Techme101.com

Pope Leo XIV has called attention to the ‘scourge of gambling,’ as he says it ‘ruins many families.’
The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City became pope in May of 2025, with this statement being one of the latest from the first American Pope. He met on Monday with mayors from across Italy and called on them to promote authentically human relationships in order to combat gambling and other expressions of loneliness.
In a press release detailing the speech that the Pope addressed to those present, he also touched on how statistics have recorded a strong increase in gambling in Italy over the last few years.

Pope Leo XIV laments the spread of gambling, saying it ruins many families.
He met Monday with mayors from across Italy, calling on them to promote “authentically human relationships” in order to combat gambling and other expressions of loneliness.
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/dXI1kYDc1p
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) December 29, 2025

According to the media, Italy is Europe’s biggest gambling market and has outpaced the likes of the UK, Germany, and France. The gross gaming revenues hit 21.5 billion euros in 2024, with the country experiencing a gambling boom.
Italy is biggest gambling market in Europe, with the Pope noting its rise
The Pope said (in a translated version): Unfortunately, our cities know forms of marginalization, violence, and loneliness that ask to be addressed. I would like to draw attention, in particular, to the scourge of gambling, which ruins many families.
“Statistics have recorded a strong increase in Italy in recent years. As Caritas Italiana points out in its latest Report on poverty and social exclusion, this is a serious educational, mental health and social trust problem.
“We cannot forget other forms of loneliness that many people suffer from: mental disorders, depression, cultural and spiritual poverty, social abandonment. They are signs that indicate how much there is a need for hope. To testify to it effectively, politics is called upon to weave genuinely human relationships among citizens by promoting social peace.”
The Pope isn’t the first to mention the rise in this activity, as it was In June of this year when the head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, is reported to have said: “(Gambling) ruins people, it impoverishes, in many cases it destroys relationships, so it is clear that a huge effort (to control it) is needed by everyone.”
While some in Italy have called for greater regulations, especially those within the Catholic Church, it’ll be interesting to see how the government responds as the industry progresses in 2026.
Featured Image: © Vyacheslav Argenberg / https://www.vascoplanet.com/
The post Pope Leo XIV warns against spread of gambling, saying it ruins many families appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) says it is doubling down on illegal gambling, as it seizes 6,725 illegal slot machines.
The enforcement is a collective effort from 2025, with a total of $14,474,336 having been seized in actions against illegal casinos this year. The figures represent a major increase from 2024, when $7,110,613 and 1,287 illegal slot machines were confiscated.
The regulators warn that slot machines in illegal casinos are not tested or regulated by the state, and they say players therefore have no assurance of fair play, accurate payouts, or basic consumer protections.
The FGCC continues to state how many players are taken advantage of “by predatory owners,” with gambling machines only able to be permitted in legal gaming facilities. Legal slot machines are available in eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as at certain facilities operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Amount of illegal gambling machines seized is a 422% increase from previous year
In the state, it is against the law to offer slot machine gaming or any unauthorized gambling at any unlicensed facility. The regulatory authority keeps a map of authorized locations published on its website.
Speaking on the actions taken this year, the FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer says: “I thank Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their ongoing support of the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
“Their actions strengthen Florida’s gambling laws and help protect our communities. FGCC has been working diligently to halt illegal gambling through enforcement actions across the state, demonstrating the dedication of FGCC’s law enforcement officers.”
In its announcement, the commission has reiterated its mission, which they say is to preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities in Florida through fair regulation, licensing, effective criminal investigation, and enforcement. They ask people to report any concerns about illegal gambling activities or facilities in Florida online, by email, or by phone.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
The post Florida Gaming Control Commission intensifies illegal gambling enforcement efforts appeared first on ReadWrite.

