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. … 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 …
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
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
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 … The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is stepping up its fight against unlicensed online gambling. Recently, the agency sent cease-and-desist orders to 15 illegal operators caught offering services to Michigan residents without proper approval. This action highlights the MGCB’s focus on player safety, game fairness, and data security in the growing online gaming world. These unauthorized sites pose real dangers, as they skip the strict rules that licensed operators must … Missouri’s Gaming Commission (MGC) recently awarded its two untethered mobile sports betting licenses to DraftKings and Circa Sports, setting the stage for the state’s December 1 launch. This decision surprised many, as FanDuel, the U.S. market leader, was edged out by Circa, a niche operator favored by high-stakes bettors. Untethered licenses allow these winners to offer mobile betting statewide without needing partnerships, giving them full control over operations and revenue. … The American Gaming Association (AGA) reported a 22% increase in illegal gambling in the United States since 2022. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the entire U.S. gambling market comes from illegal platforms. The table below shows a comparison of legal and illegal revenue since the last AGA report in 2022. With illegal betting making up 31.9% of total market share, that has resulted in $15.3 billion in lost … AB 831 was a bill first introduced in California on February 15, 2025 by Rep. James Ramos. The bill originally focused on tribal gaming compacts. However, in June, this bill was completely altered by Rep. Avelino Valencia to ban sweepstakes casinos. This “gut-and-amend” process has put the California anti-sweeps bill on a fast track. California’s gut-and-amend process is where the original content of a bill is replaced with new language. … PLAYSTUDIOS is set to launch its own sweepstakes casino in the United States by the end of 2025. This was confirmed by CEO Andrew Pascal during the 2025 Q2 earnings call earlier this month. The expectation is that PLAY Studios will be available in eligible states nationwide. PLAYSTUDIOS is a provider that focuses on free-to-play games catered to social casinos. They decided to shift to a sweepstakes casino to capitalize … The Illinois Gaming Board announced that the state’s 17 land-based casinos generated over $167.5 million in gross gaming revenue in July 2025. This marked a 23.3% rise from the previous year, adding nearly $31.7 million compared to July 2024’s $135.8 million. Slot machines drove most of the earnings, bringing in about $127.6 million. Table games added less than $40 million. Rivers Casino Des Plaines led with more than $44 million. … On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Missouri Gaming Commission heard from Circa Sports, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Each wants one of two untethered mobile sports betting licenses. These licenses let winners offer online betting without tying to a Missouri casino or sports team, which saves them from sharing profits. The commission will pick winners on Friday, August 15, with sports betting starting in Missouri on December 1. Missouri voters passed Amendment … A major player in the sweepstakes gaming sector has updated its terms to protect itself in California. This move anticipates Assembly Bill 831, which could ban sweeps casinos there. Modo.us, run by ARB Interactive, recently added this clause to its terms: “NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. In line with California Civil Code sections 1541 and 1542, you agree to give up all rights and remedies under Section 1542.” Section 1542 states … Sweepstakes giant B-Two Operations, which operates popular social casinos like McLuck, has re-entered the market in Georgia and Alabama. The changes were reflected in the August 7th update of the terms and conditions for McLuck. Alabama was previously listed as an excluded location because there were several active lawsuits against sweepstakes operators like VGW (Chumba Casino), Stake.us, and Blazesoft Limited (Fortune Coins, Sportzino) within the state. Georgia also had a … Flutter Entertainment, which owns FanDuel, wants to bring its popular sports betting app to Nevada. At the most recent Nevada Gaming Control Board meeting, Flutter leaders shared that they’re looking into this idea but haven’t made firm plans yet. FanDuel’s current role in Nevada is small, mainly providing branding and odds for the sportsbook at Boyd Gaming’s Fremont Hotel Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Flutter recently bought the final 5% … RealPrize, one of the more popular options in the sweepstakes casino world, has pulled out of Louisiana, Delaware, and New Jersey. These states now join Idaho, Washington, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, and Connecticut on RealPrize’s no-play list. While the company’s terms and conditions had not yet been updated to reflect these changes, failed attempts to access the site via VPNs confirm that users won’t be able to sign up …
Circa Among Operators Joining Missouri Sports Betting Market
Michigan Targets 15 Illegal Gambling Sites as Revenue Soars
FanDuel Must Seek Out Tethered License After Missouri Sports Betting Upset
AGA Report Shows Illegal Gambling Increasing in U.S.
California Anti-Sweepstakes Bill Gains Rapid Momentum
From Game Studio to Sweepstakes Casino, PLAYSTUDIOS Set to Launch in the U.S.
Illinois Casinos See 23% Revenue Increase As Country-Wide Trend Points Downward
Missouri Sports Betting Applicants Make Case for License on Wednesday
Modo Sweeps Casino Adds Broad Shield Terms to Continue Operating in California
McLuck Resumes Operations in Georgia and Alabama
FanDuel Sportsbook Expresses Continued Interest in Joining Nevada’s Betting Market
RealPrize Sweeps Casino Preemptively Leaves Three More States
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins spoke against a new tax policy in President Donald Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The measure would limit gamblers to deducting only 90% of their losses from winnings, a shift from the long-standing standard of full deductions. This means that even players who broke even on the year would still face tax charges. Speaking with Jim Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money, Robins said … Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (RSI), a leading online gaming and sports betting company, reported a record-breaking second quarter in 2025, with revenue reaching $269.2 million, a 22% increase from $220.4 million in Q2 2024. The company, listed on the NYSE as RSI, also raised its full-year guidance, reflecting confidence in sustained growth. Operating brands like BetRivers, PlaySugarHouse, and RushBet, RSI continues to expand its presence in the United States, Canada, … The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) continued to implement regulatory changes, with the latest move being the ban on gambling advertisements at the 249 colleges and universities within the state. The new measures aim to protect the youth from developing problem gambling habits. In an August 4th press release, IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter stated, “By adopting these measures, the IGB is building upon existing regulations to implement additional safeguards and … DraftKings Sportsbook introduced its new Early Exit Program in August, following a growing demand from users for a reprieve from quick losses. This program provides cash credits to users when a player leaves a game early due to an injury. Other sportsbooks, like Fanatics Sportsbook, have similar policies that bettors benefit from. DraftKings’ official network clarified that no promo code is needed to activate the offer ahead of time and … 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 security. Ald. Felix Cardona (31st) noted the city loses money …
DraftKings CEO Criticizes Trump’s Bill for Restricting Gambling Loss Deductions
Rush Street Interactive Sees 22% Year Over Year Increase in Revenue for $269 Million
Illinois Enacts Ban on Gambling Advertisements Across Colleges
DraftKings Sportsbook Adds Early Exit Offer to Address Longstanding Requests
Sweeps Legalization and Regulation Gets Push in Chicago
