Gambling news roundup: Don Jr. out as Kalshi advisor; Colorado targets athlete harassment; Underdog launches NFL drive markets; Aristocrat’s new CEO
If you are someone who is trying to stop the onward march of online gambling, here’s my message: “Good luck!”
Until not that long ago, we largely would have put gambling into these buckets:
Going some place to gamble in person (a casino, a horse racing track, a lottery retailer, etc.)
Betting online at a regulated app or site (online casino, sports betting, horse betting, lottery, etc.)
Betting online at an unregulated offshore site
Going some place to gamble in person (a casino, a horse racing track, a lottery retailer, etc.)
Betting online at a regulated app or site (online casino, sports betting, horse betting, lottery, etc.)
Betting online at an unregulated offshore site
In recent years, the lines have gotten considerably blurrier. Lots of things that are somewhere on the gambling spectrum have grown, extremely quickly.
For example (I AM NOT SAYING THESE THINGS ARE LEGALLY GAMBLING):
Fantasy pick’em
Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks
Skill gaming
Online mystery boxes/video game lootboxes
Lottery couriers
Stock/day trading
Crypto and meme coin trading
Fantasy pick’em
Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks
Skill gaming
Online mystery boxes/video game lootboxes
Lottery couriers
Stock/day trading
Crypto and meme coin trading
To be clear, not everything on this list needs to be regulated like gambling, nor should it be. But these products are on a growing list of things that people do treat like gambling, to varying extents.
Increasingly, we’re seeing a convergence of these things, often in a single “super app”:
Underdog and PrizePicks offer pick’em, prediction markets and rips.
Betr has an arcade on top of its growing product.
Coinbase added rips to its crypto products and prediction market; OG.com, a prediction market, also recently added rips.
DraftKings and FanDuel have moved to apps where some of the products they offer are under one roof with a shared wallet.
Sweepstakes operators are increasingly adding to their product suites with some of the things from the list above.
Underdog and PrizePicks offer pick’em, prediction markets and rips.
Betr has an arcade on top of its growing product.
Coinbase added rips to its crypto products and prediction market; OG.com, a prediction market, also recently added rips.
DraftKings and FanDuel have moved to apps where some of the products they offer are under one roof with a shared wallet.
Sweepstakes operators are increasingly adding to their product suites with some of the things from the list above.
The idea behind regulating online gambling has been, to some extent, moving action from offshore to onshore. Now, that seems a bit quaint.
The state-regulated gambling industry — both online and land-based — is now competing, to varying extents, with all of these things. And the idea that you are going to be able to stop, slow or regulate all of these verticals feels out of reach.
I would argue that if you make it harder to offer state-regulated gambling or raise taxes, etc., you are increasingly going to channel it to all the other things on my list. If you make state-regulated gambling on sports terrible, people will go do fantasy parlays, or use a sweeps sportsbook, or rip packs. And you might even be able to do it on the same app!
Look no further than the sweepstakes casino industry, which has had its addressable market reined in by cease-and-desist letters and new laws. That’s easily the most effective regulatory pushback we have seen against a gambling-like product. But the industry still appears to be growing year on year.
I think the answer increasingly isn’t how states and regulators play whack-a-mole with all of these things. It’s how we deal with the reality that everything is gambling.
I don’t know what the answer is, but creating new laws or endless cease-and-desist letters to deal with new forms of gaming/gambling doesn’t seem sustainable. New forms of gaming pop up faster than anyone can react.
What can we do?
We should make it a priority that people can get help if they are having issues with the product.
All of these companies/industries should arguably be working together on some basic self-regulatory measures that confront the reality that their platforms are used to gamble/speculate.
We should give state regulators or lawmakers more power to suggest or initiate appropriate regulation when needed over new forms of gaming, without having to pigeonhole them into existing state gambling regimes that may not make sense.
We should make it a priority that people can get help if they are having issues with the product.
All of these companies/industries should arguably be working together on some basic self-regulatory measures that confront the reality that their platforms are used to gamble/speculate.
We should give state regulators or lawmakers more power to suggest or initiate appropriate regulation when needed over new forms of gaming, without having to pigeonhole them into existing state gambling regimes that may not make sense.
That last one is probably too pie in the sky. But you won’t be able to ban all these things. And people are going to continue to invent new ways to gamble that may not be legally gambling as time goes on…I have 100% conviction on that.
