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Gambling company FanDuel has launched a new fantasy sports app, FanDuel Picks, in time for the NFL season.
Launched by FanDuel and owned by gambling giant Flutter, FanDuel Picks is a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports app, bringing a new way for fans to pick their favorite athletes and form fantasy teams ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The new product offers the chance to win up to 1,000x the entry fee, as players build line-ups and guess whether athletes will exceed their projected stats during games throughout the season.
Newcomers to FanDuel who play $5 will get $60 in bonus funds as an incentive to try out the new fantasy sports offering.
“Just in time for NFL season, we are excited to bring fans a social way to engage with the sports and athletes they love with the launch of FanDuel Picks,” said Rob Cullen, FanDuel Picks General Manager.
“The ‘more’ or ‘less’ selection model offers a streamlined fantasy sports experience, and we look forward to offering our customers another way to interact with games this season.”
How does FanDuel Picks work?
You can download FanDuel Picks on iOS and Android in 17 states across the US. To get started, users can pick between three and six players, then predict ‘more’ or ‘less’ on the players’ projected stats ahead of a game. You can set a contest entry amount to officially enter your guesses.
You’ll then earn points for every correct selection for your players. Customers with the highest score win a share of the prize pool, funded by the mandatory entry amounts.
FanDuel Picks is now available on Android and iOS across 17 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. It joins other FanDuel products, like FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Casino, as well as a recently launched event contracts platform.
Featured image: FanDuel
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MGM Resorts is launching a licensed version of Family Feud, played and streamed live from a studio in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand casino.
In a new ‘Live from Vegas’ offering, MGM Resorts is hosting a licensed adaptation of Family Feud, a game show that pits two families against one another. The classic remake will be streamed live and in real time from a studio on the casino floor of MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Live from Vegas, in partnership with Playtech, featuring a licensed and interactive adaptation of @FremantleHQ’s classic gameshow Family Feud.
This first-of-its kind experience streams live and in real time from a studio located on MGM… pic.twitter.com/GlNaxgNdNF
— MGM Resorts (@MGMResortsIntl) August 28, 2025

This is the first time that an interactive game show will be broadcast live from a Las Vegas casino, although streaming is nothing new to the MGM Grand. The casino’s studio already broadcasts various interactive table games, like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. All of the games are hosted in a fully transparent glass studio visible to the public 24/7.
“MGM Resorts, with Playtech and Fremantle, is at the forefront of digital gaming bringing the iconic Las Vegas experience to people around the globe,” said Gary Fritz, President, MGM Resorts International Interactive.
“The live dealer studio marks a major step in our growth strategy and pursuit of being the world’s premier gaming entertainment company. We will continue working to create unforgettable moments and new ways to enjoy what the Las Vegas Strip has to offer.”
Live Vegas experiences at MGM Resorts and beyond
This new offering is the second phase of MGM Resorts and Playtech’s strategic partnership, which is focused on delivering new live gaming experiences. MGM Resorts is not alone in pursuing such efforts, with another Las Vegas icon, Caesars Palace, also experimenting in the space, as part of a wider push from Vegas facilities to cater to in-person audiences.
“We’re proud to unveil our full suite of live-streamed experiences from Las Vegas, now featuring Family Feud,” said Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer at Playtech. “This next phase of our collaboration with MGM Resorts and Fremantle represents our shared ambition to redefine live gaming entertainment. Together, we’re introducing a new category of immersive and engaging content to support growth in regulated markets, built on a foundation of robust compliance and player protection.”
Looking forward, the plan is to broaden the portfolio further with more entertainment experiences that suit the Las Vegas audience.
Featured image: MGM Resorts
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The Los Angeles (LA) City Attorney has sued sweepstakes operator Stake, Kick Streaming, and other partners over an alleged illegal gambling ring.
As well as Stake and Kick, the two companies’ co-founders Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, service providers Evolution and Hacksaw, and 12 other related partners have been named in a lawsuit, with charges related to running or aiding and abetting the running of an illegal online gambling ring. This allegedly puts them in violation of California law.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles City Attorney has sued sweepstakes casino operator Stake, Kick Streaming, Ed Craven, Bijan Tehrani, Evolution and 12 others for running and/or aiding & abetting the running of an illegal online gambling enterprise in violation of California law. pic.twitter.com/hwHB4Q3xzR
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 29, 2025

This isn’t the first time that Stake has faced legal action, with lawsuits already in California, Illinois, and Alabama. Those previous cases allege that Stake has engaged in alleged bad practices and running an illegal casino posing as a sweepstakes game.
Lawsuits reaching beyond Stake and Kick
In this new LA lawsuit, the naming of Evolution, Hacksaw, and other B2B gambling services providers highlights that not only Stake and Kick could be held liable for illegal gambling practices, but also the service providers and operators that seemingly assisted them.
Both Evolution and Hacksaw are Swedish companies that now face allegations that they knowingly licensed content to a platform operating as an unlicensed casino in California. They could now face both civil penalties and restitution orders.
While other suppliers, including Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, NetEnt, Nolimit City, and Big Time Gaming, analysis from sports betting lawyer Daniel Wallach underlines that Evolution and Hacksaw have the most to lose, being valued on public markets.
With illegal gambling taking up a third of the US market, gambling service providers now have even greater reason to ensure that the services they provide are being used on legal games, or else risk lawsuits themselves. As well as potentially costing large sums, the reputational damage could also be extreme, especially for smaller providers.
Featured image: Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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The American Gaming Association (AGA) has estimated that Americans will spend a collective $30 billion on NFL bets in the 2025 season.
Data from the AGA estimates that Americans will wager $30 billion on the upcoming 2025 NFL season via sportsbooks. That’s an 8.5% increase to last season, which was estimated to see $27.6 billion in bets.
“This season, fans have more ways than ever to responsibly engage with the game they love,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Legal sports betting enhances the fun and friendly competition that make NFL games and traditions even more special.
“With strong consumer protections and a shared commitment to responsibility, the legal, regulated sports betting industry encourages all football fans to have a game plan before placing a bet and ensure their gameday experience – regardless of the outcome of a bet or the game – remains enjoyable.”

The AGA predicts that this year Americans will wager more than $30B through the legal market during the 2025-2026 NFL season. This is up 8.5% from last year, showing how more Americans are betting through the legal, state-regulated market.https://t.co/pKdw65UYTm
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) August 28, 2025

Those numbers are based on national handle growth to date in 2025 applied to last year’s estimated NFL season total, along with football-specific reporting from select states used to calculate the share of wagers expected on professional football. It includes preseason games, futures booked as early as March, the playoffs, and Super Bowl LX, which will take place in February 2026.
With so much money expected to be wagered, the AGA is launching a campaign to remind bettors to Have A Game Plan, and Bet Responsibly. The national campaign includes advice set around five key principles: sticking to a budget; keeping betting as a fun activity with friends and family; knowing the odds well; playing legally; and not harassing athletes.
Betting on the NFL
If you’re planning to get involved in betting during the upcoming NFL season, there are various betting strategies that you can employ to get the most out of your 2025 season.
If you’re not sure where to physically start, we’ve also rounded up some of the best betting sets ahead of this year’s season here.
Featured image: Your Golf Travel, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has released information regarding an ongoing betting and bribery case involving a former Ladbrokes Chief Executive Officer.
The individuals who worked for GVC, the parent company of Ladbrokes, were mentioned in a statement by Hannah von Dadelszen, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.
They include Kenny Alexander, the former chief executive of GVC, and Lee Feldman, the former non-executive chairman of GVC.
Former Ladbrokes executive members charged in bribery case
The CPS announced that the case involved ten individuals, who have been charged with offences allegedly committed between 2011 and 2018.
A further individual has been arrested in relation to an offence committed as part of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation.
Von Dadelszen said as part of the announcement of the charges that the CPS “has authorised the prosecution of eleven individuals for seven offences relating to bribery, conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent trading, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax, acting as a director of a company when undischarged bankrupt and perverting the course of justice.”
Both former members of GVC, now known as Entain, Alexander and Feldman, have been charged by the CPS.
Alexander is facing charges of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe between 2011 and 2018 relating to the provision of gambling services in Turkey. Feldman is facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery.
Richard Las, Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “These are serious charges that relate to conspiracy to defraud, bribery, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax and perverting the course of justice among others.”
All eleven individuals involved in the case will appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 6.
How does the CPS conduct a case and issue charges?
The CPS bases its charges on the information gathered by HMRC, which is equivalent to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States. This financial fact-finding is not similar to a criminal case, but rather the gathering of information that could be used to prove a case at court proceedings.
Officially, the CPS states their assessment and the charges brought to bear are not a “finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal conduct. It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”
Featured image: Ideogram
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The Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians (Sherwood Valley) has declared its opposition to Assembly Bill 831 (AB 381), making this the third Tribe to do so publicly.
AB 381 has faced setbacks from parties in the state that disagree with the measures in the legislation, which seek to outlaw sweepstakes and social games if it were to pass.
Third Tribe voices opposition to AB 381
We reported that both the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Big Lagoon Rancheria were in opposition to Bill 831.
They joined the chorus of criticism spearheaded by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), making it clear that their position was that the potential change to social games and sweepstakes would have a detrimental impact on the tribes.

“On behalf of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, we respectfully oppose AB 831. This bill lacks the alleged unanimous support among California tribes, has advanced without meaningful consultation of broader tribal interests, and threatens our inherent right to create legitimate revenue streams to support our people.” – Buffey W. Bourassa, Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians Secretary

“The addition of Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians to the growing opposition underscores what we’ve said from the beginning: AB831 is a rushed, flawed bill that lacks broad tribal consensus,” said Jeff Duncan, Executive Director of SGLA in a press release seen by ReadWrite.
Further to this discord, the SGLA has conducted research that highlighted the possible loss of earnings across the state. The data produced by the body indicated that California’s economy would incur a loss of $1 billion per year.
Letters to Chair Caballero
Tribal Chairperson of Big Lagoon Rancheria, Virgil Moorehead, took steps to contact Chair Caballero, the leader of the bill’s progression, penning a letter that outlined the Tribe’s stance.
“AB 831 was advanced in the Senate without the meaningful, government-to-government consultation that is owed to all California tribes under both federal and state policy commitments,” wrote Moorehead.
Sherwood Valley, a key member of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), added its voice to the conversation. Buffey W. Bourassa, Secretary of the Tribe wrote his own letter to Chair Caballero and the committee presiding over the bill.
Bourassa said they (Sherwood Valley), “respectfully oppose AB 831. This bill lacks the alleged unanimous support among California tribes, has advanced without meaningful consultation of broader tribal interests, and threatens our inherent right to create legitimate revenue streams to support our people.”
It remains to be seen whether these direct letters to Chair Caballero will cause the representative to pause the progress of AB 831, but they do show that the Tribes are asking for serious consideration of their rights before the bill goes any further.
Bourassa concluded his letter saying, “We urge the Committee to reject AB 831 and instead support policy solutions that empower all tribes to diversify economically, address systemic challenges, and chart a path toward sustainable self-governance and prosperity.”
Featured image: Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians
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The World Poker Tour (WPT) put pen to paper on a multi-year manufacturing and distribution deal with Genco International (Genco).
This brings together one of the biggest names in North American poker and a central logistics and distribution arm, Kroeger Marketing, a subsidiary of Genco, to introduce new poker products to fans across the region.
WPT and Genco team up for poker product deal
The deal aims to combine the established branding of the WPT, which is synonymous with poker across North America, and the publishing power of Genco’s product development from licensed contracts.
Vice President of WPT Studios, Loc Sondheim, celebrated the deal, saying, “This collaboration brings the WPT experience into people’s home games, giving players the tools to elevate their games and feel like a real poker pro, sharing in the excitement of tournament play.”
The partnership deal will allow Genco the rights to “design, manufacture, and distribute a full time line of WPT-branded products, including poker sets, casino-grade chips, cards, shufflers, chutes, home game accessories, and table covers.”
Ranging from $4.99 to $149.99, the initial products will be available in the latter half of 2025 at major retail chains, online marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer platforms.
Rubin Beige, Co-CEO of Genco International LLC said of the deal, “WPT has earned global credibility in the poker world, and now all players can have access to the same quality products and experiences as seen on TV, in their homes.”
According to the release from WPT, both parties were brought together by All American Licensing and Management Group, run by Timothy and Don Rothwell.
Timothy Rothwell is a former President of Marvel Entertainment’s WW Consumer Products division and Senior Vice President of Consumer Products Division at Universal Studios. His brother, Don, who is a co-founder, is a former Managing Director of Licensing Business Development and Retail at NASCAR.
Genco snaps up failing Kroeger
Genco snapped up Kroeger Inc. as part of a wider deal when the former toy and gaming giant was following a formal insolvency proceeding and subsequent bankruptcy. Genco stepped in and acquired the company, which, at the time of filing, had $7.3 million in liabilities, including approximately $1.1 million owed to the secured lender, Pathward National Association.
Grant Chapman was installed as the newly minted Chief Operating Officer after the buyout, saying, “This acquisition marks a new era for Kroeger. We’ve stabilized the foundation and are now looking forward to expanding our portfolio, enhancing our technology stack, and bringing innovation to every level of our supply chain.”
Teaming with WPT is just the business that Genco would be looking to benefit from after the costly buyout of the failing toy company.
Featured image: WPT
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