ian-valentino Page 13 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Sweeps Legalization and Regulation Gets Push in Chicago
Chicago aldermen want to legalize and regulate sweepstakes machines to stop illegal gambling and increase city revenue. These video gaming machines, common in gas stations and liquor stores, operate in a legal gray area. Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) said they are widespread in African-American neighborhoods and linked to crime. She suggested limiting stores to three to five machines with required ...
BetMGM Illinois Implements Higher Minimum Bet Cost to Offset Tax Increase
BetMGM set a $2.50 minimum bet for all wagers in Illinois that started on July 16, 2025. This change follows a new state tax that began on July 1, 2025. The Illinois Department of Revenue charges sportsbooks 25 cents per bet for the first 20 million bets each year. After that, the tax rises to 50 cents per bet. This ...
DraftKings Set to Double Down in Real Money Gaming Investments
DraftKings, a leading sports betting company, is ramping up its investment in real money gaming (RMG). Its official blog highlights plans to grow its presence in the fast-growing online gaming market. As more states legalize digital gambling, DraftKings aims to attract new users and solidify its position as a market leader. RMG was once limited to online sportsbooks and casino ...
Yearly Revenue Growth Continues in Michigan Despite 5.4% Drop in iGaming in June
Michigan’s commercial and tribal internet gaming operators reported $285.2 million in gross receipts for June 2025, a 5.4% decrease from May’s $301.4 million, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). iGaming generated $240.6 million, down from $251.47 million in May. Internet sports betting receipts fell to $44.6 million from $49.96 million. Despite the monthly decline, the industry showed strong ...
Missouri Sportsbook Legalization Process Continues With Local Hearing
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) held a public hearing on July 17, 2025, to gather feedback on proposed sports betting regulations. The hearing, conducted in Jefferson City, focused on licensing rules for sportsbooks. No public comments were received during the session, which aligns with the state’s plan to launch legal sports betting by December 1, 2025. This follows voter approval ...
State of TN Fines Five Offshore Gaming Companies Total of $250K
On July 15, 2025, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) fined five offshore sportsbooks $250,000 for operating without a license. Each operator—BetAnySports, Bookmaker, JazzSports, BetOnline, and Everygame—received a $50,000 penalty. The SWC, which oversees the state’s online-only sports betting, claims these companies broke the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act by accepting bets illegally. Tennessee legalized online sports betting in November 2020, ...
New York Reports Largest Sports Betting Revenue Decline Since Aug. 2024
New York’s online sports betting market saw its biggest revenue drop since August 2024, per the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The NYSGC annual fiscal report showed that mobile sports betting revenue was $206.5 million in June, down 17% from May’s $248.9 million. Still, June’s revenue was 65.2% higher than the $125 million from June 2024. The statewide hold ...
Seven Pro-iGaming Organizations Align to Fight Anti-DFS California Efforts
On July 15, 2025, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta introduced AB 831. The bill aims to ban daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sweepstakes. It labels DFS as illegal betting under state law, similar to sports wagering. This follows a 2023 review requested by former Senator Scott Wilk. Voters rejected online sports betting in 2022, prompting this move. The bill’s broad ...
Louisiana AG Draws the Line Against Sweepstakes Casinos
Early in July, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill declared online sweepstakes casinos illegal. State Senator Rick Edmonds asked if these platforms, often called sweepstakes or social gaming, follow state gaming laws. Murrill said they do not. She explained that these sites use “Gold Coins” and “Sweepstakes Coins” to mimic gambling. Charging fees, keeping some funds, and giving prizes makes them ...
Michigan Online Gaming Regulator Delivers 19 Cease-and-Desist Letters
On July 2, 2025, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) sent letters to 19 unlicensed online gambling websites. These sites broke Michigan’s gaming laws by offering casino games and sports betting without a license. This is the MGCB’s biggest enforcement action yet. The goal is to keep players safe and support the state’s legal gaming industry. Only casinos licensed by ...
Super Group Exit US iGaming Market Amid Regulatory Developments
Super Group, the company behind Betway and Spin, decided on July 8, 2025, to stop offering online casino games in the US. It runs brands like Spin and Jackpot City in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company cited new regulatory rules and low profits as the reasons for this choice. Super Group previously left the US sports betting market in ...
Maine Governor Defers Action on Online Casino Bill
Maine lawmakers passed LD 1164 in June 2025 to legalize online casino gaming. The bill gives exclusive rights to four tribes: Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Mi’kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Each tribe would get one license to run online casinos with partners like DraftKings and Caesars. However, LD1164 is set to sit until January 2026 since Governor ...
Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois to Add $0.25 Fee Per Bet This Fall
Starting this fall, Fanatics Sportsbook will charge a $0.25 fee on every bet placed by customers in Illinois. This fee comes from a new state tax, effective July 1, 2025, which charges sportsbooks $0.25 per bet for the first 20 million bets each year. After that, the tax rises to $0.50 per bet. Fanatics expects to stay below 20 million ...
Research Into Problem Gaming Throughout US Military Emerges With Bipartisan Support
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) sees a problem as U.S. military service members and veterans' risk of gambling addiction is higher than others. One study found that military personnel’s problem gambling scores were double the rate for civilians, while another found that 40% of veterans seeking treatment for a gambling problem attempted suicide. The studies highlight the challenges ...
Sweeps Casinos in Arizona Receive Second Wave of Cease and Desist Letters
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) sent orders to seven illegal gambling websites in late June. The orders claimed the sweepstakes casinos were running without state approval. The ADG aims to stop them to keep Arizona residents safe from scams and protect the state’s economy. The orders demand that these sites stop all gambling activities for Arizona users immediately. This ...
Underdog Loses Lawsuit, California AG Issues DFS Opinion
Underdog, a company that runs online fantasy sports games, asked a court in Sacramento County on June 30, 2025, to stop California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, from sharing a legal opinion. His opinion is that daily fantasy sports (DFS), where players pick teams and win money based on real sports results, is against the law. Underdog wanted to keep things ...
Massachusetts iGaming Options Receive Regulation Considerations from Lawmakers
Massachusetts lawmakers are working to expand gaming options for residents. They want to legalize online casino gaming, known as iGaming, to increase state tax revenue. Two bills, House Bill 332 and Senate Bill 235, are being reviewed. On June 23, 2025, the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing to discuss these proposals. No final ...
California Sweeps Casino Ban On Table Alongside Tribal Support
California lawmakers have introduced a bill called AB 831. It aims to stop online sweepstakes casinos and some fantasy sports platforms from operating without more regulatory oversight. Assemblymember Avelino Valencia leads this effort, with the support of tribal nations and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). AB 831 defines fantasy sports and sweeps casinos as sites offering games of ...
May Sparks Huge Growth in Michigan iGaming Market in Year-Over-Year Report
Michigan’s internet gaming and sports betting operators earned $301.4 million in gross revenue in May 2025, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). This is a 25.9% jump from $239.5 million in May 2024 and a 3.7% increase from April 2025’s $290.7 million. The adjusted gross revenue reached $271.8 million, with iGaming at $236.2 million and sports betting at ...
50+ Sweeps Casinos Receive Legal Action From Louisiana and Mississippi
Louisiana and Mississippi acted against illegal online sweepstakes casinos in June 2025. More than 50 sweeps casinos received legal action earlier this month, setting the stage for reform in the iGaming industry. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) sent over 40 cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed sweepstakes and offshore betting sites. Meanwhile, Mississippi’s Gaming Commission (MGC) issued 10 orders, with some ...