The answer is somewhere between throwing our hands up in the air and believing we can put the genie back in the bottle. That leaves a wide range of outcomes. Hopefully, we get the solutions right.
Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting is designed to equip adults, including parents and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, including information on warning signs, risks and proxy betting. The program is led by retired professional basketball player Randy Livingston and his wife, basketball agent Anita Smith, who share their personal stories related to problem gambling, with the hope of preventing others from experiencing similar harms. Learn more and join the conversation here.
Gambling news roundup
My latest prediction markets newsletter/roundup from The Event Horizon:
🚨 The important stuff
Donald Trump Jr. out as Kalshi advisor.
From Bloomberg: “Trump Jr. has been an official adviser to both Kalshi and its primary rival, Polymarket. His firm 1789 Capital has invested in Polymarket and he was also given Kalshi equity as compensation for his work as an adviser.”
“Kalshi announced Trump Jr.’s role right before Donald Trump’s second inauguration. At that time, Tarek Mansour, Kalshi’s chief executive officer, said Trump Jr. would advise the firm on strategy, including on how to expand. Kalshi has described Trump Jr. as a ‘fan of the industry’ who only provides advice on ‘marketing strategy,’ not regulatory matters.”
“Kalshi announced Trump Jr.’s role right before Donald Trump’s second inauguration. At that time, Tarek Mansour, Kalshi’s chief executive officer, said Trump Jr. would advise the firm on strategy, including on how to expand. Kalshi has described Trump Jr. as a ‘fan of the industry’ who only provides advice on ‘marketing strategy,’ not regulatory matters.”
A Kalshi spokesperson tied the separation to that Polymarket investment in a statement to Bloomberg:
“We have mutually agreed to end Don’s advisory role after his firm’s significant investment in a competitor this past summer. We are grateful for his contributions in helping us market Kalshi to more customers.”
“We have mutually agreed to end Don’s advisory role after his firm’s significant investment in a competitor this past summer. We are grateful for his contributions in helping us market Kalshi to more customers.”
Not so long ago:
The broader political climate seems relevant here, with the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress already making some noise about prediction markets and the benefits that have flowed to the Trump family therefrom.
We’re broadening our bench. Meet Ifrah Law’s new Gamechangers!
⚖️ Legislative, regulatory and legal news
Michigan Gambling Regulator Ready For Next Challenge From Industry (Legal Sports Report): “Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams highlighted collaborative efforts with [the] state attorney general’s office to get four prediction market operators to stop offering sports contracts during Tuesday’s meeting.”
“Michigan’s efforts to keep unregulated gaming out of the state predate the launch of sports contracts by prediction market operators. The MGCB has been at the forefront of cracking down on offshore sportsbooks and unregulated casinos for years.”
How a New York judge’s decision against Novig actually scolded feds (SBC Americas): “A federal judge in New York rejected Novig’s petition for a preliminary injunction against state authorities on Tuesday, issuing an order that also criticized the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for ‘contradictory’ and ‘collusive’ actions.”
“Ultimately, the judge opined, Novig offers sports betting, even if the company and the CFTC call the product something different.”
Colorado Latest State To Move Toward Cracking Down On Harassers (InGame): “Colorado’s sports betting regulator is proposing to make its rule around adding patrons to the involuntary exclusion list stronger by including harassers and anyone who acted to affect the outcome of a game.”
“The Colorado Division of Gaming Thursday morning held a rulemaking workshop for additions to Rule 29, Section 30-2907. No operator representatives spoke at the meeting, and a public comment period remains open. From here, the Division of Gaming will move the proposal onto the Limited Gaming Control Commission’s agenda for approval.”
New Texas lieutenant governor supports referendum on gambling (NEXT.io): “[Vikki] Goodwin beat the Republican incumbent Dan Patrick in the midterms to become the first Democrat since 1999, and the first woman ever, to take up the office of lieutenant governor.”
“Speaking to local news station KSAT 12, the politician declared that she is ‘not for or against’ a liberalisation of Texas’ gambling laws.”
“But in her first comments on the matter since the election, she did state that her ‘preference would be to put it up to a vote of Texans.’”
Sweepstakes Casinos Face Uncertain Future Heading Into 2027 (Legal Sports Report): “Following Oklahoma’s example, lawmakers may increasingly view sweepstakes casinos as unlicensed online gambling rather than promotional gaming and move towards prohibition. States may also be more likely to consider penalizing suppliers to those sweeps operators as well.”