The sports betting company Entain has given an insight into the world’s most popular betting events, with the Grand National once again taking the crown.
The company owns brands that operate around the world, including Ladbrokes (UK and Australia), Coral (UK), BetMGM (North America), Eurobet (Italy), SuperSport (Croatia), STS (Poland), Sportingbet (South America), TAB (New Zealand), BetCity (the Netherlands), and several more.
The analysis spans a global mix of sports and cultures, but it was the UK-based Grand National which remains the undisputed leader, with this being a popular horse race held annually at Aintree in the north of England. Its first run took place in 1839 and it’s made itself known for being a high-profile event.
The next most popular betting event of the year, according to Entain, was the Super Bowl. The company described this as being a “global betting phenomenon.” They also say the data highlighted how stand-alone televised games are key drivers of betting activity, whether in the playoffs of prime-time slots like Monday and Thursday Night Football.
Grand National makes number one spot for most popular betting event, Entain says
Speaking of the NFL, two games in the opening weeks of the 2025 season made it into Entain’s top 20 list, with the first being the season opener and the second being Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens.
Global football is also featured on the list, with the company saying: “Finals dominate, including the Champions League Final (5th), Club World Cup Final (7th), Nations League Final (9th), and South America’s Copa Libertadores Final (19th).
“The Europa League Final (15th) also features more prominently , having featured two struggling Premier League giants. Champions League semi-finals and quarter finals appear throughout the top 50, reflecting the tournament’s global appeal.”
Domestic football was up there too, with Manchester United v Liverpool being the most popular domestic fixture in the world. The US Masters was the third top betting event, with golf as a whole being another well-loved category.
Greg Ferris, Managing Director, Sports at Entain, said: “From Cheltenham to the Super Bowl, and from Champions League to the Libertadores Final, this list shows how our customers’ interests span continents and sports.
“The Grand National and the Super Bowl are cultural phenomena that transcend sports and are annual traditions for recreational customers. Beyond these leading top two events, the diversity in the top 50 of different sports reflects our global reach and the varied passions of millions of fans worldwide.”
Featured Image: Credit to Paul on Wikimedia Commons
The post Entain figures show the Grand National was the biggest betting event of the year once again appeared first on ReadWrite.

Nevada is asking the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to deny Kalshi’s request to pause the case while it appeals, saying the company is unlikely to win and can’t use federal law to sidestep state gambling rules.
In its filing, the state argues that Kalshi’s products don’t qualify as swaps, options, or futures under federal law, and therefore aren’t protected by the Commodity Exchange Act. Because of that, Nevada says it still has the authority to regulate the activity as gambling within its borders.

Responding to Kalshi’s argument that an injunction is necessary because a state enforcement proceeding would be “catastrophic,” Nevada snarks that “Kalshi already is subject to enforcement in Massachusetts, and its business has not collapsed.” pic.twitter.com/URVfMUKoLo
— Andrew Kim (@akhoya87) December 30, 2025

Nevada also says Kalshi hasn’t shown it would suffer irreparable harm if the stay isn’t granted, which is a key requirement for getting one. “Submitting to a state enforcement proceeding ‘typically does not constitute irreparable harm,’” the State writes, because Kalshi “could raise any potential defense.” The filing adds that the enforcement action would merely “seek an order from the state court requiring Kalshi to comply with Nevada gaming law or stop operating in Nevada.”
The state also pushes back on Kalshi’s claim that enforcement would be economically devastating, arguing that the company hasn’t shown any real evidence that it would suffer that kind of harm. According to the filing, “Kalshi already is subject to enforcement in Massachusetts, and its business has not collapsed.”
Nevada also disputes Kalshi’s claim that complying with state law would create unreasonable operational burdens, including the need to implement geofencing. The brief notes that “to comply with state gaming laws and the Wire Act, other internet-betting companies (including prediction markets) geofence their customers,” adding that such compliance “is just a cost of doing business” and “minuscule in comparison to Kalshi’s revenues.”
On the merits, Nevada says Kalshi’s reading of the Commodity Exchange Act would wrongly override the state’s authority to regulate gaming. The State rejects Kalshi’s claim that its contracts qualify as federally regulated swaps, pointing out that “the CEA’s definition of ‘swap’ does not require trading,” and that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission “did not require trading in its rulemaking about swaps.” The brief concludes that “[i]f only contracts traded on DCMs could be swaps, Section 2(e) would be meaningless.”
Battle between Nevada and Kalshi continues as regulator seeks rejection of stay
The filing comes as part of a broader legal fight over whether prediction markets like Kalshi should be regulated under federal commodities law or state gambling laws. As ReadWrite previously reported, a federal judge in Nevada recently lifted an injunction that had allowed Kalshi to keep operating in the state, finding that Nevada was likely to win on the merits.
Kalshi has argued in multiple courts that its event contracts are federally regulated financial instruments and not gambling. But Nevada, along with other states, says those markets look a lot like sports betting and should fall under state licensing and enforcement rules.
The Ninth Circuit hasn’t ruled yet on Kalshi’s request for a stay. Until it does, Nevada’s enforcement authority remains in place, meaning Kalshi could be barred from offering contracts to users located in the state.
Featured image: Kalshi / Canva
The post Nevada urges Ninth Circuit to reject Kalshi stay, defending gambling authority appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) is suing the City of Chicago over a new sports betting tax and licensing plan that was approved as part of the city’s $16.6 billion budget. According to court filings and budget documents, the group is pushing back against what it says is an unfair new framework for sportsbooks.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, aims to stop the city from enforcing an ordinance that would slap a 10.25% tax on online sports betting and require operators to get city licenses starting in 2026. The changes were bundled into Chicago’s latest budget package as a way to help close a major funding shortfall.

News: The Sports Betting Alliance sued the city of Chicago today, arguing that a plan to tax and license sportsbooks is unconstitutional in Illinois. The SBA represents FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics and bet365. pic.twitter.com/IEyBco9YIf

— Dustin Gouker (@DustinGouker) December 30, 2025

In its complaint, the SBA says the city doesn’t actually have the legal authority to impose a tax like this.
“The City of Chicago’s interpretation of its amendments… would impose a new municipal licensing requirement and a 10.25% tax on all online sports wagering in the City,” the lawsuit states. The group argues the measures are unconstitutional because “The Illinois General Assembly has never authorized the City to impose licensing fees or income-based taxes on online sports wagering.”
The case also argues that the ordinance violates the Illinois Constitution, which limits cities from taxing income or charging revenue-based licenses unless the state specifically allows it. According to the complaint, the city’s actions “exceed the City of Chicago’s constitutional authority” and amount to a tax “measured by income” without legislative approval.
Chicago proposes major sports betting tax hike in $16.6 billion budget
Under the approved budget, the new tax would apply to online and mobile bets that are verified as being placed within Chicago. City estimates cited in our earlier report suggest the tax could bring in at least $26 million a year, helping support the city’s overall $16.6 billion spending plan.
The Sports Betting Alliance is also pushing back on the city’s plan to require operators to get municipal licenses, arguing that Chicago hasn’t actually put a workable licensing system in place. The complaint states that the city “has been incapable of timely implementing the licensing scheme it now claims the Ordinance requires,” leaving operators without a clear path to compliance.
The lawsuit warns that enforcing the ordinance could force sportsbooks to stop operating in Chicago or pass the added costs on to customers. “Ceasing operations in Chicago would likely cause irreparable injury,” the complaint states, adding that customers could be driven toward illegal gambling alternatives.
Industry says tax hike in Chicago risks harming bettors
Industry representatives have also spoken out against the proposal, saying the tax could hurt the regulated sports betting market and end up reducing overall revenue instead of boosting it. The Sports Betting Alliance previously said the plan risks “undermining a legal market that protects bettors.”

Chicago’s proposed sports betting tax is budgetary smoke and mirrors that risks undermining a legal market that protects bettors — and could leave the city with nothing to show for it. https://t.co/CGU0aXOpU1

— Sports Betting Alliance (@SBAllianceUS) December 16, 2025

The case asks the court to rule that the tax and licensing rules are unconstitutional and to stop the city from enforcing them. A hearing is scheduled for March 2026.
Featured image: Canva
The post Sports Betting Alliance sues Chicago over new tax and licensing plan appeared first on ReadWrite.