(AsiaGameHub) -   LaLiga has revealed a multi-year agreement with Polymarket, establishing the league as the first in European soccer to appoint a prediction market as its official and exclusive partner for the United States and Canada. This collaboration provides Polymarket with an entry point into one of soccer's most prestigious leagues, coinciding with the rising popularity of prediction markets and their deeper integration into mainstream sports. The arrangement, as detailed in the announcement, will feature Polymarket across U.S. and Canadian broadcasts, digital platforms, and social media, and grants the company rights to use specific LaLiga and club branding for matches in those regions. LaLiga framed the agreement as a strategic move to connect with soccer's expanding North American fanbase. Commenting on the partnership, Relevent CEO & Partner Boris Gartner stated: “Soccer’s growth, especially in North America, is spearheaded by young, diverse and multicultural audiences who consume the game across multiple screens, so it’s our goal to continue to engage these demographics in new and unique ways.” For its part, Polymarket stated the deal would offer supporters a novel method to engage with games, athletes, and seasonal results as they happen. “Our goal is to give fans a more expressive way to follow the game, where opinions on players, matches, and season outcomes can be reflected in real time,” said Polymarket’s Founder and CEO Shayne Coplan. The LaLiga agreement follows another soccer deal for Polymarket. Earlier this year, Major League Soccer designated Polymarket as its official and exclusive prediction market partner for MLS, the MLS All-Star Game, the MLS Cup presented by Audi, and the Leagues Cup. That earlier signing indicated soccer's growing significance within Polymarket's North American sports approach, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon. LALIGA Pitches Fan Engagement and Integrity Enhancing the fan experience is a central component of the partnership. LaLiga North America emphasized that the deal will combine fan-oriented activities with a "responsible and transparent framework" intended to uphold the sport's integrity. The issue of integrity has been a persistent concern, with sports leagues and regulators questioning if prediction markets have sufficient protections to prevent manipulation and insider trading. In a CasinoBeats interview, CAS arbitrator and FIFA consultant Rodrigo Arias Grillo noted that sports federations bear a responsibility to safeguard their competitions' integrity. He cautioned that failure to do so "crushes the soul of any sports association…you lose the fans, you lose the economic support." LaLiga's partnership with Polymarket seems to be a way to recognize the prevalence of fan activity on prediction markets while simultaneously emphasizing that integrity measures are a built-in part of the collaboration. MLS employed comparable terminology when announcing its Polymarket deal, highlighting safeguards like independent oversight of trading and cooperation on MLS and Leagues Cup markets. Other Leagues Are Joining the Prediction Market Trend The LaLiga partnership further extends Polymarket's growing roster of sports affiliations. This past March, Major League Baseball appointed Polymarket as its exclusive prediction market exchange partner. MLB also entered into a pioneering memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, establishing a formal pathway for sharing information related to baseball integrity issues. Prior to that, the National Hockey League formed multi-year partnerships with both Polymarket and Kalshi, and the UFC secured its own multi-year agreement with Polymarket to integrate prediction market elements into its fight broadcasts and live events. Collectively, these recent agreements demonstrate that major sports leagues are increasingly recognizing the commercial benefits of aligning with prediction markets, and that the industry is achieving greater legitimacy despite ongoing legal and regulatory challenges. 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) -   Police in Medan, Indonesia, have announced the dismantling of an online gambling syndicate that they allege has connections to Cambodia. According to the North Sumatra Regional Police Force’s Cyber Investigation Directorate, the gambling operation was based in three rooms within an apartment building located on the busy commercial street Jalan Palang Merah, in downtown Medan, as reported by Indonesian media outlet Kompas. Authorities conducted a raid on the apartment building on the evening of March 16. Detectives reported making 19 arrests across two separate investigations. A court in the city has ordered the group to be held in custody. Police stated that two siblings were in charge of the operations in one of the rooms. Their alleged subordinates were employed in various technical capacities or worked as marketers for online casinos, detectives added. Online Gambling Syndicate: Police Make 19 Arrests Officers indicated that one of the individuals arrested was the alleged mastermind behind the entire syndicate, responsible for personally recruiting all other suspects. The syndicate had reportedly been operating for approximately two years without drawing the attention of law enforcement. A police spokesperson stated that the group utilized a range of advanced technological tools to evade detection. “We are still investigating the possibility that this syndicate was operating as part of a wider network,” the official commented. “We are investigating possible links with foreign networks and other parties.” The official also