“There is the possibility for the industry to adapt rather than disappear entirely. Many sweepstakes casinos have already shifted toward Gold Coin-only social gaming models in states that have introduced bans, removing redeemable prizes altogether. Others could withdraw from additional states rather than challenging enforcement actions, pursue litigation or settlement agreements, or push for a more formal regulatory framework.”
MGCB Approves Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Transition to White Hat Gaming Platform (press release): The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has approved Soaring Eagle Gaming’s request to transition its internet gaming and internet sports betting platform operations to White Hat Gaming Inc. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, operator of Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, was authorized to begin offering online play on the new platform on Nov. 10, 2026. White Hat Gaming Inc. replaces GAN as the Tribe’s platform provider.
The MGCB reviewed and approved the White Hat Gaming Inc. Platform along with the Tribe’s branding submission. The Tribe has provided an executed agreement with White Hat Gaming Inc., and all suppliers and vendors essential for launch have been approved by the Board.
Michigan Gambling Regulator Ready For Next Challenge From Industry (Legal Sports Report): “Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams highlighted collaborative efforts with [the] state attorney general’s office to get four prediction market operators to stop offering sports contracts during Tuesday’s meeting.”
“Michigan’s efforts to keep unregulated gaming out of the state predate the launch of sports contracts by prediction market operators. The MGCB has been at the forefront of cracking down on offshore sportsbooks and unregulated casinos for years.”
“Michigan’s efforts to keep unregulated gaming out of the state predate the launch of sports contracts by prediction market operators. The MGCB has been at the forefront of cracking down on offshore sportsbooks and unregulated casinos for years.”
How a New York judge’s decision against Novig actually scolded feds (SBC Americas): “A federal judge in New York rejected Novig’s petition for a preliminary injunction against state authorities on Tuesday, issuing an order that also criticized the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for ‘contradictory’ and ‘collusive’ actions.”
“Ultimately, the judge opined, Novig offers sports betting, even if the company and the CFTC call the product something different.”
“Ultimately, the judge opined, Novig offers sports betting, even if the company and the CFTC call the product something different.”
Colorado Latest State To Move Toward Cracking Down On Harassers (InGame): “Colorado’s sports betting regulator is proposing to make its rule around adding patrons to the involuntary exclusion list stronger by including harassers and anyone who acted to affect the outcome of a game.”
“The Colorado Division of Gaming Thursday morning held a rulemaking workshop for additions to Rule 29, Section 30-2907. No operator representatives spoke at the meeting, and a public comment period remains open. From here, the Division of Gaming will move the proposal onto the Limited Gaming Control Commission’s agenda for approval.”
“The Colorado Division of Gaming Thursday morning held a rulemaking workshop for additions to Rule 29, Section 30-2907. No operator representatives spoke at the meeting, and a public comment period remains open. From here, the Division of Gaming will move the proposal onto the Limited Gaming Control Commission’s agenda for approval.”
New Texas lieutenant governor supports referendum on gambling (NEXT.io): “[Vikki] Goodwin beat the Republican incumbent Dan Patrick in the midterms to become the first Democrat since 1999, and the first woman ever, to take up the office of lieutenant governor.”
“Speaking to local news station KSAT 12, the politician declared that she is ‘not for or against’ a liberalisation of Texas’ gambling laws.”
“But in her first comments on the matter since the election, she did state that her ‘preference would be to put it up to a vote of Texans.’”
“Speaking to local news station KSAT 12, the politician declared that she is ‘not for or against’ a liberalisation of Texas’ gambling laws.”
“But in her first comments on the matter since the election, she did state that her ‘preference would be to put it up to a vote of Texans.’”
Sweepstakes Casinos Face Uncertain Future Heading Into 2027 (Legal Sports Report): “Following Oklahoma’s example, lawmakers may increasingly view sweepstakes casinos as unlicensed online gambling rather than promotional gaming and move towards prohibition. States may also be more likely to consider penalizing suppliers to those sweeps operators as well.”
“There is the possibility for the industry to adapt rather than disappear entirely. Many sweepstakes casinos have already shifted toward Gold Coin-only social gaming models in states that have introduced bans, removing redeemable prizes altogether. Others could withdraw from additional states rather than challenging enforcement actions, pursue litigation or settlement agreements, or push for a more formal regulatory framework.”
