North America

DFS operators roll out 50-state self-exclusion program with idPair

A group of leading daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators have launched a national self-exclusion program to encompass all 50 U.S. states and D.C.

PrizePicks, Underdog, Dabble and Splash Sports have an existing partnership with idPair through their membership of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports (CFS). SBC Americas reached out to the CFS and to Betr seeking clarity on why Betr, the fifth member of the coalition, is not included in this latest initiative.

The CFS members’ voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) program leverages idPair’s proprietary technology to provide a single, streamlined process for users to block themselves. idPair and the coalition first rolled out a VSE in Nebraska and New Mexico in 2024 and expanded it to 13 new states last year.

Now, it will span all 50 states. The operators said this marks the first time in history that a single, integrated self-exclusion mechanism will span the entire nation across multiple operators.

“By expanding this operator-led program to all ..

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Congress introduces POINTS Act for federal funding for problem gambling treatment

A group of bipartisan lawmakers is making a legislative effort to provide federal funding to support prevention, screening and treatment services for gambling addiction to the public.

Reps. Erin Houchin and Andrea Salinas have introduced House Bill 7875, a piece of legislation that aims to provide a pool of dedicated funding for people experiencing gambling-related harm and to support those who are at risk of problem gambling.

The Providing Opportunities for Individuals In Need of Treatment & Support (POINTS) Act aims to close a gap in addictive disorder treatment, as federal funding is allocated toward alcohol and drug addiction, but not gambling.

“As sports betting and online gambling continue to expand across the country, we have a responsibility to ensure people struggling with addiction are not left behind,” said Salinas.

“Gambling addiction can devastate individuals and families, yet too many communities still lack the resources needed to provide prevention, treatment, and re..

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Massachusetts committee passes bill to tax sports betting at 51%

A piece of legislation that would overhaul the regulated gaming market in Massachusetts is moving forward after receiving a favorable vote by a state joint committee.

Senate Bill 302 was passed by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Monday by a 5-0 vote, resulting in the measure being referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Keenan, aims to implement new standards in Massachusetts that address economic, health and social harms related to the availability of sports wagering.

SB 302, coined as The Bettor Health Act, was first introduced last year but took its first major step forward on March 9, 2026.

It would make sweeping changes to gambling rules related to tax rates, prop and live bets, TV advertisements, responsible gambling funds and deposit limits. The piece of legislation is familiar to lawmakers as the bill was under consideration in the House and Senate in 2025 and carried..

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Entain warns prediction markets facilitate underage sports betting

Entain’s Stella David has issued a criticism of the damaging consequences of the rise of prediction markets, claiming they facilitate underage sports betting in the US.

Many states across the US require players to be 21 to gamble. However, platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, which are federally regulated through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), have a minimum age requirement of 18.

Given that the platforms are currently offering markets on sports events, they are effectively bypassing state gambling laws, according to the Entain executive.

Updating investors yesterday, she stated: “Let me be clear, when people play the prediction markets in sports, it looks like a sports bet, it sounds like a sports bet, and it acts like a sports bet. I don’t think anybody should be in any doubt. It’s sports betting.

“In the US, you’ve got to be 21 to play, [but] 18 to 21-year-olds are playing prediction markets, and they’re playing prediction markets in non [online sports betting..

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Virginia passes credit card ban but seeks online casino compromise

On a busy day in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Wednesday, Senate lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to ban the use of credit cards for sports betting.

A little more than a month after House Bill 515 passed the House by a 94-3 vote, senators unanimously approved it 40-0.

The bill would remove credit cards from the list of approved account funding methods for sports wagering operators who are licensed to do business by the Virginia Lottery Board. The Lottery already prohibits credit cards for lottery play.

The three no votes on the House floor are the only rejections the idea has faced in the legislature this year. It was approved unanimously by multiple committees in each of the House and the Senate over the last six weeks, as well as on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

The Senate-approved version has one small amendment, made in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee two weeks ago, to add that sportsbooks must be held accountable in taking “reasonable mea..

