Articles by Michael Savio

A pair of lawmakers have introduced a new bill to end a federal excise tax on sportsbooks established in 1951 to keep out illegal gambling operators. Supporters of the bill claim the IRS doesn’t know where the tax revenue generated is going.

A trio of Vermont State Representatives have introduced a new bill to re-enact a ban on sports betting to protect low-income bettors and their families. The bill will face an uphill battle after Vermont's impressive first year of a legal market.

Photo by Spc. Brandon C. Dyer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gov. Abbott has announced his support for House Joint Resolution 134, which would amend the Texas Constitution to allow for a legal sports betting market. The support puts the Governor at odds with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, one of the biggest opponents of sports betting.

Rep. Salinas and Sen. Blumenthal have reintroduced the GRIT Act to stop the rise of gambling addiction and prevent problem gambling before it happens. The bill would funnel federal sports betting funds to programs to address the growing issue.

The Mississippi Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favor of SB 2510, which would ban sweepstakes casinos after operators ignored requests to shut down. The bill will now head to the House for a vote before the Governor can sign off.

Parent company Flutter Entertainment has reported that over 16 million wagers were placed on the NFL’s big game, setting a new record for Super Bowl Betting. The operator saw around 70,000 bets per minute at its busiest point.

The New York State Gaming Commission has reported a sports betting handle of almost $2.5 billion for January, breaking the previous monthly record set in October 2024. FanDuel Sportsbook led all operators for the month, with DraftKings following close behind.

FanDuel parent company Flutter has announced that over half of users have engaged with the new “My Spend” tool, which promotes responsible money management. The tool allows bettors to view their finances with FanDuel to ensure they aren’t betting beyond their means.

South Dakota State Senator Steve Kolobek has proposed Senate Joint Resolution 507, which would allow residents to vote on legalizing online sports betting. The measure is similar to proposals in 2022 and 2023, both of which failed in the House.