“There is the possibility for the industry to adapt rather than disappear entirely. Many sweepstakes casinos have already shifted toward Gold Coin-only social gaming models in states that have introduced bans, removing redeemable prizes altogether. Others could withdraw from additional states rather than challenging enforcement actions, pursue litigation or settlement agreements, or push for a more formal regulatory framework.”
MGCB Approves Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Transition to White Hat Gaming Platform (press release): The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has approved Soaring Eagle Gaming’s request to transition its internet gaming and internet sports betting platform operations to White Hat Gaming Inc. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, operator of Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, was authorized to begin offering online play on the new platform on Nov. 10, 2026. White Hat Gaming Inc. replaces GAN as the Tribe’s platform provider.
The MGCB reviewed and approved the White Hat Gaming Inc. Platform along with the Tribe’s branding submission. The Tribe has provided an executed agreement with White Hat Gaming Inc., and all suppliers and vendors essential for launch have been approved by the Board.
The MGCB reviewed and approved the White Hat Gaming Inc. Platform along with the Tribe’s branding submission. The Tribe has provided an executed agreement with White Hat Gaming Inc., and all suppliers and vendors essential for launch have been approved by the Board.
🔮 Prediction markets
Kalshi in Talks For New Funding Round at $65 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg | $): “Weeks after finalizing new funding at a $40 billion valuation, prediction marketplace Kalshi is in talks with investors to raise new capital at a $65 billion valuation, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“The broader uncertainty in the financial markets has led to more hesitation among companies considering going public. But the volatility did not play a role in Kalshi’s decision to raise more money before its public offering, one of the people said.”
Micro Bet Scrutiny Grows as Underdog Launches Live NFL Drive Markets (Legal Sports Report): “The launch comes weeks after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission paused micro contracts from Novig over manipulation concerns, and as several states weigh banning live betting at sportsbooks.”
“The CFTC told Novig that its contracts on the first points scored in a basketball game were micro contracts susceptible to manipulation and should not be listed. ProphetX’s scorigami contracts, which pay out on a final score that has never happened before in a sport’s history, did not meet the Commodity Exchange Act’s definition of a swap, according to the agency.”
Texas Bill Imposes Age Minimum, Introduces Restrictions for Event Contract Trading (DeFi Rate): “Democrats will have more power in Austin in 2027, and one member of that caucus in the state House of Representatives is wasting no time in trying to make prediction market legislation part of the agenda. Texas Rep. Salman Bhojani has pre-filed a bill addressing event contract trading.”
“The text of the proposal conflicts with existing federal regulations for such trading in several ways, including a minimum age of 21. Court challenges could be inevitable for the legislation should it pass, but that may also hinge on the content of an enshrined version.”
Tribes, frustrated by prediction markets, hope new Congress will step in (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): “Tribal officials allege these prediction markets are actually illegal online sports betting operations that take away revenue from the tribal nation. Since tribal nations have no tax base, they rely on casino revenue to help fund government services, such as roads, infrastructure, health care and education.”
“Tribal and state officials argue those regulations created by the Trump administration aren’t enough. They are hopeful the new Democratic-controlled Congress, beginning in 2027, will provide much more oversight and enforce far stricter consumer protection rules.”
Want $120K to Research GTA VI? Kalshi Is Hiring (Covers): “The opening for a GTA VI researcher was posted Wednesday evening on job posting websites and includes a minimum $100,000 fixed project fee, plus a $15,000 in project completion fee.”
“Once GTA VI makes its long-anticipated debut to the public next Thursday, the candidate will play until they beat the story. They will live-stream their endeavors as they trek across Leonida, the game’s fictional state, finding broken mechanics, the mundane and unnoteworthy, and the best parts of the new title. The player will continue to deliver weekly research reports on Leonida’s financial structure and activity.”
Kalshi in Talks For New Funding Round at $65 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg | $): “Weeks after finalizing new funding at a $40 billion valuation, prediction marketplace Kalshi is in talks with investors to raise new capital at a $65 billion valuation, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“The broader uncertainty in the financial markets has led to more hesitation among companies considering going public. But the volatility did not play a role in Kalshi’s decision to raise more money before its public offering, one of the people said.”
“The broader uncertainty in the financial markets has led to more hesitation among companies considering going public. But the volatility did not play a role in Kalshi’s decision to raise more money before its public offering, one of the people said.”
Micro Bet Scrutiny Grows as Underdog Launches Live NFL Drive Markets (Legal Sports Report): “The launch comes weeks after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission paused micro contracts from Novig over manipulation concerns, and as several states weigh banning live betting at sportsbooks.”
