Baba Casino has reopened access in six U.S. states, including Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, reducing its list of excluded states from 23 to 17. The move comes shortly after AB 831, which seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos in California, reached Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. By reopening in six states, Baba Casino is reshaping its U.S. strategy. The company is stepping back into markets where legal challenges have … New Jersey officials have launched a new program offering free financial counseling to residents affected by gambling-related stress. The initiative, called GamFin, provides confidential one-on-one sessions with certified counselors to help individuals and their families manage debt, create budgets, and regain financial stability. State leaders say the new counseling program underscores New Jersey’s ongoing commitment to responsible gaming. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin noted that while legalized gambling brings economic … According to Nebraska Public Media, iGaming supporters are launching a petition to let voters decide whether to allow online sports betting in 2026. Their push comes after a similar plan in the Legislature failed to get enough support earlier this year. Supporters say legal mobile betting would keep potential tax revenue within the state, while critics worry it could lead to addiction and financial problems for Nebraskans. Supporters of mobile … FanDuel is doubling down on the West Virginia sports betting and iGaming markets thanks to its new market access deal with Delaware North. The market access partnership announcement ties one of North America’s premier online gaming companies with Delaware North’s Mardi Gras Casino & Resort. “This partnership represents the best of what Delaware North strives for, bringing trusted, innovative experiences to our customers – and FanDuel is an incredible ally … Playing the lottery online is getting easier for players based in Minnesota and Arizona thanks to TheLotter US launching its new website. The lottery courier service debuted its new site in August, highlighting an optimized ticket-ordering process, modern design, and improved user performance. TheLotter US is planning to expand this new offering to additional states, but did not share specifics regarding when. TheLotter US also services online customers based in … Vivaro.us, a sweepstakes casino operator, has announced it will shut down its U.S. platform on October 1, 2025, due to growing regulatory uncertainty. The decision comes as state lawmakers and regulators increase scrutiny of sweepstakes casinos, with new legislation and lawsuits raising questions about the future of this segment of online gaming. Players at Vivaro.us have until the end of September to redeem their balances before the site closes. Vivaro.us … PayNearMe has raised $50 million in new funding to expand its payment technology and is rebranding to PayXM, a move that could have a direct impact on the iGaming industry. This platform is widely used by regulated iGaming operators to facilitate deposits and withdrawals. With the additional investment, PayNearMe says it will strengthen its PayXM user experience, aiming to streamline transactions, reduce costs for operators, and provide a smoother experience … New Jersey regulators are preparing to introduce mandatory standards aimed at strengthening responsible gambling safeguards in the state’s online betting industry. The proposal, put forth by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), would replace the current patchwork of voluntary practices with uniform rules requiring operators to identify and act on signs of risky behavior. These efforts come after a report to the governor on responsible gaming that was released earlier … Missouri will allow licensed sportsbooks to accept legal wagers beginning at 12:01 a.m. local time on December 1, 2025, with users able to deposit into approved sportsbook accounts starting 12:01 a.m. on November 17, 2025. While the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is expected to publish the full list of eligible sportsbooks by Oct. 22, 2025, here are the latest confirmed operators: DraftKings Circa FanDuel bet365 BetMGM Fanatics Underdog Caesars ESPN … Rush Street Interactive (RSI) is debuting the online gambling industry’s first integrated debit payments solution. It’s being rolled out on RSI’s BetRivers platform. The company announced it teamed up with Sightline to design and launch a “groundbreaking program that enhances the way BetRivers customers interact with its proprietary online gaming platform.” According to the press release, it is doing the initial rollout in New York where the company offers mobile … The Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA) has merged with the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA). This consolidates two industry advocacy groups into a single organization. The goal is to coordinate policy and regulatory responses on behalf of sweepstakes and social gaming operators. The SGLA launched in 2025, representing leading sweepstakes operators, including VGW (Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots), Publishers Clearing House (ARB Interactive), PLAYSTUDIOS, and Yellow Social Interactive. This … The NCAA enforcement staff is investigating alleged violations of sports betting rules and/or related failure-to-cooperate violations for 13 former men’s basketball student-athletes. According to the press release, the alleged behaviors in each case vary. The violations being reviewed include: Student-athletes betting on and against their own teams Sharing information with third parties for purposes of sports betting Knowingly manipulating scoring or game outcomes Refusing to participate in the enforcement staff’s …
