The FTSE-100 gambling group reported a £681 million ($907 million) statutory loss after tax for 2025, driven in large part by a £488 million ($650 million) impairment tied to higher UK gambling taxes announced in November 2025.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced a steep rise in remote gaming duty from 21% to 40% from April 2026, and the creation of a new 25% general betting duty for online gambling from April 2027.

Entain CEO criticizes UK gambling tax decision amid Q4 losses

Chief executive Stella David used the company’s results presentation to voice strong concerns about the policy shift and its possible consequences for the regulated market.

“This is the first time I have spoken publicly since the UK Budget back in November,” David said during the company’s results presentation.

Our 2025 Fixed Year Results are in!

Entain has hit £6.4bn Group Revenue (+8% YoY cc*) with 7 consecutive quarters of growth.

Strong performance was fueled by a breakout year for @BetMGM ($2.8bn revenue, +33% cc) and double-digit growth in the UK and Ireland (+15%). … pic.twitter.com/fUxfhNvVZJ

— Entain (@EntainGroup) March 5, 2026

“The UK government’s decision to dramatically increase taxes on the gambling sector was extremely disappointing.”

David argued that heavier taxation could unintentionally push some customers toward unlicensed operators that operate outside regulatory oversight.

“It opens the door to the illegal black market who pay no tax, do not have a license, and have no player protections.”

Despite the criticism, the company says it will continue putting money into its UK business and sees potential to gain ground as the market adjusts to the new tax environment.

“During this period of turmoil, we will invest wisely in the UK and we will seize the opportunity to gain share from the longtail of subscale operators, who quite frankly are ill-equipped to withstand this impact.”

Financial impact of the tax increase

Underlying EBITDA reached £1.16 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2025, an increase of 7% from the previous year and ahead of company guidance. Online operations helped drive the improvement as scale and efficiency lifted margins.

However, the new UK tax framework forced the company to reassess the value of its domestic operations..

The UK and Ireland remain Entain’s largest market, with net gaming revenue in the region rising 6% year-on-year, supported by strong online growth.

The higher tax structure will start to affect operators more significantly from April 2026. Entain expects to offset roughly a quarter of the initial impact through operational adjustments, with mitigation rising to more than half by 2027.

Industry pressures extend beyond Entain

Across the sector, gambling companies are facing a similar mix of regulatory pressure and rising costs. Analysts at Bank of America recently lowered ratings on several major operators, including DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment, citing competitive threats and potential margin volatility.

Flutter has also been reshaping its operations, including plans to cut about 250 roles in Leeds while consolidating technology systems across the business.

Entain’s leadership believes larger operators may ultimately benefit from the tougher environment. Smaller companies with limited scale could struggle to absorb higher taxes, potentially leading to consolidation and changes in market share.

Looking further ahead, Entain says it still expects strong cash generation and is targeting at least £500 million in annual adjusted cash flow by 2028 despite the new UK tax regime.

Featured image: Entain

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The warning appears in the Netherlands’ latest match-fixing monitoring report, where officials say several alerts during 2025 involved players betting within their own leagues or events. Regulators consider the practice a serious conflict of interest and a potential gateway to manipulation.

The findings come from the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the country’s national gambling regulator, which released its Trendanalyse Matchfixing 2025 examining suspicious betting activity reported by licensed operators.

Dutch gambling market expansion in 2024–2025, with more license holders and live gambling sites recorded by December each year. Credit: KSA

The number of alerts itself barely changed compared with the previous year. Operators submitted 12 reports in 2025, down only slightly from 13 in 2024. But regulators say the nature of those reports is changing, revealing warning signs that had not surfaced before.

Dutch regulator reports a new pattern in suspicious betting reports involving athletes

Within the twelve alerts filed last year, investigators identified four incidents involving professional athletes who placed wagers on competitions connected to their own sporting careers.

According to the KSA’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, this behavior did not appear in the previous reporting period, making it a notable development in the regulator’s annual monitoring.

