ian-valentino Page 9 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Why Physical Product Sales Are Drawing Attention in the Sweepstakes Casino Industry
As sweepstakes casinos continue adapting to an increasingly restrictive legal landscape, some operators are testing a new business model that shifts the focus away from traditional virtual currency purchases. Instead of selling digital coin packages that include Sweeps Coins, a handful of platforms are attaching promotional gaming currency to purchases of physical products. The approach is generating discussion throughout the ...
Sweepstakes Casino Closures Continue With Money Factory and CoinFrenzy Exits
The list of sweepstakes casino operators leaving the U.S. market continues to grow. Two emerging brands, Money Factory and CoinFrenzy, have announced plans to shut down operations, adding to a wave of closures that has swept through the industry in 2026. The developments come as lawmakers, regulators, and courts increase scrutiny of sweepstakes-based gaming models across several states. While neither ...
Uncertainty Grows Around Greenbrier Casino Amid State Approval Process
The casino at The Greenbrier Resort could face a temporary shutdown as state regulators review a refinancing transaction that would change the ownership structure behind the historic West Virginia property. The Justice family expects a major refinancing deal tied to ongoing litigation surrounding The Greenbrier Resort to close this week. However, attorneys involved in the transaction say continued casino operations ...
FanDuel Defends VIP Program After Questions Over Bryce Harper Message
FanDuel is standing by its VIP customer program and responsible gaming policies after facing questions from several U.S. lawmakers regarding a personalized video message from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper. The issue centers on a video recorded for Terry Thompson, a FanDuel VIP customer who has previously alleged that sportsbooks encouraged harmful gambling behavior. The video drew attention from lawmakers ...
Iowa Sweepstakes Casinos Lose Major Game Supplier After Legal Changes
A leading sweepstakes casino game supplier has become the latest company to distance itself from Iowa as the state's regulatory environment continues to evolve. 3 Oaks Gaming has removed its games from sweepstakes casinos operating in Iowa, marking one of the first major software providers to take action following recent legislative changes. While the state's new law does not explicitly ...
New Jersey Sportsbooks Rebound With Strong July Revenue Performance
New Jersey sportsbooks generated nearly $100 million in gross gaming revenue during July, bouncing back from a comparatively difficult June and posting one of their strongest monthly performances of 2026. According to the latest figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, online and retail sportsbooks combined for $97 million in gross revenue from $816.9 million in wagers ...
Another Sweeps Casino Exits as Compliance Costs Continue to Rise
LuckyStake is the latest sweepstakes casino to leave the market, adding another name to a growing list of platforms that have closed amid increasing regulatory scrutiny and rising operational costs. The operator announced that it will cease operations this month, giving players a limited window to redeem eligible Sweeps Coins before the platform fully exits the industry. The closure is ...
NFL Expands Official Sportsbook Partnerships With Fanatics
Fanatics Sportsbook has secured a new agreement with the National Football League, adding another milestone to the company's rapidly growing presence in the regulated sports betting industry. The deal makes Fanatics one of the NFL's official sportsbook partners, placing the operator alongside several established betting brands that already hold league partnerships. The agreement represents another step in Fanatics' effort to ...
VGW Legal Battle Advances as Certified Class Action Heads Toward Potential Resolution
The legal challenges facing VGW Holdings, the parent company of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, have reached a new stage after a court granted class certification in one of the industry's closely watched lawsuits. The ruling allows the case to proceed on behalf of a broader group of plaintiffs rather than requiring individual claims to be pursued separately. ...
Arizona’s Record Betting Handle Reveals Limits of Sports Wagering Tax Revenue
Arizona’s sports betting market hit a new milestone in June, but the record-setting month did not translate into a larger payday for state coffers. According to figures released by the Arizona Department of Gaming, bettors wagered more than $660 million during June, a year-over-year increase of more than $120 million. The total represents one of the highest monthly handles ever ...