revealed that one of the arrestees “previously worked in Cambodia,” adding that the investigation is ongoing. Central Medan, in North Sumatra, Indonesia. (Image: Edwin Petrus) Civil Servants Fired for ‘Gambling Violations’ All forms of gambling remain illegal in Indonesia, and police and public prosecutors are intensifying their crackdown on online casinos. Indonesian officials have attributed a wide range of social problems to online betting portals, including increased hospital bed occupancy and rising divorce rates. In Jambi, Sumatra, local government officials have announced the dismissal of four civil servants from their positions. According to reports from the Indonesian media outlet Detik, the four individuals allegedly took out illegal online loans and gambled the funds online, which is a violation of the civil service code. The Jambi mayor’s office stated that it “will not hesitate to impose sanctions” on the civil servants. The office further commented that such incidents “not only damage performance, but also destroy public trust.” The office issued a warning to all Jambi civil servants to “avoid negative activities, such as web-based gambling and online loans.” In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province, police have accused a man of fabricating a report about a mugging to conceal his online gambling activities. The man initially told police that a group of motorcycle-riding assailants had robbed him in the street and stolen his money. However, during police questioning, the man admitted that he had invented the story to avoid being “scolded” by his wife. 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) -   Polymarket has been staying firmly in the public eye recently, and this time the prediction market platform is making headlines over a multi-year collaboration with LALIGA North America. This agreement marks the first ever official partnership between a European football league and a prediction markets operator, though the deal is targeted exclusively at football fans based in North America. Per the terms of the agreement, Polymarket becomes the Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner of Spain’s LALIGA in the U.S. and Canada, as both parties work to deepen fan engagement among a fast-growing, increasingly digital-first audience. According to LALIGA, the partnership reflects a wider strategic push to build connections with younger, multicultural fan bases in North America, where content consumption habits are shifting toward multi-screen and interactive experiences. “Soccer’s growth, particularly in North America, is led by young, diverse and multicultural audiences that consume the sport across multiple screens, so our goal is to keep engaging these demographics through fresh, unique approaches,” said Boris Gartner, Chief Executive Officer and Partner at Relevent, which launched a 15-year, 50/50 joint venture with the Spanish league in 2018 to set up LALIGA North America. “It is critical that we move past traditional engagement efforts to bring these audiences closer to the beautiful game than ever before, and we could not think of a better partner than Polymarket to reach that goal.” The agreement covers a range of commercial and fan-focused activations, including premium broadcast exposure, integration into digital and social content, and access to exclusive perks such as VIP match hospitality and virtual meet-and-greet sessions with LALIGA legends. A core element of the deal is Polymarket’s right to use official league and club intellectual property, which will enable more in-depth integration of prediction-based engagement around live matches and season outcomes. Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, commented: “Our aim is to give fans a more expressive way to follow the sport, where their opinions on players, matches, and season outcomes can be reflected in real time. “Partnering with LALIGA brings this level of interaction to one of the most passionate global fan bases and introduces a new, more dynamic way for North American audiences to engage with the league.” Is there hope for Polymarket in Europe? For Polymarket, the agreement adds to its growing roster of major sports partnerships, which already includes deals with leagues such as MLB, NHL, UFC and MLS. The announcement came on the same day that the New York-headquartered firm lost its bid to operate in Romania, as the ONJN gambling authority rejected Polymarket’s appeal to be removed from the country’s service blacklist. The business has faced significant hurdles in its efforts to enter the European market. Along with Romania, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Portugal have all banned prediction markets from operating in their respective jurisdictions. Prediction markets, which have surged in popularity largely driven by the rise of Polymarket and fellow U.S. operator Kalshi, maintain that they do not offer gambling products, but rather ‘event contracts’ that let users wager against each other on the outcome of a given event. In the U.S., these platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The previously mentioned European markets do not agree with this classification, however. Despite the challenges it faces in Europe, the LALIGA deal proves that prediction market platforms can still secure partnerships with European entities, even if those agreements are focused on North America, where the sector has seen the most favorable regulations to date. In a related note, Gibraltar, which shares a border with Spain, licensed a prediction markets platform as a B2C betting intermediary earlier this week, a move that may also add to Polymarket’s faint hopes of seeing prediction markets become operational on the European side of the Atlantic. Want to read more stories like this? Check out the new SBC Media YouTube Channel, the new multimedia home for all SBC content, where our team deep dives into the biggest stories from across the sports betting, iGaming, affiliate and payments industries. 