Breakdown of 2025 suspicious betting alerts by type of activity, competition location, and sport. Credit: KSA

“The SBIU received four reports about players who placed a bet on their own competition,” the regulator said in the translated report. “More specifically, the reports concerned players who bet on their own match, their own competition or a competition in which they were professionally involved.”

Sports rules and betting regulations widely prohibit that kind of activity. When athletes bet on competitions tied to their professional roles, regulators say the risk extends beyond the wager itself. The situation raises the possibility that players could benefit from non-public information or influence events connected to the bet.

“The reason for this prohibition is that there may be a conflict of interest and/or the use of inside knowledge,” the report states.

In every case identified in the Netherlands last year, licensed operators stepped in quickly. Betting companies cancelled the wagers, closed or restricted the relevant accounts, and reported the incidents both to the regulator and to the appropriate sports federations.

Beyond those cases, most suspicious activity alerts still fell into the more familiar category of unusual betting patterns among customers.

Seven of the twelve reports involved behaviour the regulator describes as “striking betting patterns.” These can include bettors suddenly placing large wagers after a long period of inactivity, repeatedly betting heavily on a single event, or focusing unusually large sums on lower-profile competitions.

Such patterns do not automatically prove manipulation. However, analysts treat them as warning signals because they can point to bettors acting on privileged information about a match or athlete.

Football and tennis accounted for nearly all of the suspicious betting alerts recorded in the Dutch market during 2025. Six reports involved football matches, while five related to tennis events. One case concerned a combat sports contest.

How Dutch operators and regulators monitor betting markets

Under Dutch gambling law, licensed betting providers must actively watch for signals of manipulation or insider betting activity. When they detect something suspicious, companies must notify authorities without delay.

The reports are then sent to the regulator’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit. The unit reviews betting data, assesses whether the activity could indicate match-fixing, and decides whether additional steps are needed.

The KSA itself does not run criminal investigations into match-fixing. Instead, its role centers on monitoring the betting market, ensuring that operators follow integrity rules, and passing relevant information to law enforcement or sports governing bodies when necessary.

Alongside monitoring activity, the regulator says it has increased its efforts to prevent integrity problems before they arise. In recent years the KSA has worked with sports organizations, athletes, and industry groups to raise awareness about betting restrictions and the risks tied to insider information.

As part of that effort, the authority published guidance in 2025 aimed at improving integrity procedures within the regulated market. The document, titled “Commitment to Integrity” (Inzet op Integriteit), outlines expectations for risk assessments, betting monitoring tools, and reporting obligations for licensed operators.

The regulator also took enforcement action during the year. According to a factsheet accompanying the report, authorities issued three warnings or formal notices related to betting integrity controls, along with one penalty order connected to regulatory compliance.

Growing global concerns around sports betting integrity

The issue of athletes betting on competitions linked to their own careers reflects global worries about the rapid expansion of sports gambling.

As regulated betting spreads across more jurisdictions and becomes more visible through sponsorships and media partnerships, integrity specialists say the potential for conflicts of interest is growing as well.

Several high-profile investigations internationally have highlighted vulnerabilities in professional sport. In one widely reported corruption case, five French tennis players received bans for match-fixing offences tied to lower-tier tournaments, where prize money is limited and oversight can be weaker.

Authorities in the United States have also explored the dangers posed by insider information. A federal investigation into leaked injury data involving NBA stars demonstrated how non-public team information could influence betting markets if it reaches gamblers before official announcements.

Integrity analysts warn that the sports betting ecosystem continues to evolve quickly. New wagering products, including prediction markets and alternative bet types, may introduce additional risks if regulators and sports bodies fail to keep monitoring systems up to date.

At the same time, the normalization of gambling partnerships across sports leagues has increased public discussion about how betting culture intersects with athletes’ professional environments.

Why low reporting numbers may not tell the whole story

Despite the new category of incidents pointed out in the Dutch report, the overall number of suspicious betting alerts in the Netherlands remains relatively small.