Baba Casino Re-Opens in Six States With Less Legal Opposition to Sweeps Casinos
New Jersey Introduces Free Financial Counseling Initiative for Problem Gambling
Petition Keeps Momentum Alive for Nebraska Sports Betting
FanDuel, Delaware North Team Up For West Virginia Sports Betting, Gaming Partnership
by
Bill Gelman
TheLotter US Rolling Out New Site Featuring Upgraded Dashboard for Online Players
by
Bill Gelman
Vivaro.us Exits U.S. Market, Smaller Sweeps Operators Struggle Amidst Regulatory Challenges
PayNearMe Secures $50 Million in New Funding, Safer and Easier Payments for Players
New Jersey Gaming Authorities Propose New Responsible Gaming Protocols
What to Expect When Missouri Sports Betting Launches on Dec. 1
Gambling Industry’s First Integrated Payments Debit Solution Launched by RSI and Sightline
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Bill Gelman
SPGA Merges into SGLA, Creating a Unified Voice for Sweepstakes Advocacy
NCAA Investigating Alleged Sports Betting Violations Against 13 Former Student-Athletes
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Bill Gelman
Sweepstakes casino operator Spree has reopened its platform to players in Georgia and Alabama, removing both states from its list of excluded markets. The decision comes amid shifting regulatory and legal landscapes for sweepstakes casinos in the United States. Spree initially excluded Georgia and Alabama due to the increased legal risks in both states. In Alabama, Stake.us faced a lawsuit earlier this year, which alleged that the platform was running … Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) have introduced the Withdrawing Arduous Gaming Excise Rates (WAGER) Act. The bipartisan legislation would protect legal sportsbooks and gaming businesses. It would also help states like Nevada and Tribal communities reinvest gaming revenues into their local economies. The WAGER Act would exempt legal sports betting from “outdated handle and head taxes.” “In Nevada, legal sports betting is a thriving industry that … California’s legal action against sweepstakes casino operator Stake.us is already reshaping the industry. In the weeks following the lawsuit, 11 major game vendors have blocked their titles from the platform for players in the state, signaling broader concerns about regulatory risks and the future of sweepstakes gaming in one of its largest markets. The full list of game providers that have removed their titles from Stake.us includes some of the … California lawmakers have voted to ban sweepstakes casinos that use virtual coins to mimic real gambling, and Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Supporters say the move protects tribal gaming rights and stops unlicensed gambling, while critics argue it could hurt innovation and take away a popular form of online entertainment in one of the country’s biggest markets. Gov. Newsom now has 12 days … California’s Assembly Bill 831, which seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos statewide, has cleared its final committee hurdle and now heads to a full Assembly vote. The measure, already approved by the Senate, could move to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk as soon as a few days, setting the stage for the ban to take effect in early 2026 if enacted. Based on recent vote history and stakeholder alignment, the odds of … Ruby Sweeps has announced it will no longer offer sweepstakes play in Arizona, which came into effect on September 5, 2025. The decision comes as state regulators increase scrutiny of online sweepstakes casinos, prompting several operators to exit the Arizona market in recent months. While Ruby Sweeps did not receive a cease-and-desist like Pulsz and Thrillzz, their exit was a proactive move in an attempt to avoid any legal trouble. … The NCAA investigation ruled three former Fresno State players, Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver, as permanently ineligible after discovering that they were involved in sports betting. The ruling underscores the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to address gambling violations across college athletics. Together, Robinson, Vasquez, and Weaver placed approximately $2,200 in wagers and collected around $15,950 in winnings. This came after Robinson under-performed against statistical lines, with the profits split … The NBA continues to investigate Malik Beasley following concerns about possible gambling violations while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. While Beasley was mentioned in earlier federal inquiries involving other players, he has not been charged and is not currently a target of federal prosecutors. In 2024, at least one undisclosed sportsbook flagged unusual betting activity tied to Malik Beasley’s statistical lines. For example, significant wagers were placed on the … The FAIR BET Act, a federal proposal aimed at restoring the full 100% tax deduction for gambling losses was officially