The Weekender: Sports Betting's Uncertain Future
DraftKings dips with lotto news and tax hikes. ESPN Bet partnership on the ropes? Fanatics rises. Can Penn & Teller’s Casino Monte usher in a new era of table games?
The Bulletin Board
ABOVE the FOLD: A look at the biggest stories of the week.
— This week’s top stories in the Straight to the Point newsletter
— Newsletter reads of the week
HOUSEKEEPING: Podcasts, featured articles, and more from yours truly.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE - Yes, Sporttrade is indeed a prediction market. Always has been. Find out more here
This Week’s Top Stories on STTP
MONDAY: DraftKings stock dropped after NJ's proposed tax hike and Jackpocket's ban in TX. With other states eyeing similar moves, the sector faces a shaky future.
TUESDAY: Penn CEO Jay Snowden intimates that the ESPN Bet partnership could dissolve if progress isn't made in 2025.
WEDNESDAY: Fanatics market share is growing in the US market, surpassing rivals and closing in on a podium spot, thanks to an improved app and strategic moves.
THURSDAY: Slots evolved from simple reels to flashy touchscreens, while table games stayed static. Penn & Teller’s Casino Monte is trying to change that.
This Week in Gambling Newsletters
Housekeeping
PODCASTS: This week’s guest on the Talking Shop Podcast was Keith Whyte, the former Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, who recently left the organization after 26 years.
Episode 43: Three Decades of Gambling Lessons with Keith Whyte
"Responsible gaming is a positive. And that's where you want to encourage people, incentivize people, make it a good thing. There's always going to be stigma around addiction. But just like we celebrate someone who takes the keys from their friend to prevent them from driving home drunk… I want someone in my family or friend group to celebrate that I set a limit. We're not there yet, but I think we can get there." ~ Keith Whyte
COLUMNS: Prediction markets take center stage in this week’s featured column, as I offer up some thoughts on the cease-and-desist letter sent by Nevada gaming regulators to Kalshi. The action “might have quietly set the stage for a seismic shift in how America bets—on sports, elections, and more. Five years from now, I suspect we’ll see this as the biggest news of early 2025.”
Fight, Fight, Fight!
In a week full of headline-level news items, a cease-and-desist letter from Nevada’s gaming regulators to Kalshi might have quietly set the stage for a seismic shift in how America bets—on sports, elections, and more. Five years from now, I suspect we’ll see this as the biggest news of early 2025.
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