Updates on sports betting markets, regulations, and line-setting practices that affect contrarian and underdog betting strategies.
New York’s online sportsbooks took in $1.73 billion in August, down from $2.04 billion a year earlier, according to state Gaming Commission figures reported by EGR and Yogonet. That’s a drop of about 15%, only the second year-over-year decline the state has recorded, and Casino.org paired the number with prediction markets posting their busiest weekend … Read more
Three weeks ago this site ran a piece arguing that the World Cup broke American betting records and the books came out ahead anyway. Every figure in it came from operators talking to reporters, and the post said so plainly: nobody had filed financials yet, and press quotes get picked by the people they flatter. … Read more
A federal judge in Utah ruled Tuesday that the state’s ban on gambling reaches Kalshi’s sports event contracts. Four days earlier, New York sued the company for running what its attorney general describes as an unlicensed gambling operation. The Kalshi lawsuit docket now covers most of the country. Nothing about it points one way. What … Read more
Spain lifted the trophy at MetLife Stadium on July 19, and plenty of American bettors had called it. Spain was the most-backed team to win the tournament at BetMGM before a ball was kicked. That should have been an expensive month for the sportsbooks. Instead, World Cup betting handle records fell week after week and … Read more
$3.3 Billion on March Madness. The Fed Wants to Talk About What Happens Next. Americans legally wagered an estimated $3.3 billion on the 2026 NCAA Tournament, according to the American Gaming Association. That figure is up more than 50% over the past three years. Michigan’s championship run, UConn’s miracle comeback against Duke, and three weeks … Read more
A Third of the League Has Stopped Trying to Win The NBA returns from its All-Star break today with a problem that $600,000 in fines couldn’t fix. Commissioner Adam Silver stood at a podium in Inglewood on Saturday and admitted what everyone watching the league already knew: the tanking this season is worse than anything … Read more
Nevada’s Super Bowl Handle Just Hit a 10-Year Low. Where Did the Money Go? The Nevada Gaming Control Board released its Super Bowl LX wagering figures on Monday, and the headline number stunned the industry. Nevada’s 186 sportsbooks handled $133.8 million on the Seahawks’ 29-13 win over the Patriots. That’s the lowest Super Bowl handle … Read more
A Record $1.76 Billion on One Game Americans legally wagered a record $1.76 billion on Super Bowl LX, according to the American Gaming Association. That’s a 27% jump from last year’s total. The global handle may have approached $4 billion when international markets are included. The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13 as 4.5-point favorites. The … Read more
States Squeeze Sportsbooks Sports betting operators entered 2026 facing a new reality: rising tax burdens that threaten profitability and may ultimately affect the odds offered to bettors. Illinois led the charge with unprecedented tax increases, and other states are following. For contrarian bettors, understanding this squeeze helps explain why lines may vary more dramatically by … Read more
A Year of Scandals The 2025 sports betting landscape was defined by federal investigations that reached into NBA locker rooms, MLB bullpens, and college basketball programs. The fallout is now reshaping how prop bets are offered, with leagues pushing for restrictions and regulators weighing new limits heading into 2026. For bettors, these changes could fundamentally … Read more