rejected as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the GOP-controlled House Rules Committee. Under current law, gamblers may only deduct losses up to the amount of their winnings, but changes in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act narrowed the scope of deductible expenses related to … The California Senate has unanimously approved AB 831, a bill aimed at banning sweepstakes-style online casino games. Passed with a 36-0 vote, the measure now returns to the Assembly for concurrence before it can advance to Governor Gavin Newsom. Since the Senate made significant amendments to AB 831 through a gut-and-amend process, the bill now returns to the Assembly for a concurrence vote. This step requires Assembly members to decide … When Missouri sports betting launches this December, ESPN Bet wants to be live. The Penn Entertainment brand took a big step toward making those plans a reality this week by submitting its application to the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC). Friday, September 12 is the deadline for operators looking to qualify for a temporary Missouri sports betting license for the anticipated December 1 launch. Like other states, Missouri’s sports betting law … The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued cease-and-desist letters to four more unlicensed offshore online casinos. Betty Wins, Orbit Spins, Pacific Spins Casino, and Yabby Casino have all been ordered to cease operations in the Great Lake State. All four brands are operated by Tech Zone Inc., a company registered offshore in the Union of Comoros. This is not the first incident of the MGCB using enforcement measures to …
Spree Casino Returns to Georgia and Alabama
Bipartisan WAGER Act Would Modernize Outdated Federal Taxes on Sports Bets
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Bill Gelman
11 Top Game Providers Leave Stake.us in California
California Anti-Sweeps Bill AB 831 Moves to Governor Newsom’s Desk
AB 831 Moves Forward as California Is Close to a Ban on Sweepstakes Casinos
Ruby Sweeps Shuts Down Sweepstakes Casino for Arizona Users
NCAA Permanently Bans Three Fresno State Basketball Players for Betting Violations
NBA Continues to Investigate Malik Beasley for Betting Violations
FAIR BET Act Rejected By House Rules Committee – 100% Tax Reduction Not Restored
California Senate Unanimously Passes AB 831
ESPN Bet Meets Missouri Sports Betting Application Deadline
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Bill Gelman
MGCB Continues Fight Against Illegal Operators – 4 More Operators Receive Cease and Desists
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Bill Gelman
A nationwide poll conducted by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) showed that Californians overwhelmingly oppose banning online social games with sweepstakes promotions. As a result, the SGLA is urging the rejection of Assembly Bill 831 (AB831), which threatens to ban sweepstakes casinos. The California Senate Appropriations Committee has moved the bill to a vote on the Senate floor. Here are some noteworthy points that were highlighted from the poll … Louisiana has taken a new step in its ongoing battle with online sweepstakes casinos. The state’s Department of Revenue has filed a lawsuit against VGW Holdings, which operates Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, and MW Services, the operator of WOW Vegas, escalating efforts to address how these platforms operate within the Pelican State. The Louisiana Department of Revenue is seeking nearly $44 million in unpaid state taxes and … The Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria has formally voiced opposition to California’s Assembly Bill 831, which aims to ban sweepstakes casinos, joining the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians as other tribes that have raised concerns about the proposed legislation. The move highlights growing divisions among tribal nations as debate over the bill continues. The Mechoopda tribe alleges that AB 831 was advanced through … Sweepstakes casinos are facing increasing challenges in California, with anti-sweeps bill AB 831 being fast-tracked and brands dealing with lawsuits. In response to these legal pressures, prominent sweepstakes operator High 5 Casino has exited the California market. High 5 Casino’s exit from the Golden State has come amidst the ongoing legal battle over AB831, which seeks to ban sweepstakes casino and is on track to be passed by the end … Three California tribes will protest Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) at the State Capitol in Sacramento. This includes the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, and Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. AB 831 seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos, an idea that has caused division among California tribes. The tribal protest takes place on Monday, September 8th. These tribes argue that AB 831 threatens tribal sovereignty …
SGLA Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Against California Social Casino Ban
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Bill Gelman
Louisiana Lawsuit Targets VGW & WOW Vegas for $44M in Taxes
Mechoopda Tribe Opposes AB 831 as Tribal Divide Over Sweepstakes Casinos Widens
High 5 Casino Pulls Out of California After Court Defeats
California Tribes Plan Rally Against AB 831 at Sacramento Capitol
