Adam Candee
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As seen in:
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ESPN,
Detroit Free Press,
The Seattle Times,
The Star (Malaysia),
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Covers:
Gaming
Doesn't Cover:
eSports
Editor of SBC Americas | Sometimes talking sports into a mic near you | "The charisma of a fencepost" | Analytics are people too
Articles by Adam Candee
New York Attorney General Letitia James closed the book this week on VGW in the Empire State without fully throwing it at the global sweepstakes casino company. James announced an $8 million settlement with the host of Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Luckyland Slots as part of a deal settling allegations of operating an illegal gambling operation.
Could Robinhood’s Michigan deal be a blueprint for states?
Zuyeu Uladzimir/Shutterstock Robinhood will remove its sports event contracts from Michigan effectively immediately, the Michigan Gaming Control Board announced Wednesday. Just how long Robinhood remains on the sidelines, however, remains an open question as legal battles over prediction markets swirl throughout the country, including in Michigan. Under a negotiated agreement with the state, Robinhood will pull sports markets and also close open positions within 30 days.
Iowa loss for Kalshi adds to string of federal court troubles
Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock Another Kalshi bid to preemptively stop a state from enforcing gambling laws fell short Tuesday in Iowa, as another district court judge meticulously rebutted the company’s legal defense for sports event contracts. Judge Stephen Locher in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa rejected Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction to prevent Iowa’s attorney general and gaming regulators from pursuing legal action.
Kalshi‘s tough run of U.S. court rulings continued Tuesday as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals denied its request to prevent Utah from enforcing gambling laws while the operator appeals a District Court loss. In a two-paragraph response to Kalshi’s ask, the Tenth Circuit ruling indicates that the prediction markets operator meets none of the four factors needed to justify its motion for an emergency appeal pending an injunction. “Kalshi has not shown these factors weigh in its favor.
Hires and Higher-Ups: DraftKings brings on new gaming regulations counsel
The end of August might be a slow time on the sports calendar, but that did not stop operators in the sports betting space from making moves this week. Each week, SBC Americas tracks key hires and moves among North American gaming operators to keep you up to date on the latest happenings. As regulated online gaming and prediction markets operators deal with an ever-evolving landscape of state and federal regulations, DraftKings is adding a new attorney in that area of its company.
Florida‘s attorney general filed suit Wednesday against illegal operators in the state, but in a break from the 2026 norm, prediction markets are not his targets. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced lawsuits in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against Stake and VGW for their sweepstakes operations, as well as going after affiliated payment processors. VGW operates Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker, among other popular brands.
Standing out in a crowded market: SBC Summit adds Marketing & CX Track to 2026 agenda
SBC Summit will explore how betting and gaming brands can cut through the noise with more distinctive, data-driven and effective marketing campaigns through its dedicated ‘Marketing & CX’ conference track. Taking place on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, the track will bring together CMOs, SEO and affiliate specialists, data experts and technology leaders to explore how gaming brands can build stronger connections with their audiences.
Cities eye Kalshi, Polymarket as feds surprisingly probe mention markets
ChicagoPhotographer/Shutterstock Regulatory pressure continues to mount on Kalshi from multiple angles this week, from the lowest levels to the highest ones in the United States. In the same week that Baltimore and New York took action on the most prominent U.S. prediction markets operator, news broke of a Commodity Futures trading Commission (CFTC) probe of so-called “mention markets” in the aftermath of a scandal involving President Donald Trump‘s teleprompter operator.
Kalshi asks appeals court for relief from federal response it sought out
Image: jkcDesign/Shutterstock Kalshi and its preferred regulator and legal partner unveiled Wednesday what reasonably could be seen as extraordinary coordination in a filing with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
In Novig prediction market suit in NY, a revealing line worth reviewing
Image: Pheelings media/Shutterstock Keeping up with the crossfire of prediction market lawsuits in the United States can make a person look like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Shortly after relaunching as a sports-focused prediction market this week, Novig sued the state of New York on Wednesday to block enforcement of gambling laws against the operator. That filing arrived days after New York sued Kalshi for $36bn for operating illegally in the Empire State.
Image: PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock Ohio regulators captured industry attention in April when they announced plans to fine Kalshi $5 million for “conducting sports gaming without a license.” On Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James made that planned fine look like a rounding error.
Image: lev radin/Shutterstock Former Congressman George Santos agreed to a fine of more than $35,000 to settle allegations that he illegally profited from gaming a Kalshi market on his attendance at the State of the Union this year, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced Friday. While Santos did not admit to any wrongdoing, he accepted both a fine of roughly twice his ill-gotten profits and a three-year trading ban from the CFTC to avoid further legal action.
