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GambleAware is set to shut down in a phased closure following the introduction of new gambling legislation in the United Kingdom.
The charity has been in operation since 2002, working to raise awareness of gambling-related harm and to provide essential support to those in need. 
The organization confirmed the end of its tenure in an official statement, which will see it succeeded by the appointment of three new commissioners, as well as the introduction of a new statutory levy to fund their work. 
Commissioners will be tasked to carry out work and development on research into gambling harm, prevention, and treatment measures.
All of this comes after the long-awaited gambling reform policy was presented in May.
In its statement, the body indicated “the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales”, with the charity’s closure expected by March next year.
GambleAware had previously advocated for delivery on a statutory system to replace its work, so in that regard, its work is done.
However, the organization has vowed to continue with the purpose to fulfill existing commitments until the new system is in place. 
Boucher urges government to ensure learnings are carried forward
GambleAware chairman Andy Boucher outlined the important work and achievements of the charity, culminating in the establishment of a statutory public health-led initiative to tackle gambling-related harm.
“We welcome this new era in which gambling harms are recognised alongside other public health issues and are funded through a statutory levy, said Boucher.
He continued, “As we enter the final phase of our commissioning work, we urge NHS England, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, UK Research and Innovation, and the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward.”
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross also acknowledged the impact made by GambleAware and stressed the importance of their continued activity right up to the end of the transition period.
Image credit: GambleAware
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Mike DeWine, the governor of Ohio, has urged the Casino Control Commission to prohibit prop bets, removing them from the legal list of bets that can be placed under the state’s contractual rules for operators.
The Governor’s request follows the scandal involving Guardian pitchers, Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, who have been sent on paid leave through to the end of August following separate gambling probes.
A proposition bet (prop bet) is a set wager on a player or team that is not necessarily related to the full outcome of the game.
Investigations into Ortiz and Clase emerged after betting patterns were flagged to IC360, with the former incident centered on pitches on June 15 at Seattle, and on June 27 against St Louis. The alarm was also raised with sportsbook platforms. 
The latter emerged more recently with an MLB statement confirming an investigation had been launched.
IC360 is a gambling integrity monitoring body that routinely cooperates with the top sports leagues, including the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL, as well as college conferences and an array of sportsbook operators. 

The evidence that prop betting is harming athletics in Ohio is reaching critical mass. A particular problem is with micro prop bets – prop bets on highly specific events within games that are completely controlled by one player.
More: https://t.co/L2hpuPWOcl pic.twitter.com/FGZUh7nshT
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) July 31, 2025

Evidence is reaching critical mass, says Ohio Governor
Now, Gov. Mike DeWine has applied pressure to the relevant sports commissioners and labor unions for prop bets to be struck off the permitted list to “ensure the integrity” of the respective leagues.
He specifically called out the proliferation of micro prop bets and the damage caused, given the control that an individual player has on these events.
“The evidence that prop betting is harming athletics in Ohio is reaching critical mass, stated DeWine. 
“First, there were threats on Ohio athletes, and now two high-profile Ohio professional athletes have been suspended by Major League Baseball as part of a ‘sports betting investigation,’” said the Governor. 
“The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly. I call on the Casino Control Commission to correct this problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace.”
Mike DeWine previously approached the subject when student athletes at the University of Dayton received death threats over prop bets. He took a stand with NCAA President Charlie Barker in February last year to blast the impact on college sports and the need for the Ohio Casino Control Commission to enact change. 
The same message has been renewed.
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MyPrize announced Thursday, July 31, that it has successfully closed a $21 million funding round, bringing the company’s valuation cap to an impressive $250 million.
Led by existing backers Dragonfly and Boxcars Ventures, along with contributions from major family offices, this latest funding raises the firm’s total investment capital to $38 million since its founding.
MyPrize was established by Zach Bruch in 2023 and officially launched in the summer of 2024, quickly rising to prominence as the fastest-growing multiplayer social casino in the US. With a remarkable Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) run rate exceeding $1.2 billion, MyPrize is set to surpass the $100 million annual revenue threshold and achieve profitability within its first operational year.
Bruch is obviously over the moon about the trajectory the company is on, stating, “The growth we are seeing at MyPrize proves that social gaming has fully arrived to the US market and there is massive demand for a more engaging, creator-driven approach to online gaming.”

He added that the new capital infusion will accelerate expansion, enabling the platform to onboard thousands of additional creators, celebrities, and tap into global markets.
The way MyPrize differentiates itself is through an blend of livestreamed creator content and sweepstakes-based social casino games, underpinned by proprietary AI-driven player engagement technology.
At the time of writing, MyPrize players have collectively won over $500 million in prizes, which just shows the platform’s popularity and rapid user adoption.
This is no mean feat for such a young company but with sweepstakes crackdowns beginning to happen throughout the US, whether MyPrize can weather the storm and continue on an upward path remains to be seen.
However, funds from this latest investment will be allocated toward enhancing user experiences, expanding MyPrize’s AI capabilities, and scaling its technology platform to accommodate increasing user demand, so at the moment, it does seem like the sky is the limit.
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New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) has revealed that consumers knowingly use online sweepstakes casinos for gambling, with the platforms exploiting legal loopholes to deliberately target players in key states. 
This action undermines the regulated gaming industry, prompting ongoing scrutiny from gaming regulators, state Attorney Generals, and legislatures.
Sensor Tower data, compiled by the AGA, indicated that in early 2025, 50% of online real-money casino ads promoted unregulated offshore “sweepstakes” casinos, with heavy advertising in populous states.

New AGA research confirms consumers consider sweepstake casinos to be gambling. By exploiting loopholes in the law, these operations undermine the integrity of the legal, regulated gaming marketplace.
Read more https://t.co/k7gPPmlNkb pic.twitter.com/x3SOGVJaBt
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) July 31, 2025

The findings show that despite their unregulated status, 68% of users view these platforms as gambling sites, driven by the urge to win real money. 
While there is a focus on attracting users who know of their illicit status, several sweepstakes companies intentionally replicate the design and language of legal operators, confusing consumers and duping others. 
“These operators present themselves like legal, regulated platforms – but they operate outside the law and regulation, said Tres York, the AGA Vice President of Government Relations. 
“There are few, if any, responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections. It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk.”
Customers see right through sweepstakes, says AGA VP
Critics would argue this reflects the need for ongoing strict enforcement and public awareness, while the ASA research also detailed that the number of monthly sweepstakes users is around twice as high in those states that do not prohibit the activity.
York continued with a damning conclusion, calling on the authorities to take action.
“The data is clear. Consumers see right through the ‘sweepstakes’ casino facade, and they’re calling it what it is: gambling. 
“We look forward to policymakers continuing to enforce their laws and create clarity through new policy measures to protect their residents.”
The onslaught against sweepstakes continues after BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt spoke out to discredit the alternative social casinos in a recent interview.
He stated that the sweepstakes should be made illegal, as it’s a negative for the regulated sector, while welcoming the actions taken in states such as New York, California, Connecticut to outlaw the activity.
Image credit: AGA
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Boyd Gaming has confirmed the completion of the previously announced agreement to sell its 5% equity share in FanDuel to Flutter.
The transaction, worth $1.75 billion, means Flutter now has full ownership of the prominent US sports betting brand.
Despite this new status, Flutter may face a dilution of its shareholding and total control, as an existing rights option held by Fox Corporation allows it to acquire 18.6% of FanDuel’s equity by December 3, 2030.
The price for this transaction to go ahead is currently estimated at $4.5 billion.
Beyond the headline sale, Boyd Gaming is expected to benefit along with Flutter as part of an ongoing strategic partnership through to 2038. 
The Nevada-based developer, which reported second-quarter revenues of $1 billion, indicated in its press release that the cash proceeds from the $1.75b deal would be used toward settling existing debt liabilities, while it will also seek fresh growth opportunities and return value to shareholders.
Flutter is expected to gain from reduced market access costs in states where Boyd Gaming is the gatekeeper for FanDuel’s presence, with the savings expected to reach the $65 million mark annually. 
Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania have been pinpointed as key markets to secure this operational efficiency.

Approximately $1.75B later, Flutter Entertainment is officially the proud owner of 100% of FanDuel*
*subject to Fox Corp.’s ongoing option to buy 18.6% of FanDuel pic.twitter.com/bkpIOqA5zH
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) July 31, 2025

Future relationship with Fox Corporation
The equity option held by Fox is based on a full cash payment and subject to conditions, including licensing requirements. If they do proceed with it, there would be a significant impact on Flutter and its ownership structure, but there are protections embedded into the deal from the high cost price and aforementioned licensing terms. 
Further value and scope for growth could be unlocked from potential future partner agreements between Flutter and Fox in the evolving media and sportsbook sectors.
Also, as part of the headline deal, FanDuel will continue to operate Boyd Gaming’s retail sportsbooks outside of Nevada through to June next year, with Boyd taking full responsibility after that point. 
Until then, Boyd Gaming will receive set per-state fees from FanDuel’s online operations.
Image credit: FanDuel
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