Regulators caution that the low total should not automatically be interpreted as proof that match manipulation is rare. Instead, it may reflect the limitations of monitoring activity within the legal market alone.

“The fact that the total number of reports remains low may be because most cases of gambling-related match-fixing occur with unlicensed gambling providers,” the regulator noted in its analysis.

Illegal betting platforms tend to operate outside regulatory oversight, making suspicious patterns harder for authorities to detect. 

Featured image: Grok

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At the time of writing, anyone placing a sports bet outside tribal land risks a Class B misdemeanor. This has kept most mobile wagering effectively off-limits. AB 601 aims to change that by carving out a narrow exception in state law. Lawmakers propose removing certain online sports wagers from the definition of a “bet,” so long as those wagers are routed through servers physically located on tribal land and authorized under updated gaming compacts between the tribes and the state.

New: Wisconsin Assembly passes online sports betting bill, amended since we first covered it. pic.twitter.com/m83wAG3AyE

— Jason Calvi (@JasonCalvi) February 19, 2026

Backers say the setup follows the “hub-and-spoke” model used elsewhere, including in Florida. Under that approach, the technical backbone of the betting system sits on sovereign tribal territory, even if customers place wagers from their phones anywhere in the state. Courts have so far allowed similar systems to stand.

Support has been building after earlier attempts stalled in late 2025. During that time, divisions within the Legislature and hesitation among some Republicans slowed progress. This time around, Assembly supporters argued the state is overdue for an update to its gambling laws.

They contend that Badger state residents are already betting through offshore websites that operate beyond state oversight. By legalizing and regulating mobile sports wagering, lawmakers say the state could offer clearer consumer safeguards while channeling money into taxable, regulated markets that benefit both tribal governments and Wisconsin’s budget. Tribal leaders have also pressed for passage, describing mobile wagering as a potential boost to tribal services and long-term economic stability.

Legislative record shows supporters and opponents registered on Wisconsin Assembly Bill 601, including tribal leaders, lawmakers, sports teams, and the Sports Betting Alliance.

National sportsbook operators, however, have voiced concern. The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings argue that a tribal-only framework could make it difficult for commercial brands to compete profitably, particularly if tribes retain a large share of the revenue. They appeared at a recent public hearing opposing the move.

What happens next in the Senate as Wisconsin mobile sports betting bill passes Assembly

Assembly approval does not make the proposal law. The State Senate must still pass the bill. If it clears that chamber, it would head to Gov. Tony Evers for his signature. Beyond Madison, federal approval is also required. Any revised gaming compacts negotiated between the state and individual tribes would need to be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior before mobile wagering could begin.

If AB 601 ultimately takes effect, Wisconsin would join a growing number of states that allow sports betting through mobile apps. Across the country, that market has expanded quickly, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and drawing large numbers of participants.

Still, debate is far from over. Questions remain about problem gambling safeguards, access for commercial operators, and how revenue would be shared. As of February 19, 2026, the bill stands “engrossed and immediately messaged after floor passage” in the Assembly, awaiting its next test in the Senate.

ReadWrite has reached out to the Sports Betting Alliance for comment.

Featured image: Canva

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The initial raft of changes took effect in January 2026 and applies to licensed gambling operators in Great Britain, but will have a wider impact on customers and account holders, marketing partners, and those responsible for compliance and risk.

What do these wagering requirement changes mean?

The UKGC outlined these changes in 2025, a formative period for games of chance in Britain, with the November 2025 Chancellor’s Budget widely expected to be detrimental to gambling operators.

As we reported, the budget was not nearly as crippling to gambling firms and the wider commercial sector, but a consultation, published in error and then hastily reinstated, earmarked a possible 30% increase in gambling license fees from the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Labour attacked our pubs, tourism, and hospitality with National Insurance and Business Rates hikes and now they’re hitting gambling with higher license fees.

I know Labour MPs are a generally miserable lot, but what is it they’ve got against everyone else having a bit of fun?… pic.twitter.com/buaISjB7Qz

— Nigel Huddleston MP (@HuddlestonNigel) January 28, 2026

In the initial changes, published on 19 January 2026, the UKGC set the course of its largest reform for some time.

