Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Macau’s total casino revenue for the third quarter of 2026 was MOP$60.4 billion, or US$7.47 billion. Revenue fell 3.7% from a year earlier and 1.3% from the June quarter. Mass baccarat revenue dropped 7.9% year-over-year and 4.4% quarter-over-quarter, leading the decline. VIP baccarat revenue was flat year-over-year and rose 6.3% from the June quarter. The government has kept its 2026 revenue forecast of MOP$236 billion, or US$29.2 billion. Macau’s casino industry earned less money in the third quarter of 2026. Lower revenue from mass baccarat was the main reason for the drop. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, known…

TLDR The Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave seven licensed mobile sportsbooks until Nov. 3 to explain how they use AI and automated systems. Regulators want to know if losses, deposits or frequent betting can trigger promotional offers. The inquiry followed a New York Times report alleging DraftKings used AI to target bettors likely to lose. The commission says the request is not a finding that any operator broke the rules. Participation is voluntary, and responses are expected to stay confidential. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has asked seven licensed mobile sportsbooks to explain how they use artificial intelligence. The operators have until…

TLDR A New Jersey Senate committee voted 11-0 to advance a bill replacing underage gambling charges with civil fines. Fines would start at up to $500 and rise to up to $2,000 for repeat offenses. Adults and casino staff who allow underage gambling could also be fined. The legal gambling age would stay at 21. Fine money would fund gambling harm prevention, education and treatment programs. New Jersey lawmakers have moved forward with a bill that would replace criminal charges for underage gambling with civil fines. The money collected would go toward gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs. Senate Bill…

TLDR A Reuters/Ipsos poll found most Americans oppose betting on US elections through prediction markets. About 69% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans said they are firmly against election wagers. 65% of respondents oppose bets on US military action, and 63% oppose contracts on government decisions. An August Reuters investigation found over 150 Polymarket International accounts may have used insider knowledge on military matters. Kalshi and Polymarket say they monitor suspicious activity and take action against offending accounts. Most Americans do not want to see bets placed on US elections, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The survey also found…

TLDR Polymarket launched its first US political ad campaign on October 14, three weeks before the midterm elections. Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow directed two of the three ads in the national campaign. The third ad was directed by Pantera, a filmmaking trio from Argentina. The campaign was produced by Smuggler and focuses on voter issues like grocery and gas prices. Adweek described Polymarket as a “controversial” prediction market as scrutiny of the industry grows. Polymarket, the crypto-based prediction market, has launched its first political ad campaign in the United States. The national campaign debuted on October 14, three weeks…

TLDR Google has added a dedicated prediction market section to its main Google Ads policy for the first time. Advertisers must hold all applicable local financial, commodity, and gaming licenses before running ads. Prediction market companies also need certification and approval from Google before any ads go live. In the US, operators need a Designated Contract Market license from the CFTC, according to Casino.org. The rules may block sports event contract ads in Nevada, a state that bans those contracts. Google has added a dedicated section on prediction markets to its main advertising policy for the first time. The update…

TLDR Argentina’s tax agency ARCA collected ARS 123.856 billion ($81 million) in online betting tax from January to September 2026. That total is already higher than the full-year 2025 figure of ARS 93.658 billion. Revenue grew an estimated 42% in real terms over the nine months. July 2026 was the peak month at ARS 17.798 billion, during the final stages of the World Cup. Collections dipped in August and September, and fourth-quarter reports will show whether they recover. Argentina has collected more online betting tax in the first nine months of 2026 than it did in all of 2025. The…

TLDR Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in an NCAA point-shaving scheme. He must pay $1.1 million in restitution and forfeit $75,000. The scheme ran from September 2022 to February 2025 and involved more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers. More than 39 players on over 17 Division I teams were offered bribes of $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Smith pleaded guilty in March to four charges, including a firearm charge. Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old man from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to six years in prison. He…

TLDR Matchbook has completed its acquisition of Betdaq, the betting exchange founded by Dermot Desmond. The financial terms of the deal were not made public. Matchbook says combining the two exchanges will create a deeper pool with tighter spreads and better prices. The current Betdaq service will stay open for trading until October 21, 2026. Betdaq customers can withdraw their money until November 4, 2026. Matchbook, a peer-to-peer betting exchange and market technology business, has completed its acquisition of Betdaq. Betdaq is an exchange that was founded by Dermot Desmond. The company announced the deal on October 14, 2026. The…

TLDR PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco expects the government to approve separating the agency’s regulatory role from its casino operations. Casino Filipino has lost ₱6 billion ($95 million) so far in 2026, and losses are expected to reach ₱7 billion ($111 million) by year end. Some integrated resort companies want to buy selected Casino Filipino branches if the separation is approved. The Philippine gaming industry is now expected to earn about ₱350 billion in 2026, below its ₱400 billion target. A Supreme Court ruling requires PAGCOR to pay 5% of its gross revenue to the Philippine Sports Commission, backdated to 1993.…