Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s decision to seek re-election in 2026 has dealt another blow to efforts to legalize sports betting and casinos in the state. Patrick has long opposed gambling expansion. With a good chance at his seat, the chances of reform in the near future appear increasingly unlikely. As Lieutenant Governor, Patrick is effectively the Chief Executive of the state, holding the power to control which bills reach … GeoComply shared data earlier this week showing measurable growth in sports bettors using legal platforms as another NFL season gets underway. The new data highlights that state enforcement actions against illegal offshore sportsbooks are a big reason why. As part of its study, GeoComply analyzed player engagement and new account growth across 10 states with similar adult populations. Within the past year, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Tennessee issued cease-and-desist … Starting September 5, 2025, WOW Vegas players will lose access to Skywind Games in the latest example of a game provider exiting the U.S. sweepstakes market. This comes as a response to legal pressure across the country, especially in California. Skywind Games made the decision to pull its games from WOW Vegas shortly after Pragmatic Play exited the U.S. market. Both exits highlight a growing trend among major content suppliers … Keith Whyte is teaming up with FanDuel as the company’s new responsible gaming strategic advisor. He is extremely familiar with overseeing RG and problem gaming prevention measures from his over 30 years of industry experience. Besides being the founder and president of Safer Gambling Strategies, Whyte served as executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. FanDuel made the announcement via press release. Whyte mentioned how he has long … California lawmakers have advanced Assembly Bill 831 with revised language aimed at explicitly targeting online sweepstakes casinos. The updates clarify that the measure is clearly directed at digital sweepstakes gambling-style platforms while leaving state lottery and marketing sweepstakes untouched. In addition to prohibiting the operation of sweepstakes casinos, the updated language expands liability to include partners of operators that knowingly and willfully provide support. This encompasses a diverse range of … Sweepstakes casinos are making changes as legal pressures grow across the U.S. Chumba Casino recently confirmed that games from software provider Playtech are no longer available to players in California, demonstrating the impact of increased regulatory scrutiny on the industry. The Playtech games affected by Chumba Casino’s removal include slots like Tsai Shen’s Gift Fire Blaze, Mega Fire Blaze: Big Circus, and Oink Oink Oink. In addition, attempts to launch … The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) and the Responsible Gaming Council (RGC) are teaming up on a vendor certification program. It will lay the foundation for an independent, industry-wide framework to advance responsible gaming. The ROGA shared details of the new partnership via a press release. Regarding what the program entails, DraftKings, FanDuel, and other online gaming operators will have access to an independent validation of operator performance. The program … bet365 has introduced a 25-cent surcharge on wagers under $10 in Illinois, becoming the latest sportsbook to adjust to the state’s new per-bet tax structure. The fee, which is refunded if a wager is voided or canceled, aligns with similar moves by competitors as operators adapt their pricing models to cover the added costs. After Caesars added a 25-cent charge per wager in Illinois, bet365 responded by providing a more … Sweepstakes casinos are increasingly being targeted in U.S. courts, with new rulings shaping the legal landscape for the industry. In California, High 5 Entertainment recently faced another setback as a San Francisco Superior Court judge denied its motion for arbitration. The decision highlights the heightened scrutiny surrounding sweepstakes casinos and their consumer protections. Judge Anne-Christine Massullo ruled that High 5’s arbitration clause was drafted to heavily favor the operator. Judge … Pragmatic Play has decided to stop supplying its games to U.S. sweepstakes operators. This comes shortly after there was a civil lawsuit against Stake.us in Los Angeles, which also named fellow gaming providers, such as Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming. The company’s exit highlights a growing shift in enforcement strategy: regulators are increasingly targeting content providers, not just operators, as a way to disrupt sweepstakes casino operations. The move makes Pragmatic … California’s Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), which seeks to ban dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, has advanced to the full Senate after passing the Senate Appropriations Committee’s suspense file on August 29, 2025. The bill requires a majority approval in both the Senate and Assembly before it reaches Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 831 needs a simple majority of 21 out of 40 votes to advance from the full Senate. Since the bill … Responsible Gaming Education Month is here, and BetMGM along with DraftKings are partnering with the American Gaming Association (AGA) to promote programs. Both companies are using the start of another NFL season as a springboard to spread the word. BetMGM has announced plans that include adding Lincoln Financial Field to its list of NFL stadiums where GameSense messaging will appear. Besides being home to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia …
Dan Patrick’s Re-Election Bid Blocks Texas Sports Betting Progress
GeoComply Says Enforcement Drives Players To Legal Betting
by
Bill Gelman
Skywind Games Pulled From WOW Vegas, Narrowing Sweeps Game Collection
FanDuel Welcomes Keith Whyte as New Responsible Gaming Strategic Advisor
by
Bill Gelman
California Senate Revises Anti-Sweeps Bill Language to Spare State Lottery and Other Legal Promotional Sweepstakes
Playtech Titles Pulled from Chumba Casino Amid California Legal Pressures
ROGA and RGC’s New Partnership: Validating Responsible Gaming Operator Performances
by
Bill Gelman
bet365 Becomes Latest Sportsbook to Add Fees on Illinois Bets
High 5 Entertainment Faces Setback in California Sweepstakes Casino Case
Pragmatic Play Pulls the Plug on Supplying Games to U.S. Sweepstakes Casinos
California Anti-Sweeps Bill Advances to Senate
BetMGM, DraftKings Continuing Responsible Gaming Initiatives in Time for NFL 2025
by
Bill Gelman
The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians has become the third California tribe to oppose AB 831, a bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos in the Golden State. Sherwood joins the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation in speaking out against this policy. In its letter to lawmakers, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians pointed to economic hardships, such as housing shortages, poverty, and unemployment, as key … The Los Angeles City Attorney has filed a lawsuit against sweepstakes operator Stake.us, streaming platform Kick, and game developers Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming, alleging that Stake.us ran an illegal gambling operation with support from the other parties. By naming not only the operator but also its streaming partner and game providers, the Stake.us lawsuit signals an aggressive new enforcement strategy. It suggests prosecutors may increasingly hold both platforms and technology … California’s Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), which seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos, is drawing criticism from multiple parties as it quickly moves through the legislature. Tribal leaders and sweepstakes operators have spoken out against the bill. Jason Giles, Executive Director of the National Indian Gaming Association, warned that AB 831 is “moving way too fast for anyone to comprehend,” leaving little time for meaningful evaluation. Concerns also extend to the … PrizePicks has completely focused on its peer-to-peer platform as of August 22, 2025. Known as PrizePicks Arena, this style of gameplay has players competing against other users instead of vs. the house. The move comes in response to regulatory pressures. PrizePicks is now focusing on two peer-to-peer contests: PrizePicks Arena and Streaks. PrizePicks Arena is where users enter contests where they compete against other players. There is an entry fee, … The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) issued cease-and-desist orders to sweepstakes casinos Pulsz, Betty Sweeps, Thrillzz, and Fliff on August 15, 2025, declaring that these were unlicensed and illegal gambling operators. In response to this decision, Pulsz has exited the Arizona market. One of the major challenges exposed by Pulsz’s Arizona exit is the lack of consumer protections in the sweepstakes casino space. Unlike state-licensed casinos or sportsbooks, sweepstakes platforms … As of September 1, 2025, Caesars will implement a 25-cent fee on each online wager placed in Illinois, just in time for the start of the NFL season. Parlays will be treated as a single wager within this setup. Caesars is imposing these fees in response to Illinois’ new tax structure, which is modeled on a per-bet basis. In placing a 25-cent fee per wager, Caesars has the same rate … DraftKings no longer accepts any credit cards (including Visa and Mastercard) as payment methods for deposits on both U.S. online sportsbooks and casinos. The changes took effect on Monday, August 25, 2025. DraftKings was fined $450,000 by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in July 2025 for processing 1,000+ bets that were funded by credit cards. From February 2023 to 2024, there were approximately $83,000 in illegal-funded bets placed within the state. … Betr, a daily fantasy sports picks operator owned by social media influencer and professional boxer Jake Paul, launched a brand new platform called Betr Arcade. This features skill-based games where users compete against their peers rather than the house. Betr Arcade features four games: 21, Fruit Match, Crossout 21, and 5 Across. Below is a brief description of how each game works. 