Virginia Delays Sweepstakes Casino Ban, Turns to Industry Review Ahead of 2027
Virginia lawmakers have decided against an immediate ban on sweepstakes casinos, opting instead to gather more information before determining the industry's future in the state. Senate Bill 579, which initially sought to prohibit the operation and promotion of certain sweepstakes gaming platforms, has been carried over to the 2027 legislative session. The move gives regulators and lawmakers additional time to ...
Missouri Education Funding Debate Grows as Sports Betting Revenue Lags
Missouri’s sports betting market was promoted as a new source of funding for public education when voters approved legalization. Less than two years later, some lawmakers are questioning whether the financial benefits match what supporters suggested during the campaign. New concerns emerged this week as state officials and legislators discussed how sports betting revenue is being used and whether it ...
Florida Lawsuits Put Major Sweepstakes Casino Operators Under New Scrutiny
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed lawsuits against two of the biggest names in the sweepstakes casino industry, alleging that Stake.us and VGW are operating illegal online gambling businesses in the state. The legal action marks one of the most significant enforcement efforts Florida has taken against the sweepstakes gaming sector and could have implications beyond state borders. The ...
RealPrize and LoneStar Exit Delaware After Regulatory Action
Delaware regulators have taken action against two more sweepstakes casino operators, forcing RealPrize and LoneStar Casino to end their Sweeps Coins offerings in the state. The move follows cease-and-desist letters issued by the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) in mid-August. It marks another step in the state’s ongoing effort to remove unlicensed sweepstakes gaming platforms. Both casinos are operated ...
Why Sportsbooks Are Taking a Measured View of College Football Futures
College football futures betting has long been a popular preseason market, but DraftKings believes bettors are approaching 2026 differently. According to longtime DraftKings oddsmaker Johnny Avello, uncertainty surrounding modern college football rosters has made it more difficult for both sportsbooks and customers to confidently evaluate teams before the season begins. The shifting landscape of college athletics has created a situation ...
Nebraska Voters Set to Decide Future of Mobile Sports Betting This November
Nebraska has become the latest state to put the future of online sports betting in voters' hands. State officials have certified two related ballot measures that would let residents decide whether mobile sports wagering should become legal and regulated statewide. The certification means the proposals will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot. If approved, Nebraska could join ...
Maryland Lawmakers Leave Sweepstakes Regulation Unchanged After 2026 Session
Maryland lawmakers ended the 2026 legislative session without approving legislation that would have restricted sweepstakes casinos across the state. Despite gaining significant support in the House of Delegates, two key measures, HB 295 and HB 1226, failed to advance through the Senate before lawmakers adjourned for the year. The outcome leaves Maryland's sweepstakes casino landscape unchanged for now. While several ...
Virginia Online Casino Debate Intensifies Amid Questions Over Post-Session Campaign Donations
Virginia's online casino debate has taken a new turn after several lawmakers who supported legalization efforts received significant campaign contributions following the 2026 legislative session. The donations, first reported by Virginia political journalist David Poole, have prompted renewed scrutiny from opponents of online casino expansion. While supporters of regulated iGaming argue legalization could create a controlled market and new state ...
Florida Targets Sweepstakes Giants With Broad Recovery Demand
Florida’s legal challenge against major sweepstakes casino operators VGW and Stake has moved beyond simply seeking to halt their business activities in the state. The lawsuits filed by Attorney General James Uthmeier are also pursuing one of the industry’s most aggressive financial remedies: the recovery of allegedly ill-gotten gains through disgorgement. The move places Florida among the most assertive states ...
Louisiana Sweepstakes Casino Ban Faces Early Test as Some Operators Remain Active
Louisiana's new sweepstakes casino prohibition was designed to be one of the toughest in the country, but several operators appear to have remained available to players weeks after the law took effect. Industry tracking has identified five sweepstakes casino platforms that were reportedly still accepting Louisiana players nearly a month after the state's August 1 enforcement deadline. Those operators include ...