TLDR The NCAA filed a federal lawsuit against DraftKings for using “March Madness” and other registered trademarks without permission on its sports betting app. The NCAA is seeking a temporary restraining order before the Sweet 16 games begin next week, plus triple damages or triple profits. DraftKings responded by claiming its use of “March Madness” is protected under fair use and the First Amendment. The NCAA has refused partnerships with sportsbooks, unlike the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB, and wants states to ban certain college game wagers. Other sportsbooks like BetMGM were also using the term, while FanDuel quietly changed…
Author: Maisie Morrison
Maisie Morrison
Maisie is the News Editor at AlienWP, where she covers the latest developments in the global iGaming industry, including gambling regulation, online casinos, sports betting, licensing, compliance, and emerging industry trends. She has written extensively across the finance, cryptocurrency, and technology sectors for publications including MoneyCheck.com, Blockonomi.com, and Computing.net, bringing a clear, research-driven approach to breaking news and in-depth industry coverage.
TLDR Philippine Senator Joel Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 1983 to update the country’s anti-money laundering laws The bill would bring online gaming operators, virtual asset service providers, lawyers, and accountants under stricter AML oversight The Anti-Money Laundering Council would gain new powers including transaction suspensions, administrative freezes, and subpoenas Stronger customer due diligence and reporting requirements are included in the proposed legislation The bill is in its early stages and will go through the standard legislative process before any approval The Philippines could soon tighten its grip on money laundering in the digital space. Senator Joel Villanueva has filed…
TLDR Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin announced plans for stricter controls on online betting platforms The retail sector claims online betting is hurting consumer spending and the broader economy The Brazilian Association of Supermarkets launched a campaign in 2025 pushing for tighter betting regulations The National Association of Games and Lotteries is suing the supermarket association over what it calls defamatory claims Government data shows 53.4% of Brazilian bettors spend R$50 or less per month on betting Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said the government will move to tighten regulations on online betting platforms. The announcement came during a meeting…
TLDR India blocked around 300 more illegal betting websites and apps under its Online Gaming Act The total number of blocked gambling and betting platforms has now reached about 8,400 Roughly 4,900 of those blocks came after the Online Gaming Act was passed Authorities are focused on consumer protection and stopping money flowing through illegal channels The government is using both technology and legal tools to shut down unlicensed betting operations India has blocked around 300 more illegal betting websites and mobile applications as part of its ongoing enforcement of the Online Gaming Act. The move is the latest in…
TLDR Macau reached 10 million visitors in 2026 by March 21, hitting the milestone 12 days faster than in 2025. Daily visitor averages are running at 126,000, a 14% increase over the same period last year. Mainland China accounts for about 75% of all visitors, with Hong Kong second at 15%. Border Gate handles over 44% of all crossings, followed by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge at nearly 20%. Last year Macau set an all-time record with 40.06 million arrivals, surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 high. Macau crossed the 10 million visitor mark for 2026 on March 21, reaching the milestone 12…
TLDR Crypto casinos like Stake, BC.Game, Shuffle, and Rainbet are growing rapidly by offering faster deposits, instant withdrawals, and fewer restrictions than traditional platforms Regulated casinos face spin timers, stake caps, bonus bans, and intrusive checks that frustrate players, pushing them toward offshore crypto alternatives Lower tax burdens let crypto operators reinvest in better rewards, rakeback programs, and aggressive loyalty schemes that traditional casinos can’t match Transparent VIP systems at crypto casinos feel more like airline loyalty programs than traditional bonus structures loaded with complex terms and conditions Traditional operators are stuck on legacy tech stacks and face regulatory ceilings…
TLDR Gibraltar’s 2025 Gambling Bill passed its first parliamentary reading, moving closer to replacing the 2005 Gambling Act The UK plans to raise Remote Gaming Duty to 40% starting April, putting pressure on Gibraltar-licensed operators Gibraltar was removed from the FATF gray list two years ago, clearing the path for new regulations The new bill strengthens the Gibraltar Gambling Commission with risk-based enforcement and financial penalties Officials say Gibraltar aims to expand its gambling sector globally rather than relying solely on UK licenses Gibraltar’s parliament has passed the 2025 Gambling Bill through its first reading. The legislation now moves to…
TLDR Prediction markets like Polymarket are booming in the US but are blocked or banned across most of Europe as illegal gambling France, Germany, the Netherlands, and several other countries have geoblocked Polymarket or issued fines against the platform Despite bans, user traffic from Europe continues through mirror sites and redirect links Some European lawyers suggest prediction markets could find a path forward if classified as financial products instead of gambling Europe lacks a single federal regulator like the US CFTC, creating a patchwork of conflicting national rules Prediction markets exploded in popularity in the United States in 2024. Platforms…
TLDR A new Ipsos poll of 2,363 adults found 61% of Americans view prediction markets as gambling, while only 8% see them as investing Just 9% of respondents are confident prediction markets can prevent insider profiting 91% of Americans familiar with prediction markets consider event contracts “financially risky” Only 4% of Americans believe prediction markets are good for society Young men aged 18-24 are far more likely to use prediction and gambling platforms than the general public The majority of Americans believe prediction markets are a form of gambling rather than investing, according to a new poll from the American…
TLDR Florida’s 2026 legislative session ended without passing any new illegal gambling laws Senate Bill 1580, which targeted online gambling, died after the House and Senate couldn’t agree on changes House Bill 189, a 100-page gaming overhaul, stalled on the House floor Sweepstakes casinos remain in a legal gray area with no new regulations Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued subpoenas to sweepstakes casino operators but no public updates have been shared Florida’s 2026 legislative session came to a close on March 13 without a single new law addressing illegal gambling in the state. Several bills targeting unlicensed gaming…