Sports Betting Taxes: States Squeeze Sportsbooks in 2026

Infographic showing sports betting tax increases. Chicago combined rate exceeds 52%. Illinois per-bet tax of $0.25-$0.50 caused 15% volume drop. New Jersey up to 21%, Louisiana to 21.5%, Maryland to 20%.

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

ESPN BET Failure: The $2 Billion Lesson for Bettors

Infographic showing ESPN BET failure. 10-year deal lasted only 2 years. $2 billion partnership value. 2.9 million users migrated to theScore Bet. DraftKings now ESPN's official odds provider.

The $2 Billion Experiment Ends On December 1, 2025, ESPN BET quietly disappeared. Users who opened the app that morning found a new name, new logo, and new color scheme. The mint green had become electric blue. ESPN BET was now theScore Bet. The rebrand marked the end of one of the most ambitious and … Read more

Prediction Markets vs Sportsbooks: What Bettors Need to Know

Infographic showing prediction markets industry growth. Kalshi weekly trading volume exceeds $1 billion. Valuation grew from $5B to $11B. Sports accounts for 87% of volume. DraftKings Predictions now available in 38 states.

A New Way to Bet on Sports If you live in California, Texas, or one of the other states where sports betting remains illegal, you can now wager on NFL games through a loophole that has state regulators scrambling. Prediction markets like Kalshi and new offerings from DraftKings and FanDuel are accepting sports wagers in … Read more