Latest News
Betting on the Super Bowl LX Winner: Events Contracts vs Sports Betting

The NFL regular season is about to start in early September, but all eyes are on Super Bowl LX, the end of the journey. It will kick off on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the San Francisco 49ers play their home games. And that’s pretty much all we know about it, for now. Who’s going to play at the halftime show? (Taylor Swift?) What epic TV commercials will be aired (and how much will 30 seconds of airtime cost?) are all unknown.
Another Super Bowl question that has sparked debate as the NFL season is about to kick off is how millions of US fans who want a piece of the action will back their favorite to win. Will they do it through sports betting, which is now legal in most US states, or will they buy event contracts, a new product that is exploding on the internet nowadays, with regulation and legality causing heated debates in courts across the country?
The partnership US betting powerhouse FanDuel announced with event-contract giant CME shows how the industry is trying to navigate an entirely different regulatory universe. The Super Bowl, being one of the largest betting events on the planet, will also determine how these two universes will collide or coexist.
Although many people think sports betting and events contracts are similar, they are two very different beasts.
A traditional sports bet is speculative and meant for entertainment, based on a zero-sum wager between the sportsbook and bettor. Although some bettors apply knowledge and strategy, it is considered gambling, with results being purely up to chance. At the same time, event contracts companies argue that their product has a legitimate hedging function that, although it bears risk, is considered investment risk undertaken for economic purposes.
When placing a bet with a sportsbook, the bettor’s relationship and risk are solely with the sportsbook, which manages the risks, sets up the betting lines, adjusts the odds, and pays out large wins or collects losses. Event contracts are traded between members of a community, facilitated by a centralized exchange platform that doesn’t take part in the trade but rather facilitates transactions between buyers and sellers. Whereas a bookmaker determines odds in traditional betting, event contracts on an exchange platform are priced by market demand.
A bet will typically be binary and held until it expires (or cashed out early). For example, you can bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers to win against the New York Jets in the first gameday of these two teams this season. You will then win or lose based on the odds that were offered when you locked the bet. Event contracts are tradable, and their pricing will fluctuate depending on market conditions. For example, you can buy a contract for “Joe Burrow to win season MVP” and sell it months later at a profit if his odds improve, or alternatively, offload it at a loss if Burrow gets injured and his odds diminish.
Another huge difference is how event contracts are regulated compared to traditional NFL betting. Since the US Supreme Court annulled PASPA (the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992), each US state can regulate its own sports betting market. The regulators’ primary focus is to ensure operator integrity, protect customers from fraud, and put in place mechanisms to prevent and treat problem gambling.
Event contracts are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a federal agency that is more focused on ensuring market integrity, preventing market manipulation, and protecting investors from a seismic market shift. It is rarely concerned with protecting individual investors from addiction and the prevention of loss from excessive trading.
The introduction of event contracts isn’t an evolution of sports betting. It is a big bang, representing the creation of an entirely new marketplace that operates under a different legal framework and a different set of values. Traditional betting lives in the sphere of entertainment and individual player protection, whereas event contracts exist in the world of investment and financial-market transparency and integrity.
The outcome of this regulatory debate will determine whether betting on the NFL and other major league sports will stay within the sportsbook space or expand into financial trading markets.
The post Betting on the Super Bowl LX Winner: Events Contracts vs Sports Betting appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Belatra
Belatra unveils Lucila M. Barletta as new Head of Accounts LatAm

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has unveiled Lucila M. Barletta as its new Head of Accounts LatAm as the company accelerates its expansion across the region.
Lucila M. Barletta, Head of Accounts LatAm at Belatra, said: “Latin America is one of Belatra’s key growth engines for the long term. My goal is to help Latin America reach its full potential within the global gaming landscape. This region has incredible energy and growth opportunities, and I see my role as ensuring we’re not only present, but also adding real value and building long-term, meaningful partnerships.”
Latin America is a cornerstone of Belatra’s global growth strategy, with the company investing in regional talent, dedicated account management, and tailored game content designed specifically for local audiences.
Barletta brings valuable experience that combines her people-focused skills with business development, having worked on creating strategic alliances, integrating games into diverse markets, and gaining deep insight into the dynamics of a fast-moving industry.
Belatra will also be presenting its latest slot innovations at SBC Summit Lisbon (Stand B523) highlighting its mobile-first, immersive content built for global reach but with local flavour. Visitors will be treated to an unforgettable experience inspired by Blast the Bass, Belatra’s smash-hit slot that exploded onto the market with massive success. There will also be a themed bar built around the game’s legendary energy, giving guests a taste of the excitement through a special menu served by Belatra’s expert team.
The post Belatra unveils Lucila M. Barletta as new Head of Accounts LatAm appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-approved T20 league co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan and backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, has appointed Oakvale Capital as its exclusive investment banker.
“Oakvale’s deep expertise in sports finance will be a game-changer for ETPL’s long-term vision. We look forward to working closely with their expert team to help bring our event to fruition,” said Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland.
“Oakvale is one of the leading London-based investment banks in the sports and gaming ecosystem. Their sector depth, global network, and track record advising rights-holders, clubs, and technology platforms make them the right partner for ETPL as we scale,” said Saurav Banerjee, Co-owner and Director, ETPL.
“We’re excited to support ETPL’s bold and innovative approach to cricket. The vision to elevate the sport in Europe with a premium, differentiated offering aligns well with Oakvale’s strategic focus in global sports properties,” said Sandford Loudon, Partner, Oakvale Capital.
Blending world-class cricket with a distinctively European experience, ETPL aims to redefine the sport through elite talent, immersive fan experiences, and data-driven innovation. In addition, KPMG in India has been appointed as ETPL’s strategic advisor.
The post ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Latest News
WinSpirit and Casino Guru Turn Responsible Gaming into a Trend

Talking about Responsible Gaming (RG) is nothing new in iGaming — but doing it in a way players actually enjoy is rare. For WinSpirit, it became a chance to do what the brand does best — think differently, engage, and prove that even the most serious topics can be turned into content players actually want to share.
Instead of burying RG in disclaimers or policy pages, WinSpirit brought together their creativity and expertise of Casino Guru to turn it into a SmartPlay Social Media campaign.
Data-Driven Creativity
Before launching the campaign, WinSpirit turned to its community with a simple question: what do you really know about Responsible Gaming? Nearly 800 players responded, and the results were telling.
- 63% knew the primary goal of RG.
- 46% felt enabling those tools was easy and knew where to find information.
- 56% highlighted WinSpirit’s own email disclaimers (launched this year) as the most effective reminders.
The findings confirmed that awareness was already strong, but also showed that some players still found RG “too complicated.”
“When we asked our community which reminders help them stay mindful, 56% highlighted the email disclaimers developed by WinSpirit Casino this year as the most effective”, – said WinSpirit analytics team manager.
This insight revealed a gap: while some forms work well for many, others may need a different touchpoint to simplify the message. Social media naturally became the next logical step to address the topic.
A Campaign Built for the Feed
The six-part series was crafted not just to inform, but to feel native to social media culture. Players swiped through “red flag or green light” checks, busted common myths with quick-hit facts, and even debated an “unpopular opinion”: games are built for entertainment, not profit. The final self-check felt less like a form and more like a challenge — engaging, fast, and easy to share.
What elevated the initiative further was the expertise behind it. WinSpirit teamed up with Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at Casino Guru — a rare pairing of a progressive operator and an independent authority. In an industry where these voices often stay on opposite sides, this collaboration showed the power of combining creativity with credibility.
Here is what Šimon Vincze said about the initiative: “I am glad we could support WinSpirit on this journey and help bring a successful campaign to life by combining expert insights with natural and engaging communication. Their PR team did an excellent job, as demonstrated by the statistics. Player protection is an integral part of the gambling industry’s development. Sooner or later, most players will expect a certain level of well-being and care. Those who start on this journey earlier will benefit from a competitive edge and a loyal player base.”
Impact That Lasts
Social media reach for the campaign exceeded 10,000 people.
Social Media Engagement achieved 53% and boosted monthly metrics of Social Media pages by 80%. But the main result is still on the way – in the first month alone, WinSpirit saw a 12% rise in player support queries about Responsible Gaming tools.
More importantly, Responsible Gaming shifted from being background noise to a conversation players wanted to join. Awareness turned into curiosity — and curiosity sparked deeper understanding.
“This isn’t about ticking boxes,” says the WinSpirit team. “It’s about giving players the confidence and control that keep the game fun.”
For an industry where communication often feels routine, the campaign proved that creativity doesn’t weaken the message — it amplifies it. Even compliance can capture attention when delivered in the language of players.
The post WinSpirit and Casino Guru Turn Responsible Gaming into a Trend appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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