They included a mandatory cap on wagering requirements for licensed operators, limiting bonus playthrough to no more than ten times the bonus amount. Promotions that combine products, such as sports betting to earn casino spins, have also been banned.

Speaking at an event in Barcelona, UKGC Director Tim Miller also said he was committed to reducing the threat posed by illegal operators in the UK through tighter reforms and highlighted the regulator’s actions in 2025.

“Between April and the end of December 2025 alone, we have:

• Issued 592 Cease and Desists to advertisers and operators
• Reported 327,964 URLs to various search engines and seen 203,571 URLs removed as a result so far
• Referred 839 websites to the search engines for delisting 
• Disrupted 627 websites so that they have either been taken down or geo-blocked.

And all of that is without mentioning some of the other actions that our enforcement team takes behind the scenes that we can’t discuss publicly,” said Miller.

What does 2026 look like for these changes?

According to the British gambling watchdog, there are core tenets that drive the changes coming into force in 2026.

They centre on reducing customer harm, improving transparency, and shifting responsibility for internal governance, compliance, and oversight “onto operators.”

From March 2026, reporting thresholds will undergo a change to how license ownership and financing are regulated for global operators.

It also goes back to the UKGC’s furtherance of compliance expectations on multinational groups and the scrutiny of funding sources and governance arrangements to limit illegal sources.

Miller said of the change, “Complex global business structures mean that operator ownership and interests are not always clear and their financing arrangements are not always straightforward.”

Further changes to come for the 2026 UK gambling scene

April 2026 introduces a phased approach to Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and adherence to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

“Changes to our LCCP following the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act ensure operators are clear about the most up-to-date consumer-focused legislation,” said Miller on the compliance.

Gaming Machine Enforcement changes are scheduled for summer 2026, and any highlighted non-compliant gaming machines will be subject to enforcement.

Land-based operators will face fines and regulatory action, indicating the UKGC is making considerable effort to reduce the window for non-compliant devices.

A big year for the UKGC and operator compliance

The Commission’s response to consultations arising from the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age are the bedrock of the 2026 changes.

The roadmap shows a regulator moving to tighten incentives first, then governance, consumer law alignment, and physical enforcement to reform British gambling.

Operators have yet to respond, and market commentators have not weighed the retail and consumer implications, but it will no doubt be a year of change in the UK gambling scene.

Featured image: Canva

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The terminology of the custom contract is a noticeable move away from the traditional term “parlay” as the predictions provider makes an effort to distance itself from the sports betting staple.

Robinhood launches Custom Combos

As we reported, Robinhood snapped up 90% of MIAX Derivatives Exchange to grow its prediction market offering and to include more diversity into sports contracts.

This seems like the perfect dovetail into the new Custom Contracts, which allow multiple picks across a series of sporting events.

The company posted the news to X, saying, “Stack your picks with Pro Football combos. Multi-leg contracts are here. Combine multiple predictions—winner, totals, and player performance into one custom contract.”

Stack your picks with Pro Football combos.

Multi-leg contracts are here.
Combine multiple predictions—winner, totals, and player performance into one custom contract. https://t.co/ekr1S4I4jN pic.twitter.com/pVIbcvWA4z

— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) January 16, 2026

The new feature will be coming to contracts in professional football, where statistics for the company show it is the busiest and liquidity is highest, but Robinhood has hinted that the format could expand to additional sports and event categories over time.

Robinhood facing sporting shutdown in Nevada

Despite launching the new feature, Robinhood has been feeling the strain of regulatory pressure in some states, such as Nevada.

As ReadWrite reported, the brand was instructed and has agreed to “cease offering new sports-related event contracts” in the Sin City state, according to legal commentator Daniel Wallach.

