Photo by Elbert Hampton, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Caesars and bet365 sportsbook have both announced new surcharges for all wagers accepted in Illinois in response to the state’s controversial per bet tax. Now all ten of the state’s online sportsbooks have enacted changes to combat the new tax.
PrizePicks announced that its DFS platform will only allow for peer-to-peer games going forward. The move is an attempt for the operator to survive crackdowns on the industry by states, including a full ban recently announced in California.
Gambling regulators from Nevada and Ohio have both warned sportsbooks that they could lose their licenses if they decide to offer sports prediction markets. The warnings come just days after FanDuel announced it would be launching a non-sports prediction platform.
Fanatics Sportsbook has announced it has partnered with Boyd Gaming in Missouri, allowing it to apply for one of the market’s sports betting licenses. The deal will also allow the operator to open retail sportsbooks at Boyd’s two Ameristar casinos.
A recent poll revealed that California residents support legalizing sports betting as lawmakers and tribes work to negotiate a regulatory framework. The poll offers hope that the two sides can reach a deal to include sports betting in the November 2026 election.
Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, claiming its sports prediction offerings violate tribal and state gambling laws. The tribe also claims the low minimum age requirement for these markets is creating a dangerous problem gambling crisis for young Americans.
FanDuel announced it will begin offering prediction markets for the US economy later this year, but has not confirmed intentions to launch one for sports. The announcement makes it the first sportsbook to enter the new industry, beating top rival DraftKings to market.
Arizona’s Department of Gaming has sent out cease & desist letters to Fliff and Thrillzz social sportsbooks, ordering them to exit the market immediately. The regulator is threatening to bring felony charges against both industry-leading operators.
Kalshi has announced it will be offering spread, total, and pro bet markets through the Robinhood platform. All three markets will be live before the NFL and NCAA football seasons begin, despite mounting legal pressures on the industry.
ESPN Bet has announced a new $1 minimum bet requirement for all wagers placed in Illinois to help offset the revenue lost from recent tax hikes. They join BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet, and BetRivers, who have also raised their minimums this summer.
Circa Sports scored a massive victory today when the Missouri Gaming Commission awarded it with one of the state’s two untethered sports betting licenses. This allows the operator to launch in the state on December 1 without needing to establish an in-state partner.
Sportsbooks have been pushing for Illinois to confirm how it will tax new customer surcharges added by FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics over the summer. While operators insist the fees should not be subject to state taxes, reports suggest the state may disagree.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has confirmed it is planning to create a rule that would place a ban on micro-betting. The news comes just days after Governor Mike DeWine requested the regulator crack down on prop betting in the state.
A Maryland court has rejected Kalshi’s motion for an injunction, which would allow it to operate as its lawsuit against a state regulator plays out. This represents the first major legal setback for the operator, who won cases in New Jersey and Nevada.
BetRivers Sportsbooks has announced it will be increasing its minimum bet requirement in Illinois to $1 in response to the state’s new per-bet tax. The Illinois-based operator is the sixth sportsbook to take action in response to the controversial tax change.
The House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia held its first meeting to explore the impacts of legalizing sports betting on Monday. The committee is required to submit its recommendations by December 1 for a House review.
The White House has requested that a Senate committee delay a vote on its CFTC nominee as concerns over his ties to Kalshi continue to grow. While President Trump still publicly supports the nomination, they have not confirmed how they will proceed.
The MLB has placed Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase on paid leave amid an investigation into unusual betting patterns involving some of his stats. It is the second gambling investigation into a Guardians pitcher this month.
The New Jersey Assembly is considering a bill that would place a ban on micro-betting on sports, which allows bettors to wager on small moments of a game. The bill is meant to slow down the betting process and reduce problem gambling.
A group of California tribes has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi and Robinhood, alleging that their sports prediction markets violate state and federal gambling laws. The tribes are requesting the court block them from operating in California.
The Senate Agriculture Committee confirmed it will convene before its August recess to vote on CFTC chair nominee Brian Quintez. The vote on the nomination was set for earlier this week, but had to be postponed due to the absence of one member.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta told local media that he plans to force out daily fantasy sports operators. The announcement comes two weeks after he released an opinion on the industry’s legality, finding it violates state gambling laws.
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council confirmed it has issued $50,000 fines to five offshore sportsbooks for offering illegal gambling in the state. The penalties are the latest action the state has taken to crack down on the unregulated gambling market.
A recent report shows that DraftKings Sportsbook has opened negotiations to purchase Railbird Exchange. The sports prediction market operator was recently licensed by the CFTC, meaning DraftKings would be clear to launch if a deal can be reached.
Hard Rock and BetMGM have added a new minimum bet requirement for all Illinois sports wagers. The move is in response to the state’s new “per-bet” tax, joining an effort by FanDuel, Fanatics, and DraftKings to have it overturned.
Flutter has reached a deal to purchase Boyd Gaming’s 5% share of FanDuel Sportsbook for over $1.7 billion, giving it full ownership of the platform. The two companies started a partnership over the sportsbook back in 2018.
The Indiana Gaming Commission has reported a sports betting handle of over $350 million for June, which is a decrease of 19% compared to the month before. The number was still up year-over-year, thanks largely to the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission has reported that the state saw over $6.4 billion in sports betting wagers in its first fiscal year. When the state legalized the industry in 2023, it was projected to take three years to surpass $6 billion.
FanDuel Sportsbook has applied for one of Missouri’s two direct mobile licenses, which allows it access to the new market without an in-state partnership. They join DraftKings, bet365, Underdog, and BetMGM in pursuing operating licenses ahead of the December 1 launch.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed bill A4113 into law, which will ban 30 in-state colleges from partnering with sports betting operators. The ban comes as lawmakers also consider a bill to eliminate college player prop betting.
Bet365 Sportsbook has announced a new partnership with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, just one month after reaching a similar deal with rival Chicago Sky. The deal will allow the sportsbook to advertise with the team and offer exclusive in-app content.
The sports betting industry is on edge after DC lawmakers approved a tax change and seem likely to protect controversial sports prediction markets. Industry proponents believe this will lead to irreversible damage to the industry, resulting in less tax revenue for states.
The MLB has suspended Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz amid an investigation into unusual betting patterns around two of his pitches this season. The investigation focuses on micro-betting, which allows bettors to wager on specific moments in a game or event.
