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 … 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 …
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
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
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 … 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 …
California Tribes Plan Rally Against AB 831 at Sacramento Capitol
Dan Patrick’s Re-Election Bid Blocks Texas Sports Betting Progress
GeoComply Says Enforcement Drives Players To Legal Betting
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Bill Gelman
Skywind Games Pulled From WOW Vegas, Narrowing Sweeps Game Collection
FanDuel Welcomes Keith Whyte as New Responsible Gaming Strategic Advisor
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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
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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
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 … 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, …
BetMGM, DraftKings Continuing Responsible Gaming Initiatives in Time for NFL 2025
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Bill Gelman
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
