Articles by Michael Savio

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council sent a cease-and-desist letter to offshore sportsbook BetOnline as part of a wider effort to protect its regulated market. The sports betting regulator has also contacted the CFTC to shut down sports prediction markets.

Sweepstakes casino giant VGW has announced the formation of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance to support the social gaming industry. The group will be led by former South Carolina US Rep. Jeff Duncan, who will focus on legitimizing the industry amid a nationwide crackdown.

FanDuel has announced a new real-time check-in tool for players making larger or more frequent deposits than usual. The AI tool will track customer deposits and betting patterns to ensure the check-in is sent to those who show early signs of problem gambling.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has announced that the state’s sports betting market will launch on December 1 as operators begin applying for licenses. That date is also the deadline for when the market must go live, leaving little room for error.

A new Ohio Senate bill proposes imposing a 2% privilege tax on the sports betting handle of all operators in the state to boost the industry's tax revenue. The bill is being seen as an alternative to a massive tax hike.

Penn Entertainment has sent a letter to investors, firing back at HG Vora, who has accused leadership of being self-serving. The letter outlines the company's plans for iGaming and ESPN Bet and argues that HG Vora has alternative motives.

Missouri has officially opened the application period for sports betting operators to apply for licenses before the new market launches. A total of 19 retail and 21 mobile licenses will be available, and the market is set to launch by December 1.

One of Penn Entertainment’s largest shareholders has called for a change in leadership just days after CEO Jay Snowden hosted an optimistic earnings call. The infighting is over the future of ESPN Bet, which has yet to live up to Snowden’s projections.

The NCAA may end its ban on pro sports betting amid concerns over rises in problem gambling and betting scandals involving coaches and athletes. The Division 1 council is currently considering the change and could make a decision within the next month.

The Oklahoma Senate could not conduct a floor vote for a pair of sports betting bills before the legislative session ended this week. However, the Senate could bring the bills back up for a vote in the 2026 session, which starts in February.