NEW: Robinhood agrees to “cease offering new sports-related event contracts in Nevada” for the duration of any appellate proceedings (unless it secures an injunction pending appeal), and will work to unwind open contracts, per Joint Notice filed with the State of Nevada. pic.twitter.com/1XXmye3obx

— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) November 27, 2025

Robinhood had filed a last-gasp injunction against the action brought by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), but it was denied by the presiding Judge Andrew Gordon.

“In light of Judge Gordon’s ruling, the Board and Robinhood have reached an agreement in principle under which Robinhood has agreed to cease offering new sports event contracts in the State of Nevada, pending further proceedings,” said the NGCB.

Judge Gordon has been something of a prediction market grim reaper having ruled that Crypto.com and Kalshi should agree to cease trading in Nevada.

Featured Image: Robinhood on X

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The draw marked the men’s World Cup’s first return to the United States since the iconic 1994 edition and the new expanded format.

For the first time in its history, the competition will feature 48 teams, spread across 12 groups, followed by an extended knockout phase.

Europe’s elite and South America’s traditional powerhouses continue to dominate early projections, even as the expanded format introduces a larger suite of games and possible secondary group favorites, causing an upset.

World Cup 2026 format designed for established betting favorites

The 2026 World Cup format features more teams and more fixtures. Three teams advancing from most groups and an additional knockout round absorbing the expanded field show that the risk of an early exit for elite nations isn’t on the cards.

In practical terms, it makes a repeat of shock eliminations, such as France’s group-stage exit in 2002, far less likely.

Squad rotation, depth, and recovery may prove as decisive as star quality in the 2026 tournament, as fixture congestion is expected to rival or exceed that of Russia 2018.

There has been a notable ticket backlash since the draw settled and the markets reacted to the biggest games on show. Fan groups forced FIFA to rethink pricing as a result of the first negative shot across the bow for tournament organisers.

@FIFAcom’s #WorldCup ticket prices are a betrayal to the most dedicated fans. At least $6900 to support your team from the first match to the final – nearly 5 times more than in Qatar.

FSE calls for the immediate halt to ticket sales.

Statement: https://t.co/AgEdqsfrox pic.twitter.com/2Yq5z5GIDZ

— Football Supporters Europe (@FansEurope) December 11, 2025

The big players: World Cup 2026 betting favorites remain familiar

Across outright markets, Spain continues to lead the field as tournament favorites, typically priced around 5/1, with some books drifting slightly into the 6/1–7/1 range.

They are followed closely by Brazil and Argentina, both of which are the tournament’s established South American giants. France and England round out the top tier, with the latter generally trading at around 13/2, placing them second only to Spain in several UK-facing books.

Hosts face long odds

The United States is the strongest of the three hosts in outright pricing, typically trading at 40/1 to 60/1. Mexico, co-hosting once again after 1970 and 1986, sits slightly behind at around 50/1 to 66/1.

Canada remains the long shot of the trio, with odds in the 80/1 to 100/1 range reflecting the team’s battling spirit in arguably their biggest tournament showing.

Deciphering the group draw

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Playoff D

Markets lean toward Mexico to top the group, driven primarily by host advantage rather than belief in a deep run. South Korea is profiled as the primary challenger, while the introduction of a European playoff winner, such as Denmark or Czechia, would significantly tighten pricing.

Group B: Canada, Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland

This group remains unresolved. Switzerland are the strongest confirmed side, but if Italy emerge from Playoff A, they would become clear favorites despite Canada’s home support, and you can never rule out the Azzuri at a World Cup.

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Brazil are heavy favorites to win the group, supported by outright odds around 8/1–10/1. Morocco have some incredibly talented individuals, but nothing rivals the Seleção’s quality.

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Playoff C

The U.S. are favoured to lead the group, but Paraguay and Australia are a physical test for the hosts, while a strong Playoff C side, such as Türkiye, would quickly compress prices.

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Germany is expected to top the group despite recent inconsistencies in its squad makeup and the retirement of the old guard, who have brought so much national success. Their outright odds typically range from 12/1 to 16/1, with Ecuador and the Ivory Coast priced behind them.

