Author: Charles Shephardson

Capitol Hill politicians have launched a sharp attack against MLB and FanDuel, demanding an immediate overhaul of marketing practices targeting high-stakes bettors. The intervention follows revelations that Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper unwittingly filmed a personalised video greeting via the Cameo app for FanDuel. The operator then delivered the video as a VIP perk to bettor Terry Thompson, who later sued FanDuel after losing more than $1.5 million. Harper quickly distanced himself from the incident, insisting he was kept entirely in the dark about who requested the recording and how it would be used. “Had I known FanDuel’s true…

Infingame, a leading aggregator in the iGaming industry, has published new operational insights examining the commercial impact of gameplay speed on online casino performance. The company argues that the financial value of faster systems extends well beyond delivering a smoother user experience for players on casino platforms. Faster game launches, immediate platform responses, stable spin processing and consistent result delivery all influence how long players remain active during a session. These performance factors also affect how many rounds players complete, whether they explore additional games and how effectively operators convert acquired traffic into sustained gameplay. Infingame defines reaction time as…

FeedConstruct, a global sports data and streaming provider, has announced an exclusive partnership with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The WBSC serves as the international governing body for Baseball, Softball, and Baseball5, making it one of the most significant governing bodies in global sport. Under the agreement, FeedConstruct secures exclusive worldwide data and live streaming rights for a premium portfolio of WBSC baseball events. The deal is designed to exponentially increase the global accessibility of international baseball through ultra-low latency live video and real-time data feeds. FeedConstruct’s extensive network of operators and providers will benefit directly from these rights,…

The UK government has announced sweeping new powers for local authorities to block betting shops, slot arcades, and other businesses deemed undesirable on British high streets. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to revoke the “aim to permit” rule embedded in the 2005 Gambling Act, which currently requires local licensing authorities to begin from the position that legal gambling should be permitted. The rule has long been a target of gambling reform campaigners, who argue it prevents councils from limiting retail gambling based on the existing concentration of venues in an area. Burnham said: “For many people, the high streets…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told the Labor Party caucus he is “confident” of passing sweeping gambling reforms with bipartisan support. The legislation in question, the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, is expected to be presented to the House of Representatives next week. Albanese himself has described the bill as the “strongest anti-gambling regulation that Australia has ever seen,” setting high expectations ahead of its introduction. The government originally unveiled its package of reforms back in April, but previously announced changes to advertising rules drew sharp criticism from opposition parties. That criticism centred largely on the view…

The US illegal gambling market grew dramatically in 2025, according to a new report commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling and published by Gaming Compliance International. The study claims unlicensed sites and apps now account for 77% of the total US online gambling market by gross gaming revenue, up from a reported 74% in 2024. According to the report, the illegal sector grew from $67.1bn in 2024 to $97.4bn in 2025, representing an increase the report puts at 45.2%. By comparison, the regulated online gambling sector grew from $23bn to $28.3bn over the same period, a rise of approximately…

Charles Oliveira, the former UFC lightweight champion, is confirmed to appear at SBC Summit 2026 as a headline act on the Super Stage. The Brazilian mixed martial arts star brings significant star power to the iGaming industry’s flagship annual conference and networking event. SBC Summit 2026 continues to attract major names from sport and entertainment to complement its schedule of industry panels and keynote sessions. Oliveira is widely regarded as one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history, having held the lightweight title and amassed a record-breaking finishing streak. His appearance on the Super Stage is expected to draw…

Imagine Live and Amusnet have officially launched Jungle Trail Roulette 2000x, marking the first Live Casino product to emerge from their collaborative partnership. The launch represents more than a new game release, demonstrating what becomes possible when game development and live casino production are unified from the earliest stages of a project. Amusnet’s expertise in casino game design was combined with Imagine Live’s experience in dedicated studio development, live casino production and broadcast technology throughout the entire process. Rather than adapting an existing format, the two companies built Jungle Trail Roulette 2000x as a fully integrated Live Casino product grounded…

GANHEI has returned to FIRST.bet as its sportsbook technology partner in Brazil, renewing a relationship between the two companies at a critical time for the country’s regulated betting market. The partnership gives GANHEI access to FIRST.bet’s fully managed sportsbook, combining competitive pricing with extensive pre-match and live market coverage tailored to Brazilian players. FIRST.bet’s platform includes localised trading and the performance infrastructure required to handle Brazil’s high-volume betting environment, where demand is intense and expectations are high. The renewed deal gives GANHEI the flexibility to shape the sportsbook around its own brand identity while relying on FIRST.bet for the technology,…

DraftKings recorded a net loss of $67.6m during the second quarter of 2026, as customer-friendly sports results and elevated promotional spending weighed heavily on the bottom line. Revenue for the three months ending June came in at $1.44bn, representing a 5% year-on-year decline from the same period in 2025. Adjusted EBITDA more than halved during the quarter, falling from $300.6m to $114.6m, compounding concerns around the operator’s near-term profitability. The weaker financial results arrived despite DraftKings continuing to expand its customer base, with World Cup activity driving meaningful increases in engagement and handle. Monthly unique payers grew 9% year-on-year to…