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 tender process for Paraguay's quiniela lottery has reached its concluding stage, with two domestic entities, Technologies Development of Paraguay (TDP) SA and the Daruma Sam Alliance, now confirmed as the final bidders for the franchise. Initiated in November 2025, this tender is a component of President Santiago Peña's wider plan to privatize businesses formerly controlled by the state, starting with gambling concessions historically run by state and municipal bodies. In late March, the Forte Capital Consortium—comprising Gambling SA, Talismán SA, and B-Gaming Vimérica SA—withdrew from the process, leaving TDP and Daruma Sam as the two remaining competitors. The National Gambling Commission, Conajzar, is supervising the proceedings. Its Interdisciplinary Review Committee (CRI) is responsible for evaluating the submissions within a 10-day period before the final decision. This tender represents a major regulatory change for Paraguay's gambling industry. The government has ended the long-standing monopoly, implementing a new system that permits up to three operators to receive quiniela licenses, indicating a shift to a more competitive market. Both bidders presented financial offers meeting the minimum criteria outlined in the tender specifications (PBC), proposing a 19% fee on monthly gross revenues. Conajzar has also set a minimum guaranteed payment of PYG 9.5 billion for the winning applicants. Daruma Sam already operates in Paraguay, running Aposta.LA betting shops in the Gran Asunción area. Review phase begins After the bids were opened, the CRI began a quantitative and technical review of all submitted documents, as mandated by Resolution No. 28/2026 from 5 February. The committee is anticipated to provide its assessment report within 10 days. A subsequent five working days will then be needed to officially confirm the chosen operators. The successful bidders will secure the right to operate the quiniela for a five-year period. Carlos Liseras, President of Conajzar, noted the process is now in a crucial verification phase: "A detailed control process has begun to ensure all technical and regulatory requirements are fully met." The potential rewards are substantial, with the Paraguayan quiniela market estimated by the industry to generate over $120 million in annual turnover. This tender holds considerable political importance as the initial trial of President Santiago Peña's pledge to reform state-supported monopolies. The accompanying legislative proposal involves re-examining gambling privileges given to municipal authorities, pointing to a more extensive restructuring of traditional market frameworks. Once the quiniela tender concludes in 2026, Peña is anticipated to undertake a comprehensive revision of Paraguay's gambling legislation, establishing this reform as a key element of his broader economic strategy. 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) -   Finland is nearing the 2027 launch of its regulated market, yet its choice to prohibit affiliate marketing prompts the question of what comes next. While affiliates typically enjoy a strong symbiotic relationship with licensed operators in open European markets, Finnish authorities have opted to exclude them entirely from the new framework. According to Antti Koivula, an iGaming Lawyer at Hippos ATG, the primary cause for this is a fundamental government misunderstanding about the nature of affiliates. He expressed this view during an SBC Affiliates Leaders Digital Day expert panel. “The misunderstanding was quite broad. Essentially, the view was that affiliates were influencers aggressively marketing gambling to people, including vulnerable groups, as if they were all identical,” he stated. “That image is naturally very inaccurate. “Numerous affiliates conduct their business with high responsibility and carry out significant responsible gambling work independently. “Nevertheless, that false perception was evident. The chief reason for it, which is somewhat understandable, is that affiliate marketing in Finland was and remains illegal.” Given that affiliates will remain excluded upon the market's launch, it is crucial to have unambiguous rules to prevent confusion and to empower the regulator adequately to address possible violations. Simon Vinzce, Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling at Casino Guru, noted: “Under the new law, the regulator can be aided by being extremely explicit about what is permitted and what is prohibited. “If you allow room for interpretation, then such websites could, for instance, argue they are not promoting but merely providing information.” Although Koivula concurred with the need for a clear and transparent strategy, he remarked that Finland's regulatory structure still has “a lot of room to be more precise.” “The legislation is missing several key definitions, and further guidance is anticipated,” he continued. “Ultimately, it all hinges on enforcement. Regrettably, I am not at all confident that Finnish enforcement will be at the required standard from the market's opening; in fact, I believe the opposite. “I am somewhat concerned the regulator has very limited tools to combat black market operations. Conversely, I have no doubt licensed operators will comply with the law.” However, matters typically fall into place eventually, and Pablo Espuela, Head of Corporate Development at BeandDeal, is confident this will also occur in Finland. “Over time, the regulator understands that channelisation is the priority, which leads it to focus on regulating other aspects initially overlooked. “I am certain the regulator will begin to relax its stance once it recognises it is losing market share to these illegal affiliates,” Espuela concluded. To view the complete panel discussion and learn who truly benefits from the affiliate ban, click here. Interested in more stories like this? Visit the new SBC Media YouTube Channel, SBC's central hub for multimedia content, where our team explores the major headlines from the sports betting, iGaming, affiliate, and payments sectors. 