“The CFTC told Novig that its contracts on the first points scored in a basketball game were micro contracts susceptible to manipulation and should not be listed. ProphetX’s scorigami contracts, which pay out on a final score that has never happened before in a sport’s history, did not meet the Commodity Exchange Act’s definition of a swap, according to the agency.”
“The CFTC told Novig that its contracts on the first points scored in a basketball game were micro contracts susceptible to manipulation and should not be listed. ProphetX’s scorigami contracts, which pay out on a final score that has never happened before in a sport’s history, did not meet the Commodity Exchange Act’s definition of a swap, according to the agency.”
Texas Bill Imposes Age Minimum, Introduces Restrictions for Event Contract Trading (DeFi Rate): “Democrats will have more power in Austin in 2027, and one member of that caucus in the state House of Representatives is wasting no time in trying to make prediction market legislation part of the agenda. Texas Rep. Salman Bhojani has pre-filed a bill addressing event contract trading.”
“The text of the proposal conflicts with existing federal regulations for such trading in several ways, including a minimum age of 21. Court challenges could be inevitable for the legislation should it pass, but that may also hinge on the content of an enshrined version.”
“The text of the proposal conflicts with existing federal regulations for such trading in several ways, including a minimum age of 21. Court challenges could be inevitable for the legislation should it pass, but that may also hinge on the content of an enshrined version.”
Tribes, frustrated by prediction markets, hope new Congress will step in (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): “Tribal officials allege these prediction markets are actually illegal online sports betting operations that take away revenue from the tribal nation. Since tribal nations have no tax base, they rely on casino revenue to help fund government services, such as roads, infrastructure, health care and education.”
“Tribal and state officials argue those regulations created by the Trump administration aren’t enough. They are hopeful the new Democratic-controlled Congress, beginning in 2027, will provide much more oversight and enforce far stricter consumer protection rules.”
“Tribal and state officials argue those regulations created by the Trump administration aren’t enough. They are hopeful the new Democratic-controlled Congress, beginning in 2027, will provide much more oversight and enforce far stricter consumer protection rules.”
Want $120K to Research GTA VI? Kalshi Is Hiring (Covers): “The opening for a GTA VI researcher was posted Wednesday evening on job posting websites and includes a minimum $100,000 fixed project fee, plus a $15,000 in project completion fee.”
“Once GTA VI makes its long-anticipated debut to the public next Thursday, the candidate will play until they beat the story. They will live-stream their endeavors as they trek across Leonida, the game’s fictional state, finding broken mechanics, the mundane and unnoteworthy, and the best parts of the new title. The player will continue to deliver weekly research reports on Leonida’s financial structure and activity.”
“Once GTA VI makes its long-anticipated debut to the public next Thursday, the candidate will play until they beat the story. They will live-stream their endeavors as they trek across Leonida, the game’s fictional state, finding broken mechanics, the mundane and unnoteworthy, and the best parts of the new title. The player will continue to deliver weekly research reports on Leonida’s financial structure and activity.”
📣 Industry news
Aristocrat appoints former Entain exec as CEO-elect (NEXT.io): “[Dafne] Guisard is still new to Aristocrat, having only become CCO – and chief Product Madness officer – in February this year. Prior to this, she worked as chief operations officer at Entain, in what was her first role in the gambling industry.”
“Her earlier experience included three years as chief strategy, digital and transformation officer [at] the Kraft Heinz Company. She also spent nine years working across various roles at AB InBev.”
Rio Lottery chief: Black market migration ‘could escalate to incalculable proportions’ (NEXT.io): “Brazil’s ban on fixed-odds betting did not only take federally licensed operators offline. Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394, in force since 25 September, also ended the betting authorisations issued by Brazil’s states, which have been allowed to run their own lotteries since a 2020 Supreme Court (STF) ruling.”
“Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, Loterj, was the most active of them, licensing sports betting brands to operate nationwide since 2023, until the Supreme Court ordered it to suspend operators that did not restrict their bets to Rio’s territory. Fixed-odds betting accounted for ‘a relevant share’ of Loterj’s revenue, which funds social programmes in the state.”
Stake targets regulated markets as LatAm takes centre stage (iGaming Business): “As it enters its new era of growth, Stake has followed a new strategy of primarily focusing on regulated markets, receiving licences to operate in Mexico and the Argentinian Province of Buenos Aires this year.”