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Playoff B, Tunisia

Markets favour the Netherlands, with Japan viewed as the primary threat. A strong Playoff B entrant like Ukraine, Sweden, or Poland could make this one of the tighter groups.

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Belgium remains the clear market pick as a side that consistently churns out complete players at the top levels of European knockout soccer.

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Spain is expected to dominate the group and remain tournament favorites at around 5/1, with a clear gap to Uruguay, who will likely finish second.

Group I: France, Senegal, Playoff Bolivia/Iraq/Suriname, Norway

France dominates group expectations, supported by outright odds around 7/1–8/1. Senegal and Norway are dangerous but clearly second-tier in pricing the group.

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Defending champions Argentina are overwhelming favorites to top the group, with outright odds around 8/1–9/1.

Group K: Portugal, Playoff 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Portugal is favoured to win the group, and this could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance at the World Cup. Colombia is the primary challenger, but compared to a golden generation featuring a possible Ballon d’Or winner and PSG’s Vitinha, they don’t look likely to cause an upset.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

England is expected to lead the group, though Croatia keep prices tighter due to their previous showings at the tournament and a solid spine of Champions League-level talent.

The tournament kicks off with a repeat of the 2010 competition’s opening match of Mexico and South Africa. The drama and betting opportunities will unfold across the world at Mexico City Stadium on 11 June, 2026.

Featured image: FIFA

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The Danish Gambling Authority has shared data for October 2025, highlighting a large decrease in the total gambling spend when compared to the same month last year, led primarily by the betting market. The total gambling spend has fallen by 3.4% from October 2024 to this year.

However, it’s worth noting that this is primarily led by a massive 46% drop in the betting market. Indeed, that was the only market in Denmark to experience a decrease.

In other areas, like online casinos, for example, gambling spending is actually up. Online casinos saw the biggest increase of 24.4%, while physical casinos and gaming machines rose by 6% and 0.6% respectively.

“The statistics show that the decrease for the total gambling market is due to a large fluctuation in the betting market in October 2025 compared to October 2024,” confirms the statement from the Danish Gambling Authority.

These trends echo similar increases reported earlier this year in Denmark, which saw online casino and betting increasing by 21.6% and 6.1% respectively. Looking at the decrease now, it’s clear that it’s only dropped by that much thanks to the remarkable 46% decrease in the betting market.

Why is Denmark’s betting market trending down?

While there’s no one clear answer for why this is, it could be due to reduced sporting interest, economic caution as recessions loom across Europe, or increased competition from digital casino products. Indeed, the latter option could be a logical assumption, considering online casinos have seen the largest increases since last year.

Indeed, studies show that, while physical casinos tend to suffer during economic downturns, players tend to gravitate towards luck-based games, which could account for increased interest in slot games or online casinos, stealing potential spend away from the betting market, for example.

Featured image: Stenbom on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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While the industry is gaining major traction, some studies suggest that men are more likely to be identified as problem gamblers than women. There appears to be some disparity, with reports suggesting it could be due to a number of factors, including psychological and societal norms.

The latest at Young Men Research Initiative: @YalePolling ‘s own @milansingh03 on the stark gender divide between young men and young women on gambling. Young men gamble more (and thus, lose more money) but are also more opposed to gambling regulations.https://t.co/5RmQIf5d1d

— JR (@johnlray) December 1, 2025

We’re looking at whether the betting world skews male, if there’s still a gender gap, and whether these statistics are starting to change.

Is there a gender gap in the betting world?

There is a public perception that gambling is largely male-dominated, but the actual statistics go against societal opinions in some areas.

In England, a health survey found that men (57%) were more likely than women (51%) to have participated in a gambling activity in the last 12 months, but the margins aren’t substantial.

Women face unique challenges with gambling, including higher risks of experiencing gambling-related harms.

Listen as #BiancaColclough, an expert by experience, shares her story.