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 Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced a rise in tribal gaming contributions during the third quarter of FY26. This uptick coincides with the state ramping up its legal battle against sports prediction markets, claiming these platforms engage in illegal gambling. In the latest quarter, the ADG received more than $33 million from tribal gaming sources—an 8.3% jump compared to the same period last year. In a public statement, Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG, noted: “Tribal gaming contributions offer essential backing for state and local programs that help maintain safe, robust, and prosperous communities throughout Arizona.” More than $16 million of these funds were allocated to the Instructional Improvement Fund and Education initiatives, while the Trauma and Emergency Services Fund got approximately $8 million. Both the Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund and Tourism Fund each received $2.3 million, and slightly over $600,000 was directed to problem gambling education, treatment, and prevention efforts. Tribal Funds Support Legal Battle Against Kalshi The ADG was directly allocated over $3 million from these funds for operational expenses. A portion of these costs covers legal fees related to its court disputes with prediction market platform Kalshi. Johnson is being sued by Kalshi over the ADG’s efforts to bring charges against the company. Earlier this week, the ADG and its Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Douglas Jensen, were removed as defendants in the case, leaving only Johnson and Attorney General Kristin Mayes as remaining parties. In the wake of the lawsuit, Mayes took an unprecedented step by filing criminal charges against Kalshi. The company faces 20 counts, including betting and wagering offenses as well as election wagering violations. “Kalshi may brand itself as a ‘prediction market,’ but what it’s actually doing is running an illegal gambling operation and taking bets on Arizona elections, both of which violate Arizona law,” said Mayes. Tribal Nations Join Legal Case Against Kalshi On April 1, 28 tribes—six based in Arizona—submitted an amicus brief to support the ADG in its case against Kalshi. Arizona has emerged as one of the country’s top tribal gaming regions, where 16 out of its 22 federally recognized tribes run 26 casinos in the state. These establishments generate roughly $3 billion in annual gaming revenue. The tribes contend that Kalshi’s sports market offerings violate Arizona’s gaming compacts, which remain in effect until 2046. “Kalshi, without any license or approval by the Arizona Tribes or the State, brazenly entered onto state and tribal lands to conduct unregulated gaming with its so-called ‘legal sports betting’ app,” said the filing. “In doing so, Kalshi is siphoning vital tribal and state government revenue into its owners’ pockets. For tribes, gaming is not just a commercial endeavor but an existential one.” Arizona is among several states pursuing legal action against Kalshi and other prediction market platforms. Crypto.com has agreed to exit Arizona, but to date, only Nevada has managed to successfully impose restrictions on Kalshi. Kalshi Denies Allegations, Yet Identifies Its Service As Gambling In response to the charges, Kalshi told CasinoBeats, “These state-court charges are seriously flawed. It’s gamesmanship.” The company maintains that it operates legally as a platform licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “As other courts have recognized, Kalshi is a regulated, nationwide exchange for real-world events, and it’s subject to exclusive federal jurisdiction. It is very different from what state-regulated sportsbooks and casinos offer their customers. We are confident in our legal position,” said a company spokesperson. In legal proceedings, Kalshi claims its product is distinct from gambling. However, when applying to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last year to trademark the term “prediction market,” it requested that its proposed intellectual property rights include the gambling sector. As reported by Sportico, in its November filing, Kalshi also stated that its prediction market product is linked to “bookmaking services, including providing information related to sports betting; organizing, arranging, and conducting sports betting and gambling tournaments, competitions, and contests.” 