Our Writers:
Michael Savio

A controversial new per-bet tax is set to debut in Illinois on Tuesday. The state’s online sportsbook operators have been vehemently opposed to it, with two industry leaders adding new fees for bettors to cover the revenue lost.

Sports betting is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons once again after a federal investigation into NBA star Malik Beasley was announced on Sunday. The investigation is looking at unusual betting patterns around the guard last season.

The Rhode Island House failed to vote on a bill that would have expanded the state’s sports betting market. Concerns over the current contract the state has with IGT ultimately led to the bill being pushed off for at least one more year.

The Florida Attorney General’s office has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state’s 2021 gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe. It claims that the compact is protected under the Constitution, as past court rulings have confirmed.

BetMGM and FanDuel have partnered with the National Council on Problem Gambling to request that the US Senate fund a study on problem gambling in the military. The industry giants joined with the group a couple of weeks after it began the campaign.

Caesars Entertainment released its Corporate Social Responsibility Report for 2024, which celebrated the 35th anniversary of Project 21. The responsible gaming initiative was launched in 1984 and has helped lead to many industry practices used today.

Three more states have chosen to place bands on the sweepstakes industry, continuing a country-wide trend. While lawmakers are looking to protect bettors, we are left wondering how eliminating these free-to-play platforms will affect the growth of problem gambling.

A group of 36 bipartisan state AGs has formed a coalition to help push out sports prediction market operator Kalshi. The group filed a strongly worded amicus brief in a New Jersey court where a lawsuit against Kalshi is being heard.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has reported that sports betting generated $50 million in revenue last month, generating $2 million in tax revenue. The impressive total is 17% higher than April’s and up 19% compared to May 2024.

A Wyoming legislative committee has proposed doubling the state’s tax rate for online sportsbooks to 20%, putting the state at the national average. The rate is currently set at 10%, which has enabled the market to exceed expectations since its launch in 2021.