“However, the transition towards regulated markets also brings commercial challenges, with higher operating costs and additional regulatory restrictions potentially putting pressure on the business model that helped Stake establish itself.”
Aristocrat appoints former Entain exec as CEO-elect (NEXT.io): “[Dafne] Guisard is still new to Aristocrat, having only become CCO – and chief Product Madness officer – in February this year. Prior to this, she worked as chief operations officer at Entain, in what was her first role in the gambling industry.”
“Her earlier experience included three years as chief strategy, digital and transformation officer [at] the Kraft Heinz Company. She also spent nine years working across various roles at AB InBev.”
“Her earlier experience included three years as chief strategy, digital and transformation officer [at] the Kraft Heinz Company. She also spent nine years working across various roles at AB InBev.”
Rio Lottery chief: Black market migration ‘could escalate to incalculable proportions’ (NEXT.io): “Brazil’s ban on fixed-odds betting did not only take federally licensed operators offline. Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394, in force since 25 September, also ended the betting authorisations issued by Brazil’s states, which have been allowed to run their own lotteries since a 2020 Supreme Court (STF) ruling.”
“Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, Loterj, was the most active of them, licensing sports betting brands to operate nationwide since 2023, until the Supreme Court ordered it to suspend operators that did not restrict their bets to Rio’s territory. Fixed-odds betting accounted for ‘a relevant share’ of Loterj’s revenue, which funds social programmes in the state.”
“Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, Loterj, was the most active of them, licensing sports betting brands to operate nationwide since 2023, until the Supreme Court ordered it to suspend operators that did not restrict their bets to Rio’s territory. Fixed-odds betting accounted for ‘a relevant share’ of Loterj’s revenue, which funds social programmes in the state.”
Stake targets regulated markets as LatAm takes centre stage (iGaming Business): “As it enters its new era of growth, Stake has followed a new strategy of primarily focusing on regulated markets, receiving licences to operate in Mexico and the Argentinian Province of Buenos Aires this year.”
“However, the transition towards regulated markets also brings commercial challenges, with higher operating costs and additional regulatory restrictions potentially putting pressure on the business model that helped Stake establish itself.”
“However, the transition towards regulated markets also brings commercial challenges, with higher operating costs and additional regulatory restrictions potentially putting pressure on the business model that helped Stake establish itself.”
📖 Everything else
Mystery US-listed buyer made above odds bid for DoubleDown Interactive (NEXT.io): “Social casino developer and B2C iGaming operator DoubleDown Interactive entered into an agreement with its majority shareholder DoubleU Games this week, under which the shareholder will commence a $184m all-cash offer to acquire the remaining equity in DoubleDown at $16.25 per share – 44% higher than the price previously floated in April.”
“According to documents, on 27 May DoubleDown’s CFO Joseph Sigrist was approached by an advisor representing an unknown entity that expressed interest in acquiring the full business.”
“During discussions on 4 June, some details about this mystery buyer came out, including that Party A was a US-listed strategic buyer with a global business and one that was familiar both with DoubleDown and the gaming industry.”
Gambling Commission reports fall in underage gambling participation (NEXT.io): “Among the key findings was that 26% of children in the [11-to-17] age range spent their own money on gambling over the last year, though most of this was legal or not on age-restricted products. The total was lower than 30% in the previous year and down from the 50% peak seen in the inaugural 2022 report.”
“The report also flagged that 5% of 11- to 17-year-olds took part in age-restricted gambling, down from 18% in 2025. Fruit or slot machines were the most popular within this category, with 3% of respondents saying they had played these at some point.”
Labour candidate who bet on himself to lose says Gambling Commission ‘changed the result’ of election (iGaming Business): “In June 2024, British businessman Kevin Craig bet £800 that he would lose his race to become an MP. Now he says the country’s gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, ‘changed the result of a democratic election’ by launching an investigation into his bet and by leaking it to the press.”
“As a result, the former Labour candidate was suspended by the party nine days before the 2024 general election. He is now demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the regulator that investigated him. In his view, something is fundamentally wrong with the Commission.”
Opinion | Brazil’s Bet on Prohibition (The Regulatory Review): “In our view, prohibition offers a stronger response to the harms of commercial gambling because it targets a business model that profits from encouraging users to bet more often and for longer. Stricter regulation may limit some abuses, but it leaves those incentives intact. The risk that users will turn to illegal platforms, which the industry has pressed before the Court, is a serious enforcement challenge. It does not, however, justify maintaining a legal market built around those incentives. The state must give the ban practical effect by restricting illegal operators’ access to payments, advertising, and users.”
