ian-valentino Page 8 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Illinois Sportsbooks Record Largest Handle Drop of 2026 in May
Illinois sportsbooks experienced another downturn in May, with total sports betting handle reaching $1.14 billion, a 10.2% decline compared to May 2025. The decrease represents the largest year-over-year drop recorded in the state so far in 2026 and highlights a broader slowdown that has emerged throughout the year. May marked the fourth month in 2026 in which Illinois reported a ...
Iowa’s Casino Sportsbooks Regain Ground as Retail Betting Jumps in June
Iowa’s sports betting market delivered an unusual result in June 2026. While overall wagering volume remained largely unchanged from a year earlier, bettors increasingly placed wagers at physical casino sportsbooks rather than through online platforms. According to data from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, total handle reached $185.4 million, almost identical to the $185.2 million recorded in June 2025. ...
UFC 329's Fastest Twist Delivers Huge Sportsbook Payout Swing
Conor McGregor's long-awaited UFC return ended in dramatic and unexpected fashion, creating one of the biggest sportsbook wins tied to a major MMA event in recent memory. The UFC 329 main event against Max Holloway lasted just 69 seconds before McGregor suffered a knee injury that left him unable to continue. What had been promoted as a blockbuster comeback after ...
Mississippi Governor Signals Interest as Mobile Sports Betting Debate Returns
Mississippi’s long-running debate over statewide mobile sports betting has resurfaced, bringing renewed attention to the differing views held by state leaders. While retail sports betting is already legal at licensed casinos, lawmakers remain divided on whether wagering should be expanded to mobile devices across the state. The discussion has gained traction again after comments from Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, who ...
USMNT World Cup Run Drives Unprecedented Betting Interest in Belgium Clash
The United States men's national team's World Cup meeting with Belgium ended in elimination, but the match produced record-breaking results for sportsbooks across the regulated U.S. betting market. Multiple operators reported unprecedented wagering interest as American fans flocked to place bets on one of the tournament's most anticipated knockout-stage contests. The surge in betting activity reflected broader interest in the ...
NCAA Renews Effort To Eliminate Most Collegiate Player Props
The NCAA is once again pressing regulators and sportsbooks to reconsider the availability of player prop bets involving college athletes. NCAA President Charlie Baker renewed the organization's position this week, arguing that prop wagering on individual athletes creates unnecessary risks for student-athletes and the broader integrity of collegiate competition. Player prop bets allow bettors to wager on specific performances or ...
Celebrity Deals Dwarf Responsible Gambling Spending Across U.S. Betting Industry
A new industry audit has highlighted a substantial gap between spending on celebrity marketing and responsible gambling initiatives across the U.S. gambling sector. According to research conducted by communications firm 5W, gambling operators spent an estimated $520 million on celebrity and athlete partnerships during 2025, compared with approximately $60 million allocated to responsible gambling programs and communications. That means spending ...
Team USA Match Could Deliver A Super Bowl-Scale Betting Moment
Team USA’s Round of 16 clash with Belgium is shaping up as more than a major World Cup match. According to sportsbook operators and industry analysts, it has become one of the most significant betting events in U.S. soccer history, fueled by a combination of national interest, increased access to legal wagering, and the team’s unexpected tournament success. Sportsbooks have ...
Ohio Bill Targets Online Sportsbooks With Sweeping Betting Restrictions
Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would significantly reshape the state's sports wagering market, including a ban on online sports betting. House Bill 971, introduced by Republican Representatives Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear, would move sports wagering to an exclusively retail model while also restricting several popular betting formats. The proposal represents one of the most aggressive attempts by a ...
Nebraska Ballot Push Puts Online Sports Betting Expansion in Focus
Nebraska could soon join the growing list of states that permit online sports betting. A ballot initiative backed by industry-supported groups is expected to qualify for the November election, giving voters the opportunity to determine whether mobile wagering should be legalized and regulated statewide. If approved, Nebraska would become one of the latest states to expand sports betting beyond retail ...
Borgata Online Relaunch Brings New Look to New Jersey and Pennsylvania Players
Borgata Online is set to relaunch its online casino platform on July 3 in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, marking the brand’s most significant update since its original debut in 2013. The launch comes just ahead of the Independence Day holiday and coincides with July 4 celebrations planned at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. The online casino brand, ...
Nevada Sports Betting Downturn Deepens as Revenue Continues to Fall
Nevada’s sports betting market experienced another setback in May, as both wagering volume and operator revenue posted year-over-year declines. The downturn marks the fourth consecutive month in which the state has recorded lower betting handle compared to the same period in the previous year. According to figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, bettors wagered approximately $545.7 million during ...
Caesars Secures Key Tribal Agreements in Maine iGaming Market
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its partnerships with three of Maine's federally recognized Wabanaki Nations as the company positions itself for the state's upcoming online casino market. The new agreements cover the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi'kmaq Nation, and the Penobscot Nation, extending relationships that were originally formed for online sports betting operations. The development comes as Maine prepares ...
Indiana Punts Decision on College Player Prop Betting Restrictions Until September
Indiana regulators have opted against making an immediate decision on whether to prohibit collegiate player prop wagers, pushing the discussion into the fall and leaving the betting markets available for the start of the 2026 college football season. During a recent Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) meeting, commissioners chose to delay action on a potential ban until Sept. 24, citing the ...
Michigan Expands Responsible Gaming Resources With Youth-Focused Prevention Campaign
Michigan's responsible gaming website, Don't Regret the Bet, has received a Platinum Hermes Creative Award, a national honor presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The recognition comes after the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) expanded the platform from a single-page resource into a larger educational hub focused on gambling awareness and support services. According to the MGCB, ...
Caesars and Wabanaki Nations Prepare for Maine iGaming Rollout
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its relationship with three Wabanaki Nations in Maine as the parties prepare for a potential online casino launch in the state. The agreement includes the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Penobscot Nation. It builds on an existing partnership that has supported Caesars Sportsbook operations in Maine since 2023. The new long-term ...
NBA Pushes for Restrictions During Ongoing Terry Rozier Gambling Case
The NBA and the Charlotte Hornets are backing efforts to keep existing bond restrictions on former NBA guard Terry Rozier as his federal gambling case moves through the court system. According to court filings, league and team representatives support a prohibition that prevents Rozier from contacting current and former Hornets players and staff while the investigation and legal proceedings remain ...
Indiana Reviews Potential Changes to College Athlete Prop Betting
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) is preparing to consider a request from the NCAA that would prohibit proposition bets involving individual college athletes. The issue is scheduled for discussion during the commission’s June 25 business meeting, where regulators will evaluate whether such wagers should continue to be available in the state. Prop bets allow bettors to wager on specific individual ...
2026 World Cup Becoming Sports Betting’s Biggest Stage
The 2026 World Cup is expected to attract unprecedented attention from sports bettors, with industry analysts projecting that it could become the largest betting event ever seen in the United States. Estimates suggest U.S. sportsbooks could generate between $2.8 billion and $4.3 billion in betting handle throughout the tournament, a significant increase compared to the roughly $900 million to $1 ...
Illinois Betting Revenue Climbs Despite Fourth Straight Handle Decline
Illinois sportsbooks reported another year-over-year decrease in betting handle during April, continuing a trend that has persisted throughout much of 2026. According to data released by the Illinois Gaming Board, bettors wagered $1.21 billion during the month, marking the seventh consecutive month the state surpassed the $1 billion handle threshold. Despite that milestone, handle declined 5.5% compared to April 2025 ...