Kalshi records victory in court, FanDuel and DraftKings face patent infringement lawsuits, Maine bans sweepstakes

A bill proposing to overhaul the betting rules in Kentucky is in the final stretch. The proposed law, House Bill 904, calls for increasing the minimum age for betting from 18 to 21, introducing a ban on certain bets on college sports, as well as other changes to the gambling sector in the state. After clearing the House and Senate, the bill arrived at the desk of Gov. Andy Beshear, where it awaits a signature or veto.

At a time when millions of Americans tap into prediction markets, Paysafe announced the launch of its innovative and seamless cryptocurrency solution, Pay with Crypto. The brand-new solution caters to iGaming and daily fantasy sports operators in the United States, enabling them to unlock crypto payments. Besides popular cryptocurrencies, Pay with Crypto supports stablecoins and it is powered by MoonPay.

Business and finance

FanDuel and DraftKings, the two leaders of the US betting market, have been named in patent infringement lawsuits. The legal action comes from Interactive Games LLC, with DraftKings facing a lawsuit in Massachusetts, while FanDuel is facing a lawsuit in New Jersey. The complaints allege that the two defendants infringed on five mobile gambling technology patents.

While facing fresh legal trouble, FanDuel announced the launch of an NBA-inspired slot game, NBA Super Slam 2. The game represents a sequel to the first NBA-themed and league-inspired slot game from FanDuel, NBA Super Slam. The sequel was developed by the leading iGaming content supplier, White Hat Studios, and it builds on the legacy of the first hit game.

Bolstering its market-leading offering, SOFTSWISS introduced the SOFTSWISS Prediction Markets solution. Representing the company's newest business-to-business solution, SOFTSWISS Predictions Markets enables the company's existing and future partners to enter the popular event-wagering vertical. The product encompasses a range of real-world events, including politics and culture, while leveraging a fixed-odds model.

Dozens of gambling websites won't be doing business in the Great Lakes State. That's the case after the state's gambling regulator, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) handed 45 cease-and-desist letters, ordering the websites to exit. According to the Board, all those websites offer their services without a license, and if they fail to comply, they may face criminal and civil penalties.

Regulation and laws

Despite the plan to restrict gambling ads, Australia won't be reducing the total spending on gambling much, a new government report suggests. The whitepaper suggests that the impact of gambling ad restrictions would be marginal, estimating that only 0.8% of the total gambling spending would be reduced. The aforementioned percentage represents roughly $62.7m, which is insufficient in the context of the growing number of problem gambling cases and hundreds of millions spent on gambling every month.

At a time when prediction markets face scrutiny across the United States, Kalshi emerged victorious in the federal appeals court. The major legal victory reaffirmed that event contracts do not fall under the supervision of gambling regulators such as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Two judges sided with Kalshi's position while the third disagreed, arguing that the prediction markets platform's product was "indistinguishable from gambling." Still, the ruling by a 2-1 decision reaffirmed that sports-related event contracts fall under the remit of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The Malta Gaming Authority announced the cancellation of the authorization of Winzon Group Limited. While the operator was stripped of its license, the Authority said that it shall remain "liable for all applicable obligations emanating from the Act and any other applicable regulatory instrument." Besides removing the authorization of Winzon Group, the gambling watchdog said that the operator owes penalties amounting to €147,080 as well as license fees of nearly €46,700.

Maine has become the second state to ban sweepstakes casinos. This became a fact after Gov. Janet Mills enacted a bill that prohibited the popular sweepstakes while also banning the use of credit cards for gambling. Maine joined Indiana, another state that has already banned sweepstakes.

The development was criticized by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), a trade group supporting social gaming. The Alliance issued a statement outlining it is disappointing to see the bill become a law, arguing that the new law "will do nothing to generate revenue for the state nor protect Mainers from exploitative illegal online gambling."

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke in opposition to online gambling, saying if it were "up to him," the activity would be banned. In a recent interview reported by the Associated Press, the President explained that he is concerned about the "indebtedness of the Brazilian people." President Lula's government is considering stricter rules for the gambling sector. While for the moment, an outright ban hasn't been discussed, the government has previously warned that if online gambling brings more harm than good, it may face prohibition.

Responsible gambling

A new responsible gambling initiative seeks to help young men in Ontario, Canada. The effort is led by the Responsible Gambling Council, which stepped up its efforts to protect young adults from gambling-related harm. Specifically, the Council rolled out a new public service announcement (PSA) focusing on young men, aged 19-24. The PSA warns about the risks associated with gambling and teaches young adults how to play responsibly.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), together with the Bingo Association and Bacta, confirmed the Safer Gambling Week 2026 dates in the UK. The initiative raises awareness of fair play, responsible gambling, as well as tools and solutions that help people better control their gambling. This year's one-week campaign will take place between November 16 and November 22. The effort is supported by licensed betting and gaming companies that help promote responsible and safe gambling.

The voice of the industry

This week, Casino Guru News had the opportunity to sit down with Anastasia Rimskaya, the Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix. The executive spoke about the exciting progress the company made from offering one of the most popular iGaming cash games, Aviatrix, to a fully connected multi-game ecosystem. Notably, Rimskaya said the time has come for Aviatrix to introduce its long-term vision, while also addressing a number of other hot topics.

Earlier in the week, Casino Guru News sat down with Anastasios Ioannidis, the Head of Affiliate Marketing at ARRISE. The executive spoke about the importance of scaling up the company's offering with the delivery of player-favorite games consistently. Ioannidis also spoke about Pragmatic Play's busy schedule this year, hinting that more exciting gaming experiences are coming soon.

Again this week, Casino Guru News was joined by Ramon Glieneke, Alea's Chief Operating Officer, who discussed the introduction of Alea Pay, the next chapter in the company's expansion strategy. Glieneke discussed some of the challenges the company has successfully overcome, acknowledging that the complex process was like trying to rebuild the engine of a plane while flying at high altitude.

Ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, Casino Guru News released two separate reports focusing on high-profile superstar soccer players. The first one focused on whether Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer superstar, would play in the 2026 World Cup, while the second one addressed a question on the minds of many soccer fans: Is Lionel Messi playing in the World Cup 2026?

While the Bible does not explicitly or literally prohibit gambling, many are interested is gambling a sin? In a comprehensive analysis, Casino Guru News takes a look at what the Bible actually says about gambling. The report outlines how religion views gambling and, at the same time, highlights whether or not people view the activity as moral.

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