“The Brazilian case brings together questions that other constitutional democracies also face. Digital technologies give companies growing influence over behavior, while economic power allows them to profit from that influence and resist public constraints. The state’s capacity to protect fundamental rights depends on its ability to respond to both. Brazil’s experience will matter beyond its borders as a test of whether public institutions can impose effective limits on businesses whose profits depend on the behavior those institutions seek to restrain.”
Mystery US-listed buyer made above odds bid for DoubleDown Interactive (NEXT.io): “Social casino developer and B2C iGaming operator DoubleDown Interactive entered into an agreement with its majority shareholder DoubleU Games this week, under which the shareholder will commence a $184m all-cash offer to acquire the remaining equity in DoubleDown at $16.25 per share – 44% higher than the price previously floated in April.”
“According to documents, on 27 May DoubleDown’s CFO Joseph Sigrist was approached by an advisor representing an unknown entity that expressed interest in acquiring the full business.”
“During discussions on 4 June, some details about this mystery buyer came out, including that Party A was a US-listed strategic buyer with a global business and one that was familiar both with DoubleDown and the gaming industry.”
“According to documents, on 27 May DoubleDown’s CFO Joseph Sigrist was approached by an advisor representing an unknown entity that expressed interest in acquiring the full business.”
“During discussions on 4 June, some details about this mystery buyer came out, including that Party A was a US-listed strategic buyer with a global business and one that was familiar both with DoubleDown and the gaming industry.”
Gambling Commission reports fall in underage gambling participation (NEXT.io): “Among the key findings was that 26% of children in the [11-to-17] age range spent their own money on gambling over the last year, though most of this was legal or not on age-restricted products. The total was lower than 30% in the previous year and down from the 50% peak seen in the inaugural 2022 report.”
“The report also flagged that 5% of 11- to 17-year-olds took part in age-restricted gambling, down from 18% in 2025. Fruit or slot machines were the most popular within this category, with 3% of respondents saying they had played these at some point.”
“The report also flagged that 5% of 11- to 17-year-olds took part in age-restricted gambling, down from 18% in 2025. Fruit or slot machines were the most popular within this category, with 3% of respondents saying they had played these at some point.”
Labour candidate who bet on himself to lose says Gambling Commission ‘changed the result’ of election (iGaming Business): “In June 2024, British businessman Kevin Craig bet £800 that he would lose his race to become an MP. Now he says the country’s gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, ‘changed the result of a democratic election’ by launching an investigation into his bet and by leaking it to the press.”
“As a result, the former Labour candidate was suspended by the party nine days before the 2024 general election. He is now demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the regulator that investigated him. In his view, something is fundamentally wrong with the Commission.”
“As a result, the former Labour candidate was suspended by the party nine days before the 2024 general election. He is now demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the regulator that investigated him. In his view, something is fundamentally wrong with the Commission.”
Opinion | Brazil’s Bet on Prohibition (The Regulatory Review): “In our view, prohibition offers a stronger response to the harms of commercial gambling because it targets a business model that profits from encouraging users to bet more often and for longer. Stricter regulation may limit some abuses, but it leaves those incentives intact. The risk that users will turn to illegal platforms, which the industry has pressed before the Court, is a serious enforcement challenge. It does not, however, justify maintaining a legal market built around those incentives. The state must give the ban practical effect by restricting illegal operators’ access to payments, advertising, and users.”
“The Brazilian case brings together questions that other constitutional democracies also face. Digital technologies give companies growing influence over behavior, while economic power allows them to profit from that influence and resist public constraints. The state’s capacity to protect fundamental rights depends on its ability to respond to both. Brazil’s experience will matter beyond its borders as a test of whether public institutions can impose effective limits on businesses whose profits depend on the behavior those institutions seek to restrain.”
“The Brazilian case brings together questions that other constitutional democracies also face. Digital technologies give companies growing influence over behavior, while economic power allows them to profit from that influence and resist public constraints. The state’s capacity to protect fundamental rights depends on its ability to respond to both. Brazil’s experience will matter beyond its borders as a test of whether public institutions can impose effective limits on businesses whose profits depend on the behavior those institutions seek to restrain.”
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