I Don't Feel No Different
Credit card bans are proving largely ineffectual, but when it comes to legalization efforts, they are still a necessary policy.
The Bulletin Board
THE LEDE: Australian credit card ban misses the mark.
ROUNDUP: Getting you caught up on recent news stories.
NEWS: Three more sweeps bills: FL, IN, and ME; + NY Gov. signs ban.
AROUND the WATERCOOLER: A wild week on Prediction Market Twitter.
STRAY THOUGHTS: the difference between courtesy and respect.
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The Lede: Credit Card Bans Prove Ineffectual
The latest research out of Australia corroborates the findings from the UK (and what Straight to the Point has suspected all along): Credit card bans don’t work.
“The [Australia] ban saw most gamblers swap their form of payment to transaction accounts and left open a range of loopholes dedicated wagerers could exploit, according to a report by the e61 Institute.
“While the 2024 reform made betting more inconvenient, most gamblers continued to place bets using their own money and did not rely on credit to fund their spending, the study found… Credit card-using gamblers’ average fortnightly betting spend fell from just over $200 across card and transaction accounts to $0 on card but $150 via a transaction account.”
The findings align with a UK report published by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) last year:
“However, while there was a decrease in credit card use and borrowed money use for gambling among those experiencing no reported problems from gambling and those experiencing a low level of problems from gambling, the proportion of those experiencing a moderate or high level of problems from gambling who had used a credit card in the last 12 months increased following the ban.”
As I noted at the time, “It appears that the prohibition added an additional layer of responsibility to responsible gamblers and pushed bettors at moderate and high levels to find workarounds to the ban.”
As usual, Jamie Salsburg was a few years ahead of the curve when it comes to the efficacy of credit card bans:
Still as I noted in a separate column, “Prohibiting credit cards sounds like a robust responsible gambling safeguard, but evidence (where available) suggests the policy has zero impact and possibly exacerbates the problem amongst at-risk gamblers… However, there is a very valid reason to impose a credit card ban, and that reason is to pass a bill — the ‘don’t let perfect be the enemy of good’ argument.”
As former NCLGS President Shawn Fluharty said on the Straight to the Point Talking Shop Podcast (linked below), credit card bans are net positives when it comes to moving legislation forward.
Episode 38: Good Policy Doesn't Equal Good Politics with Shawn Fluharty
“You need to have a legislative champion in each state. It's one thing if somebody representing a company comes to the state and talks to lawmakers. That's great. But you need to have a lawmaker actively on the ground saying, “I want this done, and here's why,” and making the arguments on your behalf. You have to have that. And if you don't have that legislative champion, it makes it very hard to move legislation.”
Weekend Catch-Up: The News You May Have Missed
Hard Rock launches online casino and sportsbook in Michigan [Press Release]: This one fell through the cracks in what was an extremely busy week: “Hard Rock Bet today announced the launch of its top-rated sportsbook and online casino in Michigan, continuing its nationwide growth and marking entry into its 10th sports betting market and second online casino state. Michigan players can now enjoy the brand’s iconic entertainment on Hard Rock Bet’s top-rated platform that features transparent promotions, trusted service, and legendary rewards for online players.”
Rep. Dina Titus pushes for action on FAIR Bet Act [Casino Reports]: “Nevada Rep. Dina Titus is calling on the United States House Committee on Ways and Means to add the Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation Act (FAIR BET Act) to the legislative calendar before the end of the calendar year.” In a tweet, the longtime NV representative said that it’s time to act, as the Fair Bet Act now has 21 co-sponsors: “Earlier this year the BS Budget Bill reduced the tax deduction for gambling losses to 90%. In response, I introduced the FAIR BET Act to restore the commonsense 100% tax deduction to protect professional and recreational gamblers… We must get this fixed.”
Accel Entertainment expands Nevada footprint [CDC Gaming Reports]: One of the biggest VGT suppliers in the country has picked up another route: “Accel Entertainment announced Tuesday that its subsidiary, Century Gaming Technologies Nevada, has acquired the route-operation assets of Dynasty Games… The acquisition expands Accel’s northern Nevada platform with 20 new active locations, two additional locations pending regulatory approval, and about 123 electronic gaming terminals.”
Edge Markets-Betting Hero survey on RG tools [Press Release]: EDGE Boost by EDGE Markets (a newsletter sponsor), released a new study “which found 85% of high-value gaming users are interested in a product to help manage their wagering spend.” From the press release: “The research, conducted by Betting Hero in April 2025, surveyed over 300 real-money gamblers, both in-person and online, and revealed that users spending over $4,000 per month are nearly twice as likely to use responsible gaming tools compared to lower-value users.”