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 archaeological discovery indicates that Native Americans participated in games of chance as early as the Ice Age, approximately 12,000 years in the past. This positions them as the earliest known people to take part in such pursuits. The research was released in the publication American Antiquity. Robert Madden, an archaeologist from Colorado State University, examined archived records of Native American artifacts to identify the most ancient dice in the nation. His focus was on items scholars believed were connected to gaming or dice. “The results suggest that dice, games of chance, and gambling have been a persistent feature of Native American culture for the last 12,000 years, with the earliest dice appearing in Late Pleistocene Folsom deposits in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico,” wrote Madden. Were Americans First Humans To Gamble? While Colorado still discusses the definitions of skill-based and chance-based games, the proof implies North Americans were wagering long before other populations. Earlier studies uncovered evidence of artifacts like dice and lottery-style games dating from roughly 5000 to 6000 years ago. This seems to be a widespread human practice, with analogous finds in ancient Egypt, China, ancient Greece, and Rome. For his quest to find the earliest dice, Madden applied specific standards. First, Native American 'dice' were two-sided. Also, the artifacts needed to be marked on at least one face and small enough to hold in a hand. They also could not possess holes, as that might suggest use as adornment. Madden identified 565 objects fitting these parameters and concluded at least 94 were probable gaming pieces. These items came from 57 archaeological locations spread over 12 states, all within the Great Plains and western U.S. The majority were from 2,000 to 450 years old, but a minimum of 31 were from 8,000 to 2,000 years ago, and at least 14 originated as far back as 12,000 years ago. Native Americans and Gambling Madden further stated that “the findings presented here place prehistoric Native American groups at the forefront of the invention of dice, games of chance, and gambling.” Researchers had earlier noted more contemporary two-sided objects with distinct 'heads' and 'tails' sides, similar to coins used in modern betting games. Upon reaching the continent, early European colonists witnessed Native Americans partaking in these games. According to Madden, the events “were often raucous affairs with huge groups of people around.” In more modern times, tribal gaming saw a resurgence in the U.S. about five decades ago. The Seminole Tribe of Florida launched the first high-stakes bingo hall in 1979. The tribe maintains sole gambling rights in Florida, where other unauthorized gaming operations face legal action. A 1987 Supreme Court win for the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians in California prompted the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988. Tribes in California keep upholding their authority to provide the only legal gambling in the state. They are at the forefront of opposition to prediction markets, claiming they violate their gaming agreements. Although critics of tribal exclusivity contend an open market would generate increased employment, tax income, and drive innovation, the new find reveals the connection between Native Americans and gambling could be much more ancient than earlier understood. 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) -   Gambling operator Flutter Entertainment, listed on the London Stock Exchange, has announced the exit of Alfred F Hurley Jr. This follows his choice to step down as a corporate advisor for the LSE/NYSE-listed group in June 2026. Alfred F Hurley Jr An experienced US corporate director, Hurley Jr became a board member in 2016, a time of significant change for the company. He contributed to Flutter's development during its key merger and acquisition deals. This included the mergers with The Stars Group and Paddy Power Betfair, a landmark $10bn (£7.5bn) transaction that reshaped the iGaming industry. Previously a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch, Hurley Jr was acknowledged as a pivotal director focusing on the US market, aiding Flutter's corporate strategy and growth across North America. The 2018 purchase of FanDuel by Flutter was a fundamental acquisition that secured its leading status in the US betting market. While in his role, Hurley Jr held the positions of Lead Independent Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee. He also participated in the Audit, Nominating, and Transaction Committees. Flutter anticipates its full-year 2026 group revenue will be between $17.75bn and $19.05bn, with adjusted EBITDA projected from $2.65bn to $3.30bn. This points to sustained expansion in the face of regulatory and taxation challenges. For its US operations, FanDuel is predicted to produce revenue of $7.4bn to $8.2bn and adjusted EBITDA of $0.85bn to $1.25bn. Its results are influenced by expenses in new states and continued funding for FanDuel Predicts. Flutter Chairman John Bryant stated: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Al for his ten years of dedicated service, including his significant contributions during our U.S. listing transition, and exceptional stewardship of our Compensation and Human Resources Committee. We wish him every success ahead.” Effective after the Annual General Meeting on May 29, 2026, Nancy Dubuc will succeed Mr. Hurley as the Chair of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee. _______________ Interested in more stories like this one? Visit the new SBC Media YouTube Channel, SBC's central hub for multimedia content, where our experts provide in-depth analysis on major news from the sports betting, iGaming, affiliate, and payments sectors. 