Photo by Nick Shields, CC BY 2.0
Governor Wes Moore signed the state’s new budget into law, which raises the tax rate for online sports betting operators from 15% to 20%. This is a far smaller hike after Moore’s initial proposal called for the rate to double to 30%.
The North Carolina House released a budget that did not include a tax hike for sportsbook operators, rejecting a Senate proposal to double it. Both sides want to increase funding for UNC-system schools, but disagree on how.
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.
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.
Penn Entertainment has announced that it will integrate its ESPN Bet platform with ESPN Fantasy Sports, one of the world's largest fantasy platforms. The integration details are unknown, but it is expected to be complete before the NFL season.
The Colorado Senate passed HB 1311 to tax sportsbooks on promo bets. However, new amendments will need to be approved by the House during the 2026 legislative session. If passed, the bill would go into effect in July 2026.
The NCAA penalized Iowa State University football staffers who placed over 6,000 illegal wagers on sports. This is the second betting scandal the school has faced over the last few years, leading some to wonder if more penalties could be coming.
Two sports betting bills are heading for a Senate floor vote in Oklahoma. One would legalize sports betting, which Governor Stitt has promised to veto. The other would circumvent Stitt and put the issue on the November 2026 ballot.
The Louisiana House is considering raising the sports betting operator tax rate from 15% to 32.5%. A proposed bill would create the SPORT Fund to help support athletic programs for the state’s Division I colleges.
Nebraska Senator Eliot Bostar has withdrawn bill LR 20CA from the state legislature, which would have put legal sports betting on the November 2026 ballot. The bill was projected to be three votes short of the 30 needed to pass.
The NCAA has issued a show-cause penalty to ex-Baylor official Sam Hancock after he improperly wagered almost $3,000 on DFS sites. He will need to go through gambling programs and counseling before he can work for another NCAA school.
A SC House Subcommittee held its first hearing on bill H3625, which would create a regulated sports betting market. The bill faces staunch opposition, including from the Governor, who has promised to veto any bills expanding gambling in the state.
The Colorado House is currently reviewing bill HB 1311, which would tax online sportsbooks on promotional bets. This is projected to raise tax revenue generated by the industry by about 30%, helping to fund the state’s critical water projects.
An Ohio budget proposal was submitted to double the state’s tax rate from 20% to 40%, but it was stripped after failing to gain support among lawmakers. The state is now shifting focus to protecting the industry as sports prediction markets continue to rise.
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council has sent a letter requesting that the CFTC shut down controversial sports prediction trading markets in the state. Tennessee is the ninth state to take action against these markets, but it may not have the authority to do so.
A group of North Carolina republicans has introduced a budget proposal that would make significant changes to the state’s sports betting tax revenue. The proposal would double the operator tax rate from 18% to 36%, and change how the revenue is distributed.
The HI House has rejected Senate changes to a sports betting bill, sending it to a conference where members from both bodies will attempt to reach a deal. The disagreement centers on operator tax rates and licensing fees set by the Senate.
The Kansas House of Representatives has passed an amendment prohibiting the Lottery from negotiating with sportsbooks to renew their sports betting licenses. The order covers the next two years, meaning no negotiations can occur until 2027.
Kalshi has announced that its March Madness prediction market saw over $500 million in contracts. The company also scored a key legal win this week when a Nevada Judge ruled that the state does not have the power to push the operator out.
Lawmakers in Hawaii’s Senate have surprised many by passing sports betting bill HB1308, which would legalize and set up a framework for the industry. The House must approve changes before the bill is sent to the Governor.
A trade war has led to massive tariffs enacted worldwide, threatening to send the US into a recession and test the thriving sports betting industry. While online operators have been able to weather the storm so far, retail sportsbooks are already seeing massive losses.
Tribal leaders in the Golden State are attempting to restart negotiations over sports betting with a new proposal for a regulated market run by them. The proposal comes as sports prediction markets grow in popularity, giving bettors another way to wager on sports.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has confirmed reports that they have opened an investigation into sports prediction markets operated by Kalshi and Robinhood. The sports betting regulator has not taken any action against the operators as of yet.
Hawaii’s Senate Ways and Means Committee passed online sports betting bill HB 1308 by a vote of 11-2, setting it up for a vote on the Senate Floor. While the bill passed by a wide margin, four lawmakers expressed reservations over their support.
The Baltimore City Law Department has filed a lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings for deceptive marketing tactics. The department accuses them of fueling the rise in problem gambling and violating the city’s Consumer Protection Order, allowing it to take legal action.
Kalshi filed lawsuits against the New Jersey and Nevada regulators over cease-and-desist letters demanding its March Madness prediction market shut down. The company argues that only the CFTC should control the controversial market, meaning the regulators’ actions are illegal.
Sports betting bill HB 1101 and HB 1047 would establish a tribal-run sports betting market in Oklahoma, despite the threat of veto from Governor Stitt. The Senate is considering a separate bill, but the two champers haven’t been able to reach a compromise.
