(AsiaGameHub) -   The year’s first golf major is here, as The Masters gets underway next week at Augusta National. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion, having completed his career grand slam last year. DraftKings Odds for The Masters Take a look at the odds for top contenders to win The Masters at DraftKings: Scottie Scheffler +405 Jon Rahm +850 Rory McIlroy +1000 Bryson DeChambeau +1075 Xander Schauffele +1800 Ludvig Aberg +2000 Cameron Young +2350 Tommy Fleetwood +2500 Matt Fitzpatrick +2600 Collin Morikawa +3100 Justin Rose +3600 Jordan Spieth +3800 Brooks Koepka +3800 Hideki Matsuyama +3900 Russell Henley +4200 Chris Gotterup +4300 Patrick Reed +4400 Robert MacIntyre +4600 Viktor Hovland +4600 Si Woo Kim +4700 Min Woo Lee +5400 Justin Thomas +5500 Patrick Cantlay +5700 Adam Scott +6200 Akshay Bhatia +6500 Sepp Straka +6700 Jason Day +6800 Tyrrell Hatton +6800 Jake Knapp +6900 Shane Lowry +7000 Scottie Scheffler, as usual, is the betting favorite. He’s aiming for his third green jacket after winning in 2022 and 2024. Top Picks for the 2026 Masters Champion Favorite Pick: Ludvig Aberg (+2000) Ludvig Aberg is competing in The Masters for the third time. The skilled Swede made a splash at Augusta National in his 2024 debut, finishing as runner-up. Last year, Aberg was tied for the lead with McIlroy and Justin Rose late in Sunday’s final round. Regrettably, he bogeyed the 17th hole and suffered a triple bogey on the 8th, dropping to seventh place by the end. The question isn’t whether Aberg will win The Masters, but when and how many times. We’re optimistic about his chances this year, given his tied-for-third finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tied-for-fifth at The Players Championship. Sleeper Pick: Russell Henley (+4200) Russell Henley is still chasing his first major title, but he’s on the cusp of a breakthrough. The Georgia native finished tied for fourth at the 2023 Masters—his best result in a major tournament to date. He also notched a solo fifth-place finish at the 2024 Open Championship and a tied-for-seventh at the US Open that same year. Henley earned his fifth PGA Tour win at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year. If he finds himself in contention again on Sunday, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him wearing a green jacket. Photo by Kris Johnson Longshot Pick: Adam Scott (+6200) Do you remember Justin Rose at Augusta National last year? Only McIlroy’s inspired playoff performance kept him from claiming the green jacket. Adam Scott could be this year’s version of Rose—he won The Masters in 2013 and was runner-up in 2011. At 45, both players are still playing some of the best golf of their careers. Scott is making his 25th career start at The Masters, with five top-10 finishes at Augusta National under his belt. With his long drives and deft touch on the greens, Scott has the game to win here again. His recent form includes a fourth-place finish at Riviera and a tied-for-11th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Authorities in Macao have taken a self-proclaimed Chinese gambling expert into custody following an inquiry into suspected embezzlement and fraud. While investigators withheld the individual's name, TDM, a Macao media outlet, reported that the suspect is a 31-year-old man from Mainland China. According to police, the individual swindled a middle-aged woman out of roughly 255,000 patacas (nearly $32,000) by offering to instruct her in gambling techniques. Law enforcement noted that the "guru" first encountered the woman last November and scheduled a gambling trip to Macao shortly thereafter. To establish credibility regarding his supposed expertise, the man reportedly showed the victim a WeChat Pay balance totaling 1.8 million yuan (exceeding $260,400) on multiple occasions before they began gambling, police said. Upon arriving in Macao, the pair met near the Hengqin Port checkpoint and reportedly visited two local casinos. A government building located in Macao's Hengqin Port district. (Image: Enviro2800 [CC BY-SA 4.0]) Gambling Expert Apprehended at Border Crossing Officials stated that the man secured two loans from the victim under the guise of demonstrating his gambling prowess. His reputation as a skilled player was quickly debunked when he proceeded to lose the majority of the borrowed funds, police noted. The suspect allegedly told the woman he was unable to pay her back immediately, citing daily transfer restrictions on the electronic payment platform. The man subsequently fled the scene and attempted to return to the mainland, but was intercepted and arrested at a border checkpoint on March 24. During the ensuing interrogation, investigators determined that his claims of possessing over $260,000 in his digital accounts were entirely fabricated. Police concluded that the suspect lacked the necessary funds to reimburse the victim for the borrowed money. Ongoing Enforcement Efforts Macao law enforcement is maintaining its push against crimes linked to the gaming industry. On March 30, the Judiciary Police announced the arrest of a 32-year-old Mainland Chinese national at Macao International Airport. This individual, along with a suspected partner, is accused of tricking an unauthorized currency exchanger out of casino chips valued at more than $2,760. The woman who was targeted in the scam will also face charges for her involvement in an illicit currency exchange ring, according to police. Authorities observed that unregulated currency exchange activities are prevalent in the vicinity of Macao's casinos. Earlier in January, the Public Security Police Department detained a man suspected of conducting thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized currency trades involving Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese tender near major gaming venues. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   A former Caesars Palace staff member has filed a lawsuit against the casino, claiming his race was the primary reason for his firing. Felton Davis, who is African-American, worked at the Las Vegas-based Caesars Palace hotel and casino for 13 years, spanning from May 2012 through October 2025. The casino suspended and subsequently fired him last year, citing claims that he was taking “unlimited breaks.” Other Staff Members Spared Disciplinary Action The lawsuit notes that Davis refutes these claims. It further argues that even if Davis had taken breaks, his colleagues were doing the same. “Davis’s coworkers, Melissa Mara and Jason Lee, participated in identical or comparable overtime habits but faced no suspension, disciplinary measures, or termination,” the complaint alleges. Furthermore, the filing mentions that his suspension stemmed from “a shift during which his colleague Melissa Mara departed early, while Davis remained to clean and restock his mobile bar.” HR Refuses to Show Camera Footage During a disciplinary meeting, Human Resources representative Anna Gutierrez claimed she had observed Davis taking unauthorized breaks. When Davis requested to view the surveillance footage, she denied the request. The lawsuit asserts that this refusal serves as evidence that the grounds for his termination were manufactured and that the decision was actually racially motivated. Although Davis was the most senior of the three employees, the lawsuit does not identify this as a factor in his firing. Instead, it contends, “There was no valid business justification for firing Davis while keeping less senior staff members who participated in the same behavior.” “Caesars engaged in intentional racial discrimination against Davis by firing him while keeping non-African American employees in similar positions who performed the same actions,” the complaint states. Another Casino Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination A comparable legal action was initiated in Pennsylvania this past February. In that instance, however, the plaintiff alleged he was “repeatedly demeaned for being white.” Similar to Davis, that employee alleged that Mount Airy Casino fabricated claims to orchestrate his termination. Both individuals have since secured new jobs. Nevertheless, Davis is pursuing damages from Caesars, noting that his current position as a security guard at Allegiant Stadium “does not offer the same level of pay or benefits he earned at Caesars.” Beyond the financial impact of his termination, he asserts that the firing has resulted in “emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical symptoms, including migraine headaches.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office executed a raid on an illicit gaming arcade, confiscating 66 slot machines and taking two people into custody. Amid ongoing crackdowns across Florida, former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez made a court appearance regarding allegations of aiding illegal gambling operations in the state. Authorities from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported the Monday arrests of Mohamed Belyaqout and Mabielka C. Cumbrera. Officials state the pair face charges for operating a gambling house and possessing slot machines. Belyaqout was apprehended at Slot 24/7 on 5709 S. Beneva Road in Sarasota. In addition to the slot machines, an undisclosed sum of money was seized. The business had been served a cease-and-desist order by the sheriff's office the previous year, which it disregarded. “Our collaboration with the FGCC will persist to ensure these unlawful gambling operations are held responsible and closed,” stated Sheriff Hoffman. The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) maintains its vigorous campaign against unlawful gaming statewide. Last month, the agency headed Operation Reel of Fortune, which saw the confiscation of 625 slot machines and more than $350,000 in cash. Patrons Allege Harassment From Staff The establishment seems to have been running for a period, though under different identities. The address is listed on Google as The Spot Social Club. Google reviews from as far back as two years allege harassment by staff during gameplay. One reviewer stated she spent between $200 and $500 daily at the arcade before employees told her to leave for “touching the machines on the screens and tapping them softly.” She claims the owner brought on a new employee who consistently harassed patrons. The review further noted, “This man is very controlling about how he prefers to instruct people on playing and spending their money.” A different user lamented being “Kicked out for playing a machine that was left unattended.” It is unknown whether management has