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) -   During a March 31 address at New York University Law School, David Miller—recently appointed Director of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)—told the audience, “the era of regulation by enforcement is over,” marking a major shift in the commission’s strategy.  In his speech, he emphasized that under the CFTC’s current leadership, the commission will focus on its core mission of “policing fraud, abuse, and manipulation” rather than setting policy.  He also issued one of the clearest warnings to date for prediction market traders, stating the commission will “aggressively detect, investigate, and, where appropriate, prosecute insider trading” in these markets.  Miller underscored that using inside information to trade on prediction markets isn’t a victimless crime and carries “serious consequences for market integrity and trust.” Miller Affirms Prediction Markets Are Not Exempt From Insider Trading Rules Miller used his NYU speech to outline five key enforcement priorities for the CFTC, with insider trading and market manipulation at the top of the list.  He specifically called out what he described as a “myth in the mainstream media and social media” that prediction markets are exempt from insider trading laws, noting those claims are “wrong.”   Miller explained that the Commodity Exchange Act and Rule 180.1—both modeled after federal securities laws—allow the agency to treat certain types of insider trading in commodity and swap markets as fraud.  A trade comes under scrutiny when it involves information someone was obligated to protect, he said, stressing that regular informed trading isn’t a problem and the agency targets those who “tip or trade with misappropriated information.” Prediction market exchanges also have a responsibility to protect their platforms, according to Miller, who called them the “first lines of defense” against insider trading and manipulation. He noted exchanges have a statutory obligation to “protect markets from abusive practices” and only list contracts that aren’t “susceptible to manipulation.”Former CFTC regulator Carl Kennedy explained these responsibilities to CasinoBeats in a February interview, saying:  “The CFTC is a mighty strong agency, but it’s a few people,” which is why Congress gave it the authority to let exchanges “help the agency regulate these markets.” He added, “If you are a registered exchange … one of your roles is also to be a regulator deputized by the CFTC to police your own market.” As part of their duty to police their own markets, Miller said exchanges have “an obligation to have appropriate surveillance, compliance practices and procedures” in place to “promote fair and equitable trading.”  During his speech, Miller also highlighted a recent case involving Kalshi, where a MrBeast editor used job-related information to place trades on the platform.He also pointed to the CFTC’s new information-sharing agreement with MLB as an example of the agency’s proactive approach to integrity risks in event contract markets.  Washington’s Pressure on Insider Trading in Prediction Markets Grows Miller’s NYU remarks come as the CFTC and prediction markets face increased pressure from Capitol Hill to stamp out insider trading.  On March 29, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with 41 other lawmakers, sent a letter to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig and the Office of Government Ethics calling on them to issue formal guidance to federal employees, warning against using inside information to trade on prediction markets.   In that letter, lawmakers point to suspicious trading ahead of the January capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Armed Forces, well-timed bets that appeared to anticipate March’s joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and speculation over former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s job status.  Congress is also using legislation to target insider trading on prediction markets, introducing several bills since the start of the year, including: The PREDICT Act: Prohibits members of Congress and senior federal officials from trading on political event contracts.  The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act: Bans federal officials from trading when they hold material nonpublic information obtained through official duties. The End Prediction Market Corruption Act: Bars the president, vice president, and members of Congress from trading event contracts entirely. Given the focus on insider trading in Miller’s speech, it seems the CFTC is trying to send a message before the next scandal breaks: while prediction markets may be new politically, the agency doesn’t see insider trading as a legal gray area and has the power to pursue traders who misuse nonpublic information.  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 technical fault in a William Hill online slot has been linked to a player suffering a heart attack. John Riding, aged 76, experienced cardiac arrest shortly after finding that his £285,000 ($376,000) winnings had vanished from his account. The error took place on the Jackpot Drop game last month. During that time, the platform distributed 35,072 jackpots, a significant increase from the 518 awarded during the same period the week before. Some users, like Riding, saw their balances credited with six-figure amounts. After celebrating the win at a local William Hill branch and telling his family, Riding was notified by the operator that the funds were issued by mistake. In a statement, the company explained, “A routine check of our platform's activity revealed a glitch with the Jackpot Drop game, which caused incorrect amounts to be temporarily added to