Prediction markets scrutiny continues, Codere reportedly up for sale, Las Vegas gets closer to having NBA team

William Hill is in a pickle after a bug affected some of the betting and gaming company's systems, resulting in the unauthorized payouts of millions of pounds in jackpots, media reports suggest. The issue derived from a system malfunction that reportedly impacted the operator's Jackpot Drop game, which consequently paid out jackpots it shouldn't have.

Ahead of the 4th annual Casino Guru Awards 2026, Casino Guru proudly announced the opening of public voting for two of the most community-driven categories, namely the Players' Choice and Voice of the People. Unlike the other award categories that will be determined by a panel consisting of expert judges, the Player's Voice and Voice of the People awards highlight the opinion of the public and will be decided by public vote.

The 4th annual Casino Guru Awards 2026 will be held at The Xara Lodge in Malta on May 25, 2026.

The NBA's Board of Governors supported the plans of Las Vegas to have its own NBA team. Following a vote of the League's Board of Governors, the NBA will expand with the addition of two new franchises and one of those will call Sin City its home. The strategic decision is expected to generate between $7bn and $10bn per team, while complementing Las Vegas' status as a major sports hub that is already home to the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders.

Business and finance

The two leading betting companies with the largest share of the market in North America, FanDuel and DraftKings, have officially rolled out betting markets in Arkansas. To ensure compliance with the local regulations, the duo forged agreements with in-state casinos, thus adhering to the 51% revenue-sharing requirement. While FanDuel teamed up with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, DraftKings joined forces with Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis.

The Spanish gambling giant, Codere, is reportedly up for sale for $2.3bn, multiple media outlets, including Reuters, suggest. The gambling behemoth is reportedly looking to sell to the highest bidder; however, no public details suggest the identity of a potential buyer. If Codere approves a suitable bidder, the second-largest gambling company in Spain may close the deal this summer.

Focusing on strengthening its iGaming business, Sportradar announced the launch of its Payradar brand. Designed as a fully integrated ecosystem of cross-vertical gaming experiences, Payradar fuses casino games and Sportradar's extensive betting experience. Ultimately, the new brand seeks to deliver unrivaled entertainment while enabling operators to quickly scale up their offering.

FanDuel, one of the two leading betting companies in North America, bolstered the MLB betting experiences for its customers. The company introduced new features, including betting markets, free-to-play games and other MLB-focused features that are expected to resonate well with fans of the sport.

Regulation and laws

The dispute between the NCAA and DraftKings intensifies with the former asking the court to intervene and forbid the leading betting company from using "March Madness" branding. Besides signage and imagery related to March Madness, the NCAA raised concerns regarding the use of "Sweet Sixteen," "Final Four" and "Elite Eight," all of which refer to different stages of the popular competition.

Prior to the launch of the regulated online gambling market in Alberta, Canada, Bede Gamingobtained a license from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis board. This milestone achievement designated the company as one of the first providers to secure a license in the province. Ultimately, Bede Gaming plans to power licensed gambling companies in Alberta with its quality software and solutions.

One of the potential candidates for the presidency in the United States, Rahm Emanuel, proposed a new policy that seeks to prohibit federal employees from using prediction markets. He supported the idea of establishing a law that would effectively bar federal employees and their families from engaging in trading via prediction markets. Emanuel's proposal comes during a scrutiny of the sector and concerns of insider trading.

At the same time, the opposition against prediction markets intensifies with a new far-reaching bipartisan bill that seeks to restrict those platforms. The draft law, called the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, proposes additional restrictions for prediction markets, arguing that those platforms may offer products in conflict with state laws.

While lawmakers in Mississippi attempted to expand the state's gambling activities with the legalization of mobile sports betting, the efforts fell short in 2026. Despite enjoying significant support, two bills failed to clear the state's House. This stalls the potential legalization of online betting in Mississippi until 2027, at least.

A draft law proposing to ban micro betting in New Jersey is picking up speed. The proposal, Bill S2160, was pre-filed earlier this year and was only recently greenlighted to advance by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee. If it becomes a law, the bill will change the way New Jersey bookmakers offer sports betting by removing popular micro betting markets that enable customers to wager on the next action in a sports tournament.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), one of the most trusted and respected regulatory bodies around the world, granted Massive Gaming a B2B Gaming License. Obtaining the much-coveted license, the iGaming content provider, headquartered in Australia, can propel its global footprint. Thanks to the license, Massive Gaming can supply its content to MGA-licensed operators, reaching more players in key global markets.

Responsible gambling

The University of Mississippi announced the launch of a new, dedicated center to research the effects of gambling. The initiative will cost $700,000 a year and is expected to play a major role in the development of prevention programs and the analysis of evidence-based approaches that will help better understand college student gambling behavior. The launch of the new research center comes at a time when a recent estimate suggested 39% of the college students in Mississippi gambled over the past year. Equally as concerning, some 6% fell in the category for problem gambling.

In Germany, the results of a new study uncovered that gambling ads influence people at-risk and ones affected by problem gambling. The research involved the interview of nearly 4,800 gamblers with the goal of determining how gambling-related ads impact the players. Concerningly, the study found that people affected by gambling harm and those who are at-risk of problem gambling are more likely to be influenced by advertisements.

The voice of the industry

This week, Casino Guru News had the opportunity to sit down with Clarion Gaming's Managing Director, Stuart Hunter. He spoke about some of the big themes like AI, regulation and responsible play that underpinned the record-breaking World Gaming Week. What's more, Hunter addressed other hot topics, central to the recent ICE Barcelona and iGB Affiliate 2026.

In a separate interview, Casino Guru News sat down with Stasya Yautodzyeva, the Head of Analytics at 4H Agency, who spoke about the challenges related to collecting fines from offshore gambling operators. She spoke about the recent record-setting monetary sanction issued by the gambling watchdog in the Netherlands, and addressed the challenges the regulator is facing in collecting payments from unlicensed operators.

Casino Guru News also had the chance to talk to the Head of Responsible Gambling at OlyBet, Inga Varno-Baloglu. In an interview, she spoke about the gambling industry's quick evolution and fresh perspectives that prove to be incredibly valuable.

Charlie Jacka, the Head of Product at Blueprint Gaming, highlighted the company's integration of the Game of Thrones franchise. While he acknowledged that the globally recognizable brand may open the door, it was the gameplay that kept the players engaged and thrilled. Jacka explained how Blueprint Gaming seeks to balance authenticity and fuse it with engaging mechanics to ensure the long-term success of the franchise.

This week, Casino Guru News released a comprehensive analysis focusing on when is the NFL Draft 2026. NFL fans can find extensive information, including details on where to watch, how do the NFL Draft and NFL Picks work and other interesting details.

Again, this week, Casino Guru News looked into one of the most popular casino streaming personalities and controversial figures, Trainwreckstv. The far-reaching analysis focused on Trainwreckstv net worth, history and where he is today.

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