Techme101.com

New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo has stated that the downstate casino licenses for NYC may not be awarded until the start of next year, beyond the initial end-of-year timescale initially anticipated. 
As reported by Sportsboom, Sen. Addabbo attributed the possible delay to legislative requirements, with the next sitting of the state not due to take place for another five months. 
The lawmaker also indicated that there would be a hiatus on legal wagering on individual sports player awards, such as Super Bowl MVP,  the Heisman Trophy, and NBA Rookie of the Year, for the same reason. 
These proposals would also require approval and sign-off from Governor Kathy Hochul.
In the Big Apple, the award of highly coveted casino licenses is a prominent story, with eight applications pending for up to three licenses. 
The policy development would deliver the first dedicated casino venues in NYC, and while there are concerns about negative impacts, Joseph Addabbo points to the fact that New Yorkers are already betting in neighboring states, and the need to raise revenues to address shortfalls in the state budget.
“My colleagues (in the state legislature) are sometimes apprehensive, but I mention that New Yorkers are already making these types of prop bets in neighbouring states such as New Jersey and Connecticut, said the Democrat politician for the 15th State Senate district in Queens. 
He continued, “Also, the governor needs to know that New York is viewed nationally as an expanding U.S. market. We are currently losing $1 billion per year, and we need the revenue.” 
New York needs to keep up with other states, insists Addabbo
The New York state legislature is due to reconvene in January, with Senate Bill 2025/2616 not expected to be enacted until the new budget process unfolds after the turn of the year.
“Even though we are doing $2.6 million in revenue, we’re never done. New Jersey does prop bets, we don’t. But New Yorkers are savvy, and they will go back to going out of state for these types of wagers,” said Sen. Joseph Addabbo, on the rationale for change.
“We can never rest. We have to keep up with other states. There is some thought that the gaming commission can do it unilaterally, but I want to codify it.”
Community Advisory Committees are currently deliberating over each of the eight proposals (a two-thirds vote is needed to advance), with public meetings and hearings set up as part of the process. 
The winning bids were due to be announced by the start of December, but this is not a binding deadline, with the wider delay also potentially pushing back the announcement of the successful applicants.
Image credit: www.nysenate.gov
The post Sen. Joseph Addabbo warns New York casino licenses likely delayed until 2026 appeared first on ReadWrite.

Donald Trump Jr. has joined the advisory board of prediction market Polymarket, as well as investing in the company via 1789 Capital.
President Donald Trump’s son is backing Polymarket, both personally as a member of its advisory board and financially through an investment of an undisclosed amount via 1789 Capital, an investment firm where he is a partner.
In a statement on the partnership, Polymarket noted that Trump Jr. brings “decades of experience in forward-thinking business innovation and strategic perspective,” with the company looking to grow its presence globally.
The investment is set to go towards expanding the global footprint of the platform. As a prediction market, Polymarket offers real-time insights into a variety of topics, from politics and economics to culture and global events.

Excited to welcome @DonaldJTrumpJr's fund @1789Capital as a strategic investor in Polymarket ahead of our US launch.

Don will also be joining our advisory board.

Assembling the avengers. We're coming home 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/w6MdZuoCXv

— Shayne Coplan 🦅 (@shayne_coplan) August 26, 2025

“This strategic investment marks a significant milestone for Polymarket. Our long-term partnership with 1789 Capital will help reinforce Polymarket’s leading position as a trusted source of free, transparent and accurate market information in the U.S. and around the world,” said Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket.
“We are proud to formally welcome 1789 Capital as a strategic partner and Donald Trump Jr. to our advisory board as we continue building our platform to reflect real-world sentiment, in real time, for all to see.”
Why partner with Trump Jr?
Trump Jr. highlighted his desire to see Polymarket bring “truth and transparency to everyone – including the US.”
“Polymarket is the largest prediction market in the world, and the US needs access to this important platform,” said Trump Jr. “Polymarket cuts through media spin and so-called ‘expert’ opinion by letting people bet on what they actually believe will happen in the world. I am pleased that 1789 Capital is investing in Polymarket and am honored to join the company’s advisory board.”
Those sentiments around free expression and truth are echoed by Omeed Malik, founder of 1789 Capital, saying: “1789 Capital looks to invest in companies that are entrepreneurial, innovative, and demonstrate great potential for growth. Polymarket meets each of these criteria. Polymarket stands at the intersection of free expression and financial innovation by empowering individuals with real-time truth in a world clouded by noise, and we are proud to support its vision.”
Polymarket recently completed the $112 million acquisition of QCEX, a CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse, which saw it cement its place in the US market. Launched in 2020, Polymarket is now the biggest prediction market globally, with $6 billion worth of predictions made in the first half of 2025.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The post Donald Trump Jr. joins prediction market Polymarket’s advisory board appeared first on ReadWrite.

The second California tribe has come out against a ‘broad and blanket’ ban on sweepstakes games.
Hot on the heels of the business arm of the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation voicing opposition to California’s Assembly Bill 831, another California tribe, Virgil Moorehead, Tribal Chairperson of Big Lagoon Rancheria, has also written to the committee in charge of the bill to request that they pause consideration of AB 831 to “allow additional time for meaningful tribal consultation and consideration of this critical issue”.
The letter highlights that the bill has changed drastically since it first came to the California Senate in June. Moorehead argues that its changes have transformed it from a technical move into “a broad and blanket prohibition of various types of online gaming.” Although the majority of Californian tribes appear to support the bill, Moorehead represents the second to voice opposition.
“AB 831 was advanced in the Senate without the meaningful, government-togovernment consultation that is owed to all California tribes under both federal and state policy commitments,” he writes.
“This approach undermines California’s stated commitments to tribal consultation and erodes trust between California and its tribal governments.”
Moorehead takes issue with several points of AB 831
In particular, he argues that the broad terminology of who the bill affects would affect tribes, which is against federal law. In addition, by locking tribes out of digital gambling pursuits, the bill will affect the earning potential, especially for smaller tribes that don’t operate large casinos. Moorehead calls on the committee to consider meaningful alternatives that take these concerns into account.
This comes as time is starting to run out for opposition for the bill, following a series of unanimous votes throughout the summer. While it has the backing of some other Californian tribes, the bill remains in the suspense file until it can be looked over by the correct committee.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The post Second California tribe publicly opposes sweepstakes ban appeared first on ReadWrite.

BetMGM has partnered with Jon Hamm and a new ad agency to launch a new look for its betting and entertainment brand.
Sports betting giant BetMGM has launched a new look for its brand, in collaboration with ad agency Highdive. That sees EMMY and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Hamm as the new face and brand ambassador for the company, starring in six new TV and media spots, set to launch publicly from August 30.
“This isn’t just a campaign,” said Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer at BetMGM. “It’s a reimagining of what BetMGM stands for.
“We’re at the forefront of entertainment and gaming, with the spirit of Las Vegas woven into our DNA. Our new positioning celebrates the thrill, spectacle and storytelling potential in every spin