Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 7-13

Published

5 years ago

December 16, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and new acquisitions. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. has announced that it has been ranked #7 on Forbes’ 2020 global list of “Most Valuable Esports Companies.” This marks the first time the Company has been included in the Forbes list. The list was announced on December 5 and can be viewed on Forbes.com.

The possible legalisation of casinos in Brazil has gained new support as the journalist Luis Solano takes over as president of the Brazilian Association of Tourism Journalists (ABRAJET) from December 18. Solano has voiced support for the legalisation of casinos as well as other segments such as bingo, slots and Jogo do Bicho. Luiz Solano is a member of the Planalto Academy of Literature and Arts and of the Federal District History and Geography Institute.

According to projections from Virginia Casinos.com, Virginia’s legal sportsbooks could earn as much as $412 million annually, yielding $61.8 million in tax revenue for the State. The projection forecasts 90% of revenue coming from online wagering, with mobile sports betting apps bringing in $375 million annually when Virginia’s market reaches full maturity. Virginia legalised sports betting in July 2020. The Virginia Lottery regulates the state’s sports wagering industry and will license up to 12 different online sportsbook brands.

New Partnership

Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by the federally recognised Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, has entered into a partnership with the sports betting company DraftKings. DraftKings and Foxwoods said the arrangement was “setting the stage to deliver access to online sports betting” in anticipation of legislative and regulatory approvals in Connecticut.

New Acquisitions

fuboTV Inc., the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, has acquired Balto Sports, a company that develops tools for users to organise and play fantasy sports games. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition marks fuboTV’s first move into the online sports wagering market. fuboTV intends to leverage its own proprietary technology along with Balto’s contest automation software to launch a free to play gaming offering.

XLMedia, a leading global digital performance publisher, has announced that it has made a significant step in its expansion into the US sports market with the acquisition of sports gaming and betting business CBWG Sports (CBWG). Under the terms of the definitive documents for the acquisition, XLMedia will pay upfront consideration of $12 million in cash and issue 7,954,546 new XLMedia plc shares, as well as potential future contingent consideration of up to an additional $9.5 million, based on net revenue performance of the acquired business, payable over three years to the end of 2023.

New Launchings

BetMGM has launched BetMGM Casino in Pennsylvania, bringing the digital gaming company’s exclusive portfolio of online slots and table games to players in the Keystone State. BetMGM’s integration with MGM Resorts’ M life Rewards programme allows BetMGM customers in Pennsylvania to redeem their gameplay for world-class experiences at iconic MGM Resorts properties nationwide, such as Bellagio and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Borgata in New Jersey and MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

PointsBet has launched a new initiative named PointsBet Personal Good Karma Refund, the first of its kind in the burgeoning U.S. sports betting market. The PointsBet Personal Good Karma Refund initiative provides clients the power to decide which bad beat they want refunded at the end of each month. Eligibility will be applied to new clients who have placed 10 or more cash bets in a given month. Beginning 28 December 2020, those clients can then select their personal worst bad beat of the month via the “Settled Bets Page” in the PointsBet app/website.

Arizona Department of Gaming

Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025

Published

5 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

arizona-sports-betting-hits-new-record:-$967-million-wagered-in-october-2025

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has released its sports betting report for October 2025, revealing a record-breaking month for the Grand Canyon State. Total wagers reached approximately $967.1 million, marking a significant 22.2% increase year-over-year and a 13.6% jump from September 2025.

This performance solidified Arizona’s position as a top-tier U.S. betting market, ranking 6th nationally in total handle for the month, just behind Pennsylvania.

October 2025 Performance Breakdown

The surge in betting activity was driven almost entirely by mobile operators, which accounted for 99.4% of the total handle.

Total Handle: $967,141,269 (New State Record)
Mobile Wagers: $961.4 Million
Retail Wagers: $5.7 Million
Gross Revenue: $82.0 Million (Before promotional deductions)
Privilege Fees (Taxes): $5.2 Million collected by the state.

Top Operators by Market Share

The “Big Three” continue to dominate the Arizona landscape, with FanDuel and DraftKings locked in a tight battle for the top spot.

Operator	October Handle	Mobile Handle	Adjusted Revenue
FanDuel	$317.1 Million	$317.1 Million	$13.4 Million
DraftKings	$297.8 Million	$293.7 Million	$22.7 Million
BetMGM	$102.9 Million	$102.0 Million	$5.0 Million
Fanatics	$88.2 Million	$88.2 Million	$4.8 Million
bet365	$55.0 Million	$55.0 Million	—

Note: While FanDuel led in total amount wagered (handle), DraftKings reported the highest adjusted revenue for the month at $22.7 million.

Fiscal Year-to-Date (FY26) Summary

Through the first four months of the 2026 fiscal year (July–October), Arizona has generated substantial revenue for state funds:

Total Privilege Fees: $20.7 Million
Event Wagering Fees: $20.2 Million
Fantasy Sports Fees: $462,576

The ADG also noted its continued focus on player protection, recently launching the “Too Young to Bet AZ” initiative to combat underage gambling and revoking Underdog Fantasy’s license due to concerns over its prediction market offerings.

The post Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Family Feud Lottery

Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game

Published

5 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game

Scientific Games, the global leader in lottery games, has officially launched GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE. Announced on January 6, 2026, this new omnichannel “Linked Game” leverages the massive brand equity of three iconic Fremantle television properties to offer players across the United States a chance to win up to $10 million in cash.

This launch follows the company’s proven strategy of combining retail tickets with digital second-chance opportunities to drive incremental sales for state lotteries.

The Brands: TV’s Powerhouse Lineup

The promotion features a “triple-threat” of game show nostalgia and modern popularity, specifically chosen after a 2025 consumer study confirmed their high purchase intent across all demographics:

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Television’s longest-running game show, celebrated for over five decades of Emmy-winning entertainment.
FAMILY FEUD: Currently the #1 rated syndicated show for adults 25-54, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
PRESS YOUR LUCK: A high-stakes favorite known for the legendary “Whammy” and strategic gameplay.

The Prize: An Exclusive Hollywood Experience

Lucky winners from participating U.S. lotteries will be awarded a “Linked Game” experiential prize package that takes them to the heart of the entertainment world:

Host City: Los Angeles, California.
Date: Fall 2027.
The Trip: A five-day, four-night “white glove” experience in the entertainment capital.
The Highlight: Winners will attend a live taping of The Price is Right as special guests.
The Event: Following the taping, the lottery winners will take center stage on the iconic set for a private GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE event, where they will compete for a share of up to $10 million.

Omnichannel Strategy and Market Impact

Scientific Games pioneered the “Linked Game” concept in 2007. To date, these programs—including hits like Willy Wonka and Deal or No Deal—have generated more than US$6.6 billion in retail value.

Feature	Details
Game Formats	Instant Scratch, Fast Play, and Digital (iLottery)
Prize Cap	Up to $10 Million
Target Audience	Omnichannel (Retail & Digital players)
Producer	Scientific Games in partnership with Fremantle

“The incredibly broad appeal of these classic TV game show brands makes the GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE a perfect promotion for lottery, bringing to life the surprise, joy, and wins that players love,” said Tina Hoover, VP of Licensing for Scientific Games.

The post Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGS Gaming

Lucky Player Rings in 2026 with $1.6 Million Baccarat Jackpot at Encore Boston Harbor

Published

5 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

lucky-player-rings-in-2026-with-$1.6-million-baccarat-jackpot-at-encore-boston-harbor

A New Year’s Day visit to Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, turned into a historic event for a lucky gambler who hit a massive $1,620,355.70 jackpot. The win occurred on AGS’ Royal 9® Baccarat, fueled by the developer’s innovative STAX Progressive platform.

The payout is the largest single jackpot ever awarded in the history of the resort and potentially sets a new record for the state of Massachusetts.

The Winning Moment

The winner, identified as a man from Quincy, MA, who chose to remain anonymous, triggered the life-changing prize with a single $5 progressive side bet.

The Royal 9 Baccarat progressive adds a unique layer to traditional baccarat:

Personal King-Nine: Each seat at the table is assigned a unique, pre-printed King/Nine combination.
The Trigger: The top-tier jackpot is hit when both the Player and Banker hands perfectly match the specific King-Nine combination imprinted at the player’s seat.
STAX Platform: The win was facilitated by AGS’ STAX system, which allows for multi-level, “must-hit-by” jackpots and community prizes.

“We built STAX to bring incredible wins to players, and this is exactly the kind of excitement we envisioned,” said John Hemberger, SVP and General Manager, Table Games for AGS. “This is a true testament of what a single $5 progressive bet can do.”

AGS’ Historic Run in New England

This record-breaking win at Encore Boston Harbor follows a streak of high-profile AGS jackpots across the New England region in recent months:

Date	Location	Game / Side Bet	Jackpot Amount
Jan 1, 2026	Encore Boston Harbor	Royal 9 Baccarat (STAX)	$1,620,355
July 9, 2025	Mohegan Sun (Casino of the Earth)	Spanish 21 (Bonus Spin Xtreme)	$2,018,742
Feb 13, 2025	Mohegan Sun	Super 4 Blackjack (STAX)	$1,338,736

The July 2025 win at Mohegan Sun remains the largest table game progressive jackpot in AGS history, triggered by the “Triple Diamond” prize on their Bonus Spin Xtreme® wheel system.

The post Lucky Player Rings in 2026 with $1.6 Million Baccarat Jackpot at Encore Boston Harbor appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.