There is support and treatment for everyone. We can help. pic.twitter.com/hcWSrHFCKn

— GambleAware (@gambleawaregb) September 4, 2024

There is a question, however, as to whether gambling operators focus more on men in marketing than on women, which would lean into the social perception that men are more likely to be interested in the sector. A study by the University of Bristol found that a huge 98% of all people featured in social media-based gambling adverts were males, with 79% being aged 18-34.

Operators have long focused their marketing on young men because they tend to be the most active sports bettors, which creates a kind of loop where ads feature men and the audience ends up being mostly men too.

But regulators are paying closer attention to how gambling is promoted, especially when ads might appeal to vulnerable groups, so companies are starting to rethink their approach.

At the same time, there is a gradual move toward more gender-neutral and women-focused campaigns as the industry realises there is an audience it has largely ignored, although these kinds of ads are still far less common than the traditional male-centric ones. While every company will be different, this significant statistic could potentially hint at the industry’s target audience.

While it has often been declared as a man’s world, women are becoming more prominent within the industry. We spoke with Val C. Martinez, founder of Betting Ladies, who explained how there wasn’t anything for women in betting when she first launched her community-like site: “But slowly and surely, we started to see companies like FanDuel and others talking about how to best connect with a female audience.

“Women like to connect with other women who bet, and right now we’re one of the very few places online where this can happen.” – Val C. Martinez, Betting Ladies founder

“Since then, there’s been increased focus on expanding into women’s sports, which has attracted more women to betting.”

She described how there was the ‘Taylor Swift moment‘ which “helped increase awareness around the female demographic, and suddenly it was obvious there was a way to speak to women about sports that could unlock a previously untapped market.”

While she says the gap is still there, Val shares why people are joining her women-based brand – “…we’re filling that void. Women like to connect with other women who bet, and right now we’re one of the very few places online where this can happen.”

Do men and women bet differently?

Problem gambling has now become a prominent topic within the media, with stories of men struggling being more commonplace. Matt Bresler, CEO and cofounder of Odditt, suggests there are some differences in the way men and women gamble: “Women are definitely more risk-averse than men, and tend to be less emotional than men when it comes to sports betting…”

The CEO continued to expand on the possible impact of the differences: “This means less chasing of losses, and more controlled sports betting habits overall, as the rates of problem gambling amongst men and women clearly show.” Although he highlighted how older female gamblers participate in social forms of gambling such as bingo at higher rates than their male counterparts, he shared how the “social and longstanding tradition of playing bingo in the US” has “much less of an associated taboo than with the much newer sports betting.”

Different types of gambling also attract different demographics, which adds nuance to the gender gap. Sports betting remains the most male-dominated space, fueled by sports culture and marketing that historically targets young men. Casino table games and online slots tend to draw a more mixed audience, while both online and in traditional bingo continues to skew female due to its social, community-based nature.

Meanwhile, fantasy sports and daily fantasy leagues sit closer to sports betting in their gender profile, with participation dominated by younger men. It’s also important to note that age, income, and ethnicity can shape gambling behavior and risk just as strongly as gender, which means any discussion of a “gender gap” only captures part of a more complex picture.

These product-specific differences matter, as each carries its own pace, risk level, and potential for harm, shaping how men and women experience gambling overall.

Why young men are becoming the most at-risk group

The reasons why men are falling victim to the perils of gambling could be due to a few factors, with Dr Robert Lefever telling the BBC that men’s personality traits make them much more likely to become problem gamblers.

When describing why he believes this to be the case, he argued that men tend to be more hedonistic than women. “Men are generally greater risk takers than women, they tend to be rather proud of it,” he told the broadcaster.

Another expert, Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, told the publisher that there is research that suggests that more impulsive people have also proven to be men. While some experts attribute these patterns to inherent personality differences, researchers caution that such traits are difficult to isolate, and the observed gender gap is likely shaped just as much by cultural norms, environment, and targeted marketing as by any underlying psychology.

The appeal of gambling appears to be attracting young men, too, with the National Council on Problem Gambling having stated in 2023 that somewhere between 60 and 80% of high school students reported having gambled in the last year. It’s thought that the accessibility of gambling, with it now being viewable in just a few clicks on a smartphone, could have caused the industry to swell. Previously, people would have to enter a casino or sports book to bet.

Are more women becoming prone to gambling addiction?

In 2022, the GambleAware charity said that up to one million women in Great Britain could be at risk from gambling harms, with two in five (39%) potentially refraining from seeking help or treatment due to perceived stigma.

While research has previously pointed to more problem gamblers in men, could this change as the industry continues to grow and entice audiences?

As operators rethink who they speak to and how they promote their products, the challenge ahead is ensuring that this growth is matched by responsible practices that protect all players, regardless of who they are.

Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram

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Since the company has been given the green light to offer its betting services in North America, there has been a quicksilver push to make these available for the fall sporting action.

Polymarket gains approval to operate sports betting on launch

As we reported, Polymarket acquired, as part of a $112 million deal, a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-licensed derivatives exchange, QCX LLC, and its clearinghouse, QC Clearing LLC, collectively known as “QCEX”.

This key piece of business enabled Polymarket to establish a foothold and continue operating in North America. This was backed with a razor-thin approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

At that time, Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket, said, “Polymarket is the largest prediction market globally and has become synonymous with understanding the probability of current events.”

He then posted on social media about Polymarket’s approval to operate in North America and the homecoming that has split state and federal regulators for more than a year.

Polymarket has acquired QCEX, a CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse, for $112 million.

This paves the way for us to welcome American traders again.

I’ve waited a long time to say this:

Polymarket is coming home pic.twitter.com/Qjd5ZbUwKi

— Shayne Coplan (@shayne_coplan) July 21, 2025

Polymarket updates timelines to offer sports betting

Now, as part of official notices posted on QCEX’s website, the provider has a possible lunch date to offer betting lines.

The regulatory statements on the CFTC-cleared company’s site state that there was a time-barred date of 7 October 2025, after which Polymarket could begin offering event lines, but this has now been changed to 2 October 2025.

Another interesting point is the regulatory filing stating that the data Polymarket will use for its sports lines is officially coming from SportsData.

Digging slightly deeper, the data provider published an article in August that supported the rise in prediction markets with a statement, “Niche today doesn’t mean niche forever.”

Saying, “Kalshi, Polymarket, and Sporttrade are building more compliant, user-friendly versions of what once started as outsider projects. But let’s not forget: this isn’t a brand-new trend. It’s a matured one finally getting its due.”

Featured image: Polymarket.

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Two men have been charged by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) in connection with suspicious Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) PROLINE sports betting activity. The investigation was sparked when thousands of gift cards were compromised across various gas bar locations in Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.

Further investigation from the IEB revealed fraud amounting to CAS $400,000 ($290,000 USD), where gift cards were used to pay for PROLINE bets. The two men allegedly would bet on both teams to guarantee a win.

“The OLG purchases and wagers were made at the gas bars using the fraudulently obtained gift cards,” OPP Corporate Communications Bureau spokesperson Gosia Puzio said in an email seen by CTV News. “The gas bars and their employees were unaware the gift cards were fraudulent.

“The betting pattern was consistent with money laundering, where individuals place large wagers on both sides of a sporting event to ensure minimal gain or loss. Further investigation confirmed that the wagers and purchases at gas bar locations were made using fraudulently obtained gift cards.”

From gift card to fraud

This style of operation has been seen by law enforcement officials before. However, the OPP has said that the investigation is still ongoing, keeping some details like how the gift cards were obtained, private as the authorities’ examination continues.

36-year-old Joshua Silver of Thunder Bay has been charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, conspiracy, identity theft, forgery, utter forged document, and possession of property obtained by crime. He has been remanded into custody and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice on September 22.

He was arrested alongside 45-year-old Montgomery McMahon, also of Thunder Bay and similarly charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, conspiracy, utter forged document, and possession of property obtained by crime. He will face court on September 23.

Featured image: Pexels

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