Legislation seeks to ban college prop bets on federal level, sweepstakes under pressure

This week’s developments were many and varied in the gambling industry, and we bring you all the highlights of the past few days in one quick update.

Congressman Michael Baumgartner has pitched a new draft law that seeks to eliminate college prop bets on a federal level, effectively closing the entire market for such selections.

The Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes ACT or PROTECT Act can potentially pull the plug on one of the most profitable markets for sportsbooks at a time when concerns about gambling proliferation and the adverse impact on young people are growing.

Baumgartner previously co-sponsored the SAFE Act, another proposed seminal piece of legislation that seeks to make gambling in the United States safer.

There are many fresh developments worth speaking of. Robinhood, a trading platform, has launched a standalone prediction markets product, offering registered users in the United States a chance to back the outcome of a March Madness game. March Madness is estimated to be one of the most influential and bet-on events, with $3.1bn expected to go down on the regulated gambling market in total bets.

Denmark is said to have reached a channelization rate of 90.29%, the country’s regulator said in a new report, citing data by H2 Gambling Capital. At the same time, Denmark is turning to act against the black market, which continues to be an issue, but the country has been dismantling it methodically by boosting awareness among young people, protecting vulnerable consumers, and addressing threats as they have emerged.

Business and finance

In a major announcement this week accompanied by the company’s quarterly and full-year financial results, Sportradar has confirmed that it will be acquiring IMG Arena from Endeavor Group Holdings after the two companies entered into a definitive agreement. In addition, Endeavor will pay Sportradar $125m as the latter company takes control of the asset.

Maryland has targeted Virtual Gaming Worlds in its latest enforcement action against the social sweepstakes casino sector. The local regulator, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, served a cease-and-desist letter to the operator of popular brands such as Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots on March 12, giving the company time until March 22 to wind down operations.

The operator is also required to provide a written account of what its activities in the state have been, as well as confirm that it has indeed complied with the cease-and-desist notice.

BetMGM has shared that a player on its online platforms has won two back-to-back jackpots, each worth six figures. The anonymous player scooped up the prizes on February 19 and February 20 when they won 577,164 and $654,175 respectively, making it one of the most interesting success stories ever recorded by the online brand.

Regulation and laws

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has moved against Corbett Bookmakers Limited, a land-based gambling entity, enforcing a $890,000 (£686,070) fine that the company has agreed to pay over social responsibility and AML failures. The regulator noted that there had been remedial action taken on behalf of Corbett Bookmakers Limited but noted that an independent audit and its recommendations would have to be applied as well.

Sweden’s state-owned gambling major, Aktiebolaget Trav och Galopp, has cautioned that offshore gambling sites continue to use platforms that are licensed in the country and used by the regulated sector. This constitutes a breach of current gambling regulations, and one that needs to be addressed, the company said.

Thailand has shared the four possible locations of its upcoming entertainment complexes, otherwise known as casino resorts. The new projects may arrive in Bangkok, Chonburi, Chaing Mai, and Phuket before long, although the government is still in the process of finalizing the bill that would regulate these projects. In the meantime, Thai academics have called for a referendum on the issue of whether casino resorts should be allowed in Thailand in the first place.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued blocks against two offshore websites, specifically Crown Slots and Billy Billion finding the websites in breach of theInteractive Gambling Act 2001. ACMA has been systematically shutting down offshore gambling sites in a bid to rein in their impact on local players.

Responsible gambling

A society based in Japan has conducted a questionnaire with its members to look into particular gambling habits by its members. The survey found that among those who start playing at offshore gambling sites, a significant percentage, or one in three, incur debt and ask for additional money from friends and family within a week.

The survey should be taken with a pinch of salt due to its limited scope, but if true, it indicates that most people are likely to overspend quickly at unregulated gambling sites.

The Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) has called for tougher measures against advertisers who allow unregulated gambling content to be shown to local players in Germany. The regulator said that IP blocking could be necessary to limit the reach of these rogue operators while calling for a more comprehensive set of measures overall to help tackle the reach of the black market in Germany.

The voice of the industry

This week Casino Guru News caught up with Toni Mazrekaj, Head of Account Management at RubyPlay, who spoke about the company’s pivoting interest towards North America and how the firm has been laser-focused on a brand-driven approach to deliver the best possible results for partners. You may read the full conversation with Mazrekaj here.

Mariya Davidova, Head of Sport Domain at PIN-UP, joined Casino Guru News at ICE Barcelona 2025 to talk about fantasy sports, the VIP segment, and the role of loyalty programs in driving sector company performance and business decisions. She examined individual segments and the impact they have on customers and brands. You can watch Casino Guru News’ conversation with Davidova here.

Not least, a new Casino Guru Forum poll found out that the majority of players, or some 57% of all players, preferred to pick their casino based on the bonus it offers. Bonuses play a more impactful role in a player’s decision-making process than reputation, which only accounted for 9% of the votes.

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