Meet the Nominees: Affiliate Leaders Awards 2026 Shortlist Revealed
SBC has revealed the shortlist for the second edition of the Affiliate Leaders Awards, taking place at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on Wednesday, September 30. More than 400 affiliate and performance marketing professionals will attend the ceremony, where 20 awards will recognize achievements across affiliates, operator programs, technology, marketing, content, acquisition and industry leadership.
Minnesota prediction markets injunction: 3 key takeaways from order
Image: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Friday’s preliminary injunction barring Minnesota from implementing its unique law banning all prediction markets chalks another tally for Kalshi, Polymarket and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on the ever-expanding U.S. court scoreboard. While leading prediction markets took a similarly preliminary victory lap, the order stops far short of resolving the most relevant issues in the ongoing lawfulness debate.
NFL betting suspension case features wildly different stories
Two socks of different colors In the case of the National Football League against an Arizona Cardinals executive, The Shield and Ryan Gold are forcing people to choose a side. Their versions of events in the newest NFL betting scandal occupy ends of a spectrum so wide, you could not see middle ground with a telescope. Earlier in July, the NFL suspended Gold indefinitely for allegedly providing inside information about 2026 Cardinals draft selections to unnamed people.
Pennsylvania bill to ban prediction market insider trading features daily $1M penalty
Image: Amy Lutz/Shutterstock Two dozen Pennsylvania state representatives are endorsing the latest legislative effort to ban insider trading on prediction markets following high-profile cases alleging ill-gotten profits. House Bill 2711 appeared Wednesday in the Pennsylvania Assembly and was referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities for further consideration.
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the Republican Members Issues Conference at Trump National Doral Miami, Monday, March 9, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley) A dozen Democratic Senators are imploring members of two key committees to ban “prediction contracts that resemble sports bets or casino-style gaming products” in the pending CLARITY Act legislation.
SBC brings CPD-accredited learning to SBC Summit and Affiliate Leaders Summit
Professionals attending SBC Summit and Affiliate Leaders Summit this September will be able to turn three days of industry learning into recognized Continuing Professional Development (CPD), following the official accreditation of both events’ conference programs by The CPD Certification Service.
How Kalshi sports loss in Michigan court fits into big picture
Days after losing a bid to move into federal court, Kalshi suffered another defeat Monday when a Michigan judge temporarily barred the company from offering sports event contracts. Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina on Monday granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel enjoining Kalshi from making sports markets available in the state.
State elections head muses whether to ‘go after’ prediction markets, traders
State-level gaming regulators, legislators and attorneys general throughout the U.S. spent the past few months drawing clear lines on their views of the legality of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. A new division of government could provide the next front of attack against prediction markets: elections departments. A report this week from Maryland Matters details the misgivings held by Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis about election-based markets.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fighting the massive unregulated and illegal gaming market presents a daunting challenge for state-level regulators. As discussed at this month’s SBC Summit Americas, however, simply defining that market and trying to pin down who operates within those bounds might be an even meatier task for those tasked with doing so.
Five questions with PrizePicks head of RG Phil Sherwood about responsible gaming
Following up on recent discussion around responsible gaming and player protection at this month’s SBC Summit Americas in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., SBC Americas spoke with PrizePicks senior director of responsible gaming Phil Sherwood about his work to integrate RG work among all departments and how the company is attempting to provide education to younger players.
Gaming lobby joins tribes, unions to push for prediction markets rules: report
The multi-front war over the future of prediction markets in the United States is creating some diverse coalitions of opposition to the burgeoning vertical.
CFTC suit adds yet another layer to New Mexico prediction markets battle
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued the state of New Mexico on Friday, making an already complicated legal situation even more turbulent as lawsuits fly in multiple directions. A CFTC news release Friday morning detailed the regulator’s opposition to last week’s suit against Kalshi in state court.
SBC Summit Canada reinforces role as industry’s meeting point amid Alberta momentum
SBC Summit Canada returned to Toronto last week, bringing the industry together at a pivotal moment for the Canadian gaming sector, as Alberta’s upcoming regulated market launch accelerated conversations around regulation, responsible gambling, advertising reform, cybersecurity and future market expansion. Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from May 19-21, the event marked the first edition under the SBC Summit Canada name following its rebrand from the Canadian Gaming Summit.
SBC Summit Americas Leaders Stage to tackle AI, prediction markets, regulatory reform
SBC Summit Americas will welcome prominent voices from industry giants Bet365 and DraftKings Predictions, together with former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy, to its Leaders Stage for strategic discussions on the evolving future of gaming and sports betting in the Americas.
What secret Google info did employee use to make $1M on Polymarket?