21: Similar to blackjack, but players compete against … On August 22, 2025, a class action lawsuit was filed in Ohio against Sunflower Ltd. & Sunflower Technology, Inc., which operates sweepstakes casinos like Crown Coins Casino. The plaintiff, Kelly McNamara, is representing herself and other affected players, alleging that Crown Coins and iCasino are illegal gambling under Ohio law. The suit seeks damages for gambling losses and a court order to shut down Sunflower’s sweepstakes operations in Ohio. This … Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), one of the giants in the sweepstakes industry and the parent company of Chumba Casino and Global Poker, is officially pulling out of Canada this fall. Starting October 23, Canadian players will lose access to both platforms. LuckyLand Slots, the third sweepstakes casino operated by VGW, was already unavailable in Canada. While there’s no regulatory pressure in Canada influencing this decision, the move allows VGW to … The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance recently commissioned Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) to project California state tax revenue from sweepstakes casinos. The projections came at approximately $300 million in annual tax revenue from licensing fees and player purchase taxes. This demonstrates the high upside that regulation could have for California. EKG is a prominent consulting firm that specializes in the gaming industry, including sports betting and sweepstakes casinos. Thus, the … Popular sweepstakes operator VGW, which owns platforms like Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and LuckyLand Slots, was served a nationwide class action lawsuit in California. The suit accuses VGW of running an illegal gambling operation. The lawsuit states that VGW depends on California partners for revenue, marketing, geolocation, and banking, which is why it focuses on this jurisdiction. It argues that without California, VGW could not function at the same level. …
Sherwood Valley Band Becomes Third Tribe to Reject California Anti-Sweeps Bill
Los Angeles City Attorney Sues Stake.us & Partners for Illegal Gambling
Fast-Tracked California Bill AB831 Sparks Backlash Over Sweepstakes Casino Ban
PrizePicks Transitions to Nationwide Peer-to-Peer Daily Fantasy Contests
Pulsz Follows Behind Thrillz’ Exit in Arizona Following Cease-and-Desist Order
Caesars Adds $0.25 Fee Per Bet in Illinois After State Tax Increase, Bettors Will Have to Adjust
DraftKings Prioritizing Responsible Gaming by Removing Credit Cards
Betr Launches New Innovative Feature with Skill-Based Games
Ohio Class Action Lawsuit Targets Sweepstakes Operator Crown Coins Casino Based on Gambling Losses
VGW Exits Canada to Prioritize U.S. Sweepstakes Market Amidst Increased Scrutiny
EKG Report Reveals Regulating Sweeps May Unlock New Tax Dollars for California
Sweepstakes Giant VGW & Partners Hit With Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit in California
At the recent Saratoga Racing and Gaming Conference, New York State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. shared a bold idea: legalize sweepstakes casinos. While SB S5935A, a bill to ban them, awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s approval, Addabbo believes regulating them could bring big benefits. He’s been pushing for online gaming laws for years, and this could be a step forward. His plan focuses on creating rules to keep players safe while … Popular sweepstakes operator Thrillzz immediately pulled out of Arizona following a cease-and-desist letter issued by the Arizona Department of Gaming last week. This order was also provided to Fliff, Pulsz, and Betty Sweeps, but these sites haven’t left Arizona just yet. Unlike other sweepstakes casinos, Thrillzz also offers event wagering, where users can make sports picks, similar to online sportsbooks. The same can be said for Fliff, which was also … Massachusetts wants to change its gaming rules with House Bill 4431, introduced on August 18, 2025. The bill went to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. It builds on earlier plans by Sen. Paul R. Feeney and Rep. Daniel Cahill to allow online gaming, called iGaming, and stop unregulated online sweeps casinos. The goal is to create a safe, legal iGaming market that brings in money while … A San Francisco judge has handed a setback to High 5 Entertainment, refusing to throw out a lawsuit that accuses the online casino of misleading players. This ruling could shake up the sweepstakes casino world in California, where similar operations face growing scrutiny. Thomas Portugal sued High 5, claiming he was tricked into spending money on what he calls an illegal gambling setup. Judge Christine Van Aken denied High 5’s … With the September 12 application deadline of the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) approaching, the sportsbook scene in Missouri is rapidly taking shape. Several prominent operators will establish a presence in the Show-Me State at launch on December 1, 2025. Here’s a look at the sportsbooks that have either submitted an application or been granted a license to enter the Missouri market: Prominent Missouri sports teams like the Kansas City Royals …
NY Lawmaker Pivots Toward Legalizing Sweeps Casinos Despite Bill Ban
Thrillzz Quickly Exits Arizona Following Cease-and-Desist, Other Sweeps Yet to Follow
New Massachusetts House Bill 4431 Would Legalize iGaming and Ban Sweeps Casinos
California Presents Legal Roadblock to High 5 Casino Amidst Operational Efforts
Circa Among Operators Joining Missouri Sports Betting Market