shifted since these reviews were posted two years ago. The fight against illegal gaming in Florida has been likened to a game of whac-a-mole, with operations often resurfacing at the same addresses under fresh names. Sheriff Lopez Appears in Court As an illustration, Hot Seats, a venue closed during the operation that resulted in Sheriff Lopez's arrest, promptly resumed business. It was targeted again in a January raid. Lopez is alleged to have enabled an illegal gambling scheme that produced up to $21 million. He appeared in court on Tuesday for the first time since being released on bail last year. Two witnesses for the state, Kyle Henry and Douglas Ford, were questioned. Ford, once a driver for Lopez, allegedly “winked at the former Sheriff Tuesday before testifying.” Lopez Faces Charges as Others Agree to Plea Deals Ford testified that he and Henry served as a “protection detail” for the illegal gambling enterprises. He was arrested on separate charges in 2024, accused of hacking into the criminal justice academy’s camera system to surveil his girlfriend. He accepted a plea deal in that matter, resulting in an initial 24-month probation sentence, which was subsequently dismissed. Whether this deal required testimony against Lopez remains uncertain. Henry, for his part, was arrested last year on charges of unauthorized access to an electronic device. His case is still open. It is also not clear if he has arranged a deal to serve as a witness. Five other individuals have accepted plea agreements in the case, among them Lopez's estranged wife, Robin Lopez. She likewise received a 24-month probation sentence. The ex-Sheriff is now the sole defendant. Prosecutors claim Lopez personally obtained between $600,000 and $700,000 in cash from the illegal gambling profits. He has entered a plea of not guilty. Florida legislators have put forward tighter rules for gaming centers intended to bolster the FGCC's efforts against such businesses. SB1580 appeared to be advancing, having passed the Senate and then the House with changes. Yet, the Senate did not have sufficient time to reconsider the revised bill, causing it to expire last month. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Legislators in Tennessee and Maryland have been reviewing bills this week aimed at explicitly prohibiting sweepstakes casinos. In Tennessee, a House committee has greenlit a bill that will now advance to a final committee before a full chamber vote. Meanwhile, in Maryland, a Senate committee held a hearing—without taking a vote—on a bill that has already cleared the House. Tennessee House Committee Approves Ban Tennessee’s House State & Local Government Committee approved HB 1885 in a 21-to-0 vote, with one representative abstaining. Last month, the House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee voted unanimously in favor of the bill. It will next move to the Finance, Ways & Means Committee; if approved there, it will proceed to a full vote on the House floor. The legislation defines an online sweepstakes game as a platform that utilizes a virtual-currency system allowing players to engage in “gambling of any kind, including, but not limited to, casino-style gaming such as slot machines, video poker, table games, lottery games, bingo, or unlicensed sports wagering,” which can later be exchanged for “a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent.” Should the bill pass, violators could face a fine of up to $15,000 per violation. Maryland Senate Hearing on HB 1226 In Maryland, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee held a hearing on HB 1226. The House approved the legislation with minimal opposition on March 23, in a 135-1 vote. The bill similarly defines sweepstakes games as “a game, contest, or promotion that:(1) Utilizes a dual–currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize, award, cash or cash equivalents, or chance to win any prize, award, cash or cash equivalents; and(2) Simulates any form of gambling, including:(3) Casino–style games, including slot machines, video poker, and table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker.” The committee has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill. A similar piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate in January, but it also stalled after an initial hearing. Maryland has taken steps to crack down on sweepstakes casinos. The City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against five major operators last month, alleging the platforms are already violating state law. The bill would increase potential penalties, with offenders facing up to 3 years in prison. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency supports the stricter rules. The agency has previously sent cease-and-desist letters to operators, including VGW. However, the company—which runs Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and Global Poker—failed to comply, leading to a second round of letters being sent in November. Even so, the platforms still appear accessible in the state. Most Platforms Block Access in Maryland & Tennessee A total of 33 operators, including some of those sued by Baltimore (High 5, Stake, Pulsz, and McLuck), have exited Maryland. Tennessee has also largely driven out operators, following a wave of cease-and-desist letters from the state’s Attorney General last year. Yet, some remain active. If the bills pass in both states, it would further empower gambling regulators to take action against any companies that continue to operate. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has approved legislation that lifts the prohibition against wagering on in-state college teams at tribal sportsbooks. The governor signed the bill on March 30, and it will become active on June 11. This marks the first opportunity since sports betting was legalized in Washington in 2020 for fans to legally bet on local teams such as the University of Washington and Gonzaga University. The legislation stipulates that betting remains confined to tribal casino properties, requiring patrons to be physically present to place a wager. Although the law broadens the state's sports betting market, it upholds a number of restrictions designed to protect integrity. For instance, proposition bets on individual players, as well as bets on coaching decisions and officiating, continue to be forbidden. Due to these limitations, the change represents a measured expansion of the market rather than a full liberalization. Legislators characterized the measure as a way to strengthen the regulated sports betting industry while confining gambling to a supervised setting. Law Places Strict Limits on Player Prop Bets A defining feature of the law is its specific prohibitions. Even with the new legality of betting on college sports, wagers cannot be placed on "the performance or nonperformance of any specifically named individual participant" who is enrolled at a Washington college or university. While these individual player prop bets are banned, the law permits "portion-of-game" betting, which involves wagers on discrete segments of a contest, like the halftime score or the result of a single quarter. This ensures that many popular bet types remain available without focusing on an individual student-athlete. Supporters of the measure applauded it, noting that residents were already betting on local teams through unregulated offshore websites. By legalizing collegiate betting, the state can now recapture that revenue and offer a safer, regulated environment for bettors. The law also introduces enhanced integrity measures. Knowingly threatening a sports official, coach, or participant over a wager-related incident is now classified as a gross misdemeanor, and anyone found guilty will be prohibited from placing sports bets. NCAA Wants Player Prop Bets Banned The law's restrictions on wagering tied to a college athlete's individual performance align with a wider national discussion about college betting, where player prop bets are facing greater examination due to harassment and integrity issues. In January, coinciding with the unsealing of indictments in a college basketball point-shaving scandal, the NCAA dispatched a letter to state regulators urging a ban on prop bets for college athletes. The association warned that such wagers elevate the risks of spot-fixing, insider information solicitation, and direct harassment of players. A recent survey supports the NCAA's concerns about player harassment. The latest NCAA Student-Athlete Needs, Aspirations and Perspectives survey indicated that almost half of men’s Division I basketball players have faced abuse linked to betting. Although Washington's law does not prohibit all proposition bets, it specifically bans the types of wagers most likely to subject student-athletes, coaches, and officials to direct pressure. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   A recent Morning Consult poll reveals that a majority of Americans consider the event contracts offered by prediction markets to be equivalent to gambling and are concerned they may cause greater harm, particularly to younger participants.  These results echo a prior survey which indicated Americans tend to categorize prediction markets more as betting than as investing.  The poll was sponsored by Gambling Is Not Investing, a coalition opposed to prediction markets and headed by former U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney. The group states its aim is to "stop prediction markets from offering unsafe and unregulated sports event contracts that bypass state and tribal laws." Poll data shows 81% of respondents identified sports betting on prediction markets as gambling. Meanwhile, 77% were worried about platforms permitting teenagers to wager on sports, believing this could heighten gambling-related issues for young adults compared to traditional sportsbooks that enforce a minimum age of 21.  An additional 81% of participants either strongly or somewhat agreed that prediction markets must comply with state gaming rules, covering age limits, tax frameworks, and problem gambling mandates. In a statement releasing the poll findings, Mulvaney commented: “This polling confirms that unabated sports gambling on prediction markets is a growing concern across America. Prediction markets are trying to disguise their sports betting products as a financial investment, misleading Americans and dodging consumer safeguards like age requirements. Let’s face it, if it quacks like a duck, it’s sports betting.” Survey Shows Strong Support for Sports Betting Regulations The topline report states that 15,029 U.S. adults were surveyed between March 17 and 22. It found 73% of those polled think that employing terms such as "event contracts," "swaps," or "futures" for sports betting obscures the financial risks involved with prediction markets, a confusion they said is amplified for youth.  