Image: Shutterstock/Tada Images A Google employee faces civil action by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for allegedly using confidential information to make more than $1 million in profit on Polymarket. The CFTC filed the suit against Michele Spagnuolo late Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Q+A with Jacob Coin on how tribes can fight unregulated gaming, and more
Image source: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians In more than two decades in tribal gaming, Jacob Coin has experienced many changes and challenges working with the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (formerly the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.) A constant he sees, however, is the strength of tribal governments when they stand united to advocate for their interests.
Better Gambling Forum, SBC announce strategic partnership
The Better Gambling Forum (BGF) and SBC Events & Media have signed a strategic partnership to advance a practical, scalable approach to player protection across North America and beyond. The partnership will leverage SBC’s events and media platforms to drive engagement with BGF’s Responsible Gambling 3.0 framework, with a focus on translating policy and research into real-world implementation for operators, regulators, and health systems.
Tennessee sweepstakes casino ban signed into law by Gov. Lee
Image: Shutterstock/Maxim Elramsisy A ban on Tennessee sweepstakes casinos will become law after Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill into law Friday on the last possible day for action. Tennessee state legislators beat the clock to approve HB 1885/SB 2136 on the final day of their legislative session April 23. They sent the bill to the governor May 11, triggering a 10-day clock (excluding Sunday) for the governor to make his decision.
First Pitch finalists revealed for SBC Summit Americas startup competition
SBC has announced the five startups that will battle it out for the 2026 edition of First Pitch 2026 Americas, in collaboration with BettingStartups, taking place at SBC Summit Americas. The contest will see some of the most exciting sports betting and gaming start-ups pitch their products to an esteemed panel of industry judges, with the winning company receiving a prize package valued at over $100,000 to help support its growth.
Q+A: Christopher Hebert on how Louisiana addresses responsible gaming
Image: Shutterstock/filmRAW As chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Christopher Hebert deals with the constantly evolving challenges in reaching and helping problem gamblers every day. Hebert played a key role in creating Louisiana’s Problem Gambling Resource Services (PGRS) program that pairs Louisiana’s gaming regulation division with the state’s Office of Behavioral Health. He also led the state’s effort to develop sports betting regulations.
Oklahoma sweepstakes banned as legislature overrides Gov. Stitt
Image: Shutterstock/Lev Radin A bill to ban Oklahoma sweepstakes games will become law after state legislators again broke with Gov. Kevin Stitt on a gaming issue and overrode his veto. Both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature voted overwhelmingly on Thursday’s final day of the 2026 session to bypass the governor and enact a ban on sweeps, or dual-currency, games. The Senate approved the override by a 34-10 vote, while the House backed it by a 68-19 margin.
SBC Summit Americas to introduce interactive industry masterclasses
From prediction market regulation to securing startup investment, SBC Summit Americas 2026 is giving delegates a new way to tackle the region’s biggest challenges, through hands-on masterclasses built around active participation. Taking place on June 10-11, in Room 207 at the Broward County Convention Center, these sessions offer a more interactive alternative to the event’s core conference program.
What will FanDuel CEO Amy Howe earn in Flutter severance?
New York NY USA-January 30, 2024 Advertising for FanDuel, online sports gambling, in the Moynihan Train Hall of Pennsylvania Station in prior to the Super Bowl The established U.S. market leader in online sports betting is making a major leadership change, as FanDuel CEO Amy Howe left the company Wednesday with a sizable severance package. FanDuel President Christian Genetski ascends to the top spot in the Flutter-owned property, the company announced in a news release.
Tennessee sweepstakes casino ban passes state legislature on final day
State legislators joined a handful of other jurisdictions in approving a ban on online Tennessee sweepstakes casinos, passing a conference committee agreement Thursday in overwhelming fashion. Senate Bill 2136/House Bill 1885 carried the final product forward, with the House voting by a 69-17 margin to outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee, who has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to make a decision on the legislation.
Sweepstakes Operators Launch Trade Group As Industry Attention Grows
Social and sweepstakes operators are mobilizing to advocate for their industry as state regulators look closer into the legality of their games. A number of social and sweepstakes companies announced Thursday the formation of the Social and Promotional Gaming Association.
Jontay Porter Banned From The NBA
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the ultimate punishment to Jontay Porter for his activities around sports betting and his performance. Did the system work as planned? Plus, why Georgia sports betting legislation failed on a familiar path, whether Alabama sports betting still has any chance to pass, and the latest on Shohei Ohtani. Matt Brown (00:11): Hello, and welcome to episode number 231 of the LSR Podcast.
DraftKings Claims VIP Head Plotted To Steal Secrets For Fanatics Before Super Bowl
In an explosive Monday court filing, DraftKings accuses its head of VIP operations of a yearlong plan to steal confidential information and take it to upstart Fanatics Sportsbook. DraftKings filed the civil action in the US District Court in the District of Massachusetts. In a 49-page filing, DraftKings alleges that Michael Hermalyn last week took the final steps in an elaborate plot to cripple its VIP operation days before the Super Bowl.
Authorities Ground Some Boeing 737s And Begin Investigation Following Alaska Airlines Emergency Landing
Authorities Ground Some Boeing 737s And Begin Investigation Following Alaska Airlines Emergency Landing An emergency landing by an Alaska Airlines jetliner has prompted U.S. federal authorities to ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, adding another episode to the troubled history of Boeing’s Max lineup of jets.
ESPN BET App To Launch This Fall With Penn As Barstool Brand Axed
The sleeping giant of global sports finally entered the US sports betting space Tuesday as ESPN announced plans to launch ESPN BET in partnership with PENN Entertainment. The entrance of ESPN BET also brings the exit of Barstool Sportsbook. In concert with its announcement of the ESPN sports betting deal, PENN announced a full sale of Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy. PENN will pay ESPN $1.5 billion over the term of a 10-year contract.
DraftKings, PointsBet To Open Talks With Fanatics Still In Play
The board of PointsBet announced Sunday evening that it will move forward exploring a last-minute offer by DraftKings, while continuing to recommend a Fanatics bid — for now. The Australian company issued a press release announcing it will engage DraftKings on its $195 million offer to purchase PointsBet‘s US assets.
Texas Sports Betting Bill Appears Dead After Patrick Tweet
The people will not have a say on Texas sports betting in 2023 after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had his. Patrick tweeted Saturday afternoon that HB 1942 will not receive consideration in the state Senate. The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the Senate in Texas, giving Patrick power beyond what exists for non-voting members of a chamber in most other states. It appears Patrick will exercise that power to decide the fate of TX sports betting rather than allowing voters to choose.
Stiffed Brees: NJ Sportsbooks Ordered To Halt Purdue Bowl Betting
Tom Brady makes major Christmas move after divorce Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, probably knew Christmas would look different this year following his highly publicized divorce from Brazillian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. Bündchen, for her part, got to take the couple’s three children to her native Brazil for a scenic holiday weekend while Brady led the Buccaneers in a come-from-behind Read more...
Ohio Sports Betting Regulator Slaps Major Fine On DraftKings Before Launch
Analysis: Will Ohio Sports Betting Leaders Look Like Neighboring States? Sports betting in Ohio is going live, which leads to the next stage of the market launch: speculation of which book will lead the way. One way to determine which Ohio sportsbooks will be most popular is to look at the surrounding states.
Stiffed Brees: NJ Sportsbooks Ordered To Halt Purdue Bowl Betting
NJ sportsbooks received an order to halt betting on the Citrus Bowl between Purdue and LSU because of concerns related to “an individual” with the Purdue football team. LSR confirmed with an industry source a report by ESPN about the abrupt NJ sports betting ban from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). While the DGE order did not specifically name the individual, the source also confirmed it is Boilermakers interim coach Drew Brees.
Ohio Sports Betting Regulator Slaps Major Fine On DraftKings Before Launch
DraftKings Sportsbook did not even reach the starting line for legal Ohio sports betting before running afoul of state regulators. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) revealed Friday that it seeks to fine DraftKings Sportsbook $350,000 for mailing thousands of advertisements to people under 21 years old. Legal OH sports betting does not start until 12:01 a.m. January 1.
NFL Suspends Jets Coach For Betting On Other Sports, Table Games: Report
New York Jets receivers coach Miles Austin III received an indefinite suspension this week from the National Football League (NFL) for violating its betting and gambling policy. Multiple reports indicate Austin will sit out at least one year for allegedly wagering on sports other than football and playing online table games.
Arbitrator Rules Fox Can Buy Major FanDuel Stake For $3.7 Billion
An arbitrator in New Yorksent a shockwave through the US sports betting Friday by ruling that Fox Corp. can purchase a sizable stake in FanDuel at a $20 billion overall valuation. Largely an afterthought in the US marketplace to date, Fox can become a major shareholder in FanDuel at what appears a reasonable price for the dominant sportsbook of the first half-decade of legal sports betting across the United States.
Hackers Post Data From LAUSD Ransomware Breach After District Refuses To Pay Ransom. What’s The Latest?
Hackers Post Data From LAUSD Ransomware Breach After District Refuses To Pay Ransom. What’s The Latest? A group of hackers has released sensitive data stolen from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s online systems during the Labor Day weekend ransomware attack, district officials confirmed Sunday. The development comes just days after LAUSD officials confirmed that cyberattackers had demanded the school district pay a ransom to prevent the data’s exposure. LAUSD leaders refused.
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