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Louisiana legislators put prop bet and sweepstakes bans on agenda

Louisiana’s 2026 legislative session begins on March 9, and legislators are already lining up a queue of gambling bills to discuss once the state Senate and House convene in Baton Rouge.

From banning prop bets and in-play micro markets to banning sweepstakes and legalizing iLottery, here are some things on the docket.

Time to prohibit props?

Senate Bill 354, which was pre-filed by Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews and has been provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary B, would change Louisiana’s sports betting statutes to remove the term “proposition bets” from the list of authorized wagers. It defines a prop as “a side wager” on a part of a sport or athletic event that does not concern the final outcome of the event.

While the list of authorized sports wagering markets includes “in-game wagering” and “in-play bets” SB 354 would also establish a brand-new definition for a “sports micro-bet,” meaning a prop bet that is placed while a sports event is in progress and which conce..

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Sportradar extends integrity deal with FIFA ahead of World Cup

FIFA is continuing to ensure the integrity of competition ahead of this year’s World Cup with the extension of a partnership with Sportradar.

On Monday, Sportradar announced that it has extended its integrity services agreement with FIFA for an additional five years. The newly-minted deal runs through 2031 and allows FIFA to leverage the monitoring and investigative services offered by Sportradar.

“The expansion of our integrity agreement with FIFA further strengthens the ability to identify, assess and respond to risks in an increasingly complex global picture,” said Sportradar Executive Vice President of Integrity Services Andreas Krannich. “It underlines both organization’s commitment to fair and clean sport at all levels globally.”

FIFA and Sportradar first teamed up in 2017 to ensure the integrity of soccer matches around the world. In 2026, Sportradar will continue to monitor betting activity for competitions hosted by FIFA and its 211 member associations. FIFA and Sportradar’..

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Colorado bill would ban all prop bets, clamp down on betting ads

A new bipartisan bill filed in Colorado would implement several new measures on the state’s sports betting market, including banning numerous prop wagers and restricting how licensed sportsbooks can advertise.

Senate Bill 131, filed on Wednesday, is a wide-ranging responsible gambling-focused piece of legislation that aims to implement more player protection safeguards and several limitations on how operators can conduct business. It has one Democrat and one Republican sponsor attached for both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee for initial discussion.

Bill takes a wide-angle approach to prop bets

Chief among the provisions is a proposal to prohibit Colorado sportsbooks from offering betting markets on the performances of individual athletes.

Player prop betting remains under intense scrutiny amid numerous cases of alleged or confirmed manipulation of performances by both pro and college athletes, including Jont..

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BetMGM ramps up gambling awareness commitments with $1m pledge

BetMGM and MGM Resorts International have announced a $1m (£740,000) expanded commitment to responsible gambling initiatives as part of their participation in National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March.

The investment includes $450,000 allocated to the International Centre for Responsible Gaming to support a new independent research programme examining sports betting behaviour and its potential risks.

The multi-year study will analyse factors influencing betting decisions, risk patterns across different player groups and the effectiveness of prevention strategies, with the aim of strengthening responsible gambling practices across the industry.

“As sports betting continues to grow so must our understanding of its impact on our guests and customers,” said Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts.

“Investing in high quality research allows us to be guided by valuable data and insights, which will u..

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IC360 teams up with 2026 FIFA World Cup Task Force

Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) is assisting the U.S. federal government in preparing and executing a 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament that will take place in North America.

IC360 announced that it has joined the FIFA World Cup Task Force, a government unit that is responsible for overseeing this year’s interaction of the tournament. The task force collaborates with federal agencies in planning and delivering the World Cup.

“We are honored to be joining the FIFA World Cup Task Force,” said IC360 Co-CEO Scott Sadin. “Our team is looking forward to bringing unique insight and value to this group. Most importantly, we’re thrilled to be partnering with stakeholders who are passionate about protecting the integrity of the beautiful game on the world stage.”

As a member of the FIFA World Cup Task Force, IC360 will help sustain the integrity of competition for the nearly 40-day tournament that kicks off on June 11 in Mexico. IC360 will leverage its experience in navigating North American g..

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