Furthermore, 79% of surveyed individuals stated that prediction markets offering sports event contracts should be mandated to supply the same problem gambling support tools as licensed sportsbooks.  An examination of the questionnaire's structure suggests the framing of questions aligns with the agenda of the Gambling Is Not Investing Coalition.  Multiple questions draw a direct comparison between prediction markets and state-regulated sportsbooks and mention teenagers betting on sports, without noting that platform users typically must be 18.  Some queries also employ leading language; one example asks if using financial jargon like "swaps" or "futures" makes it "more difficult" to perceive risks. This phrasing presumes an existing hurdle instead of employing neutral wording.  Capitol Hill Keeps Up Pressure on Prediction Markets Prediction markets are under growing examination in Congress as legislators aim to control these event contract exchanges. Just in the past week, three distinct bills targeting the industry from various perspectives were introduced.  The PREDICT Act would prohibit Congress members, high-ranking federal officials, and other designated personnel from trading specific prediction market contracts. The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 would prevent government officials from profiting on event contracts using non-public information. The STOP Corrupt Bets Act would outlaw prediction market contracts related to elections, armed conflict, government activities, and sports. On March 30, legislators also intensified calls for action, sending a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics urging a clampdown on what they called illegal insider trading in prediction markets by federal employees. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   BETBY is joining the predictions trend, though it has put extra care into ensuring its platform steers clear of some of the sector’s more contentious aspects. The Malta-based sportsbook solutions provider launched its predictions platform, BETBY Predictions, today. The company plans to make the platform accessible to all firms in its partner network. BETBY has clearly observed the global growth of prediction platforms—Kalshi and Polymarket, for instance, were valued at $22bn and $9bn respectively as of March 2026. It has also taken note of the traditional gaming industry’s interest in predictions as a new vertical, though some stakeholders like the American Gaming Association (AGA) remain strongly opposed. Fanatics, DraftKings and FanDuel—in that order—have all rolled out prediction platforms in the US, while UK betting exchange Matchbook entered the space late last year, and the Gibraltar government has licensed its first predictions platform too. “BETBY Predictions represents a natural progression of the sportsbook experience,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Innovation and R&D. “We’re taking the core principles of betting and applying them to areas beyond sports.  “This is about transforming global moments into engaging opportunities for players, in a way that’s both scalable and responsible.” BETBY prioritizes tasteful content The rise of prediction platforms hasn’t been without controversy. First, there’s a legal debate over whether these platforms are considered gambling. Regulators in European countries like Belgium, France and Portugal say yes, as do US states like Nevada and Arizona, but the US federal regulator for the sector—the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)—says no. It seems, however, that bookmakers interested in predictions (like the firms mentioned above) are more than happy to have their prediction platforms sit alongside their traditional sportsbooks—and this is the market BETBY is looking to target. But BETBY has also paid attention to another controversial element of predictions: the types of markets users can bet on. A key selling point for Kalshi and Polymarket is their range of political and current affairs events. These markets have included standard ones like who will become the next US President (similar to what traditional sportsbooks offer on their politics pages) to darker ones—such as the likelihood of US strikes on nations like Venezuela and Iran, the chances of ceasefires in wars, or whether China will invade Taiwan. The morbid nature of these bets has caught the attention of mainstream media like the BBC. It has also raised concerns about insider trading, given the potential for government officials with knowledge of upcoming decisions to place bets and profit. BETBY states that its own predictions platform was developed with careful safeguards, excluding “highly sensitive or controversial topics” like geopolitics, active conflicts and wars, and events “involving human suffering”. The firm also stresses that it retains “full control over market creation, ensuring that all content is carefully curated and reviewed, with a clear commitment to responsible and appropriate market selection”. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.