Hector Fernandez is the new CEO of IGT [CDC Gaming Reports]: IGT has named former Aristocrat Gaming CEO Hector Fernandez as its new CEO. “Fernandez will assume the role of CEO of the combined IGT-Everi enterprise and oversee the gaming business unit after regulatory approvals.” STTP interviewed Fernandez in 2024 when I wrote about The American Indian Science & Engineering Society, or AISES, a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pessimistic on casinos [CBS Texas, YouTube]:
Brazil revisits tax rate increase [Compliance+More]: After rescinding a previous online gambling tax hike, Brazil is taking another bite at the apple: “The Brazil Senate Economic Affairs Committee has advanced a bill that would raise the current online gambling tax from 12% to 15% in 2026 and then to 18% in 2028. The bill now moves to the Chamber of Deputies unless it is called for a vote in the Senate. Critics, notably the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming, have warned the hike could “destroy” the regulated market and drive millions of bettors into the black market.”
DraftKings secures introducing broker approval [InGame]: “DraftKings has received approval from the National Futures Association (NFA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to act as an introducing broker (IB) — seemingly bringing it one step closer to launching its own prediction market platform.”
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News: New Sweepstakes Bills in Florida, Indiana, and Maine; NY Gov. Signs Sweeps Ban Into Law
The sweepstakes industry is trying to stop or alter two prohibition efforts at opposite ends of the eastern seaboard. And there is also a new bill that was introduced in Indiana.
First, a new bill in Florida, HB 591, that seeks to stop illegal gambling “fails to account for how lawful promotional sweepstakes operate in Florida,” Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) Executive Director Jeff Duncan said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing our constructive relationship with Florida’s legislators and remain committed to ensuring consumers have access to legal, and compliant entertainment in the Sunshine State.”
And then there is the new push in Maine that would codify existing prohibitions put in place by regulators.
Per local press: “The Maine Department of Public Safety unveiled a proposal Wednesday that would classify sites operating under federal sweepstakes laws as unlawful and impose fines of up to $100,000 on operators.”
In a separate press release, the SGLA wrote:
“Social Plus games are a longstanding online product that tens of thousands of Maine adults currently enjoy. LD 2007 would ban this social games category entirely, stifling innovation and stripping millions of dollars of economic activity from small businesses, advertisers and – ultimately – the state. SGLA urges the Legislature to take a more considered, long-term approach to this innovative sector and regulate, rather than senselessly ban, this popular form of free to play, casual entertainment.
“SGLA partner companies operate fully within Maine’s consumer protection laws and remain committed to working with lawmakers to provide further regulations to protect consumers while delivering millions in annual tax revenues to the state.”
Meanwhile, the SGLA is touting research from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (a newsletter sponsor) that highlights the benefits of legalization.
There is also a new bill, HB 1052, introduced on December 5, 2025 in Indiana would (among other things), “Defines and establishes civil and criminal penalties for conducting a ‘sweepstakes game.’”
And finally, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed the sweepstakes ban bill passed by the legislature in June. Hochul signed S 5935 on Friday, officially banning sweepstakes casinos in the state. As Legal Sports Report noted, most sweepstakes operators had already left New York.
As Daniel Wallach noted on X, sweepstakes have taken it on the chin in 2025, with six legislative bans (CA, CT, MT, NJ, NY, and NV), 13 cease-and-desists (MI, CT, WV, MD, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MS, LA, AZ, MN, and TN), and two state AG action (Louisiana AG Opinion and WV subpoenas issued).
Around the Watercooler
Social media conversations, rumors, and gossip.
My favorite prediction market tweets, starting with a Mallrats reference:
And then there is the evidence of growing awareness and public backlash:
And even some concerns from unlikely corners:
Stray Thoughts
Courtesy is given, respect is earned; there is a big difference between basic politeness and submission to authority.
And kudos to anyone who knew today’s title reference:
Strong writeup on the ineffectiveness angle. The Australia data mirroring the UK findings is telling, especially that uptick in problem gamblers post-ban actually finding workarounds. Classic unintended consequence where the policy nudges responsible folks but doesn't actualy reach the target cohort. The legislative trade-off logic makes sense tho, sometimes gotta take symbolic wins to move the ball forward on broader reform.