player accounts and led to errors in withdrawal processing.” Stress and Disappointment Linked to Health Decline “I was completely crushed. It felt as though my dreams were destroyed,” Riding remarked to the Mirror. “I wasn't officially told it was a mistake, just that a ‘manual adjustment’ occurred. While the £285,000 is gone from my balance, the system still claims I am £285,000 ahead this month.” According to his family, Riding was in good health until he became stressed while trying to access and withdraw his funds. “The shock has been impossible to handle,” his son, Adam, stated. “It isn't just the money; it's the treatment. It feels like a major injustice, and the resulting stress has taken a toll on his health.” His daughter added that her father expressed an inability to cope with the pressure. “I attribute the heart attack to the stress. We all do!” A spokesperson for William Hill commented, “We are saddened to hear about Mr. Riding’s health issues and hope for his quick recovery.” Potential Group Legal Action The betting firm is now facing potential litigation. Paul Kanolik from Ellis Jones solicitors noted that about 50 affected individuals have reached out regarding a possible group lawsuit. The firm is encouraging other impacted users to contact them. Their website states, “At Ellis Jones, our legal team specializes in gambling claims, frequently assisting clients in recovering funds lost due to operator errors.” Last year, a similar legal battle was won against Paddy Power. The operator tried to cancel Corrine Durber’s £1 million ($1.3 million) win by claiming a system glitch. Following a five-year dispute, she was awarded the full sum. The judge noted, “It seems unreasonable for a trader to shift all the risk onto the consumer for its own negligence, errors, or poor digital testing.” Ellis Jones also highlighted the Andrew Green v Petfre case involving Betfred. Green won £1.7 million ($2.25 million) because of a technical error and was eventually paid after a judge found Betfred’s terms too ambiguous to deny the claim. With approximately 35,000 jackpots affected, William Hill is seeking cooperation from its users. “We have reached out to the customers involved to explain the situation and are recovering the funds according to our terms. We appreciate our customers' patience and apologize for the trouble,” the firm stated. William Hill’s future remains uncertain as its parent firm, Evoke, conducts a strategic review that could result in the split of the group, which also owns 888. 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) -   Polymarket will remain on Romania’s blacklist after a court ruled in favor of the country’s gambling regulator in a legal dispute initiated by the prediction markets platform. Vlad-Cristian Soare, President of the ONJN gambling authority, announced on LinkedIn that Polymarket’s court appeal against its ban as an unlicensed gambling provider has been rejected. Last October, the ONJN reported it had been closely monitoring Polymarket’s domestic operations. Romania’s May Presidential elections drew over $600 million (£455 million) in trades on the platform, with an additional $15 million in activity related to Bucharest’s Mayor elections. Your word against mine Top prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi—the two largest players in the space—have long argued they do not offer gambling products, but rather “event contracts” where users wager against each other on the outcome of an event. These events can range from political election results to winners of award shows like the Grammys. The claim that these contracts are financial instruments instead of gambling products is supported by the fact that prediction markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the U.S.—the home country of Polymarket and Kalshi. However, this view is not shared globally; gambling regulators elsewhere have stood firm in their belief that these platforms are considered gambling. For example, New Zealand has directly banned Kalshi and Polymarket for lacking gambling licenses in the country. Similar stances are widespread across Europe. Germany, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Portugal, and now Romania have all taken action to ban prediction markets from operating locally. In the UK, the Gambling Commission has stated that any prediction market platform launching domestically would fall under its regulatory scope. Still, a recent decision in Gibraltar to license a prediction market platform as a B2C betting intermediary could signal that Europe remains a more accessible entry point for these platforms than many think. Soare, however, has maintained that Romania’s appeal rejection adds another layer to the defensive wall European regulators are building against prediction markets. He concluded: “There has been a lot of speculation around this decision. In reality, the stake was not and is not only Polymarket. The real stake is to protect the legal framework that regulates gambling and prevent a dangerous loophole: redefining betting under the seemingly harmless name of ‘prediction platform’. “Today’s decision is, therefore, more than a solution in a specific dispute. It is a signal at European level that the law cannot be circumvented by artifices to reclassify activities that, after all, fall within the sphere of gambling.” Want more stories like this? Check out the new SBC Media YouTube Channel—the new home for all multimedia content at SBC—where our team deep-dives into the biggest stories across the sports betting, iGaming, affiliate, and payments industries. 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.