guy who lost $1.5 million. Answer requested by 8/24. https://t.co/qMBbKGLM4x pic.twitter.com/xpTkwnmjA3 — Ariel Givner (@GivnerAriel) August 10, 2026 The letter refers to Terry Thompson, who was dealing with severe financial hardship tied to gambling addiction during late 2024. According to the lawmakers, Thompson received a customized video in which Harper wished him an “extra special Thanksgiving” and mentioned his son. They said Thompson’s FanDuel VIP manager requested the message to encourage additional betting. The lawmakers wrote that Thompson ultimately wagered $18.5 million through the sportsbook, lost more than $1.5 million, took out multiple mortgages on his home, and sold shares in his business to continue gambling. Bryce Harper case becomes flashpoint for MLB betting rules Harper has strongly disputed any suggestion that he knowingly participated in a gambling promotion. Responding publicly after reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer , he said he believed he was simply recording a holiday greeting through Cameo for a fan and had no reason to think it would be used commercially. “In response to a recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, I want to provide the following facts,” Harper wrote. He said the Cameo request came from a user identified only as “Bryttanni” and appeared to be a standard personal greeting rather than a business order. Harper said he read the requested script “in good faith.” “FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it,” Harper said. He added that he never would have recorded the message had he known how it would be used or anything about the recipient or “any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.” “Contrary to the Inquirer’s suggestion, I did not know the Cameo video would be used for a FanDuel VIP promotion, and I have no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever,” he wrote. The congressional letter argues that VIP programs cultivate close relationships with bettors and can become especially harmful when directed at people experiencing gambling problems. Lawmakers said online betting platforms give VIP managers repeated opportunities to target vulnerable customers with personalized marketing. They urged MLB and the MLBPA to address the issue during collective bargaining talks, explain whether existing endorsement rules sufficiently protect fans, and consider banning personalized sportsbook marketing involving players. They requested answers by August 24. At the time, a FanDuel spokesperson told ReadWrite: “FanDuel is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers. Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives.” Featured image: dmbosstone via Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0 The post Lawmakers urge MLB union to curb sportsbook promotions after Harper video appeared first on ReadWrite .

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Scotts Valley challenges Interior decision over disputed Vallejo casino gaming eligibility rulingSource linked
Technology

Scotts Valley challenges Interior decision over disputed Vallejo casino gaming eligibility ruling

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has returned to federal court after the U.S. Department of the Interior reversed course on whether its trust land in Vallejo, California, can be used for gaming.  The lawsuit , filed August 7 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges the department’s July 30 decision that the roughly 160-acre property does not qualify as the tribe’s “restored lands” under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, known as IGRA. Interior reverses Vallejo casino approval after review finds historical connection – https://t.co/WCFiQqV4PA @RWW — Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) August 4, 2026 Interior continues to recognize Scotts Valley as a restored tribe and agrees it satisfies the timing and modern-connection requirements under federal regulations. The tribe is arguing that it has a significant historical connection to the Vallejo property. Latest reversal from Interior triggers another legal challenge from Scotts Valley According to the complaint, the department abandoned the approach it previously used when it approved the property earlier this year. The tribe argues the latest decision is “arbitrary, capricious, contrary to law, unsupported by the administrative record” and conflicts with both IGRA and prior federal court rulings. Scotts Valley first sought federal approval for the Vallejo site in 2016, submitting thousands of pages of historical, genealogical, anthropological and expert evidence supporting its ties to Vallejo and the surrounding North Bay. Interior rejected the application in 2019, but a federal judge threw out that decision in 2022, finding the agency had improperly discounted evidence supporting the tribe’s historical presence. After reconsidering the matter, Interior approved the land in January 2025, took the property into trust and concluded it qualified as restored lands eligible for gaming. The agency relied on broader interpretations of “occupancy” and “vicinity” while evaluating evidence involving Chief Augustine, the tribe’s role in the North Bay ranching economy and territory associated with an unratified 1851 treaty. The approval did not end the dispute. Opponents, including the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, maintained the site lies within Patwin ancestral territory. During a 16-month review, Interior revisited the record after determining evidence had previously been excluded. Last month the department reversed its earlier approval, concluding Scotts Valley had still not demonstrated the historical connection required under federal law. The legal fight continued while Scotts Valley pursued a temporary “preview casino” using modular buildings and Class II gaming machines near Interstate 80 and Highway 37. Yocha Dehe separately sued Vallejo over city approvals connected to that temporary facility, while several California tribes urged Scotts Valley to delay gaming until the federal review concluded. The latest complaint says Interior effectively turned historical disruption of the tribe’s ancestral ties into evidence against it by demanding proof tied too closely to the specific Vallejo parcel. The tribe also says it had already begun operating a Class II gaming facility but was “compelled to suspend gaming operations” after receiving the July decision. Scotts Valley is asking the court to declare the decision unlawful, set it aside and restore Interior’s January 2025 determination that the Vallejo property qualifies as restored lands eligible for gaming under IGRA. Following the reversal, Yocha Dehe Chairman Anthony Roberts welcomed the outcome, saying the review confirmed that Vallejo is Patwin ancestral territory and that decisions involving tribal lands should be based on documented historical ties. Kletsel Dehe Chairman Charlie Wright likewise said the ruling protected the integrity of the restored-lands process by ensuring gaming eligibility is grounded in the historical record. Featured image: Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians The post Scotts Valley challenges Interior decision over disputed Vallejo casino gaming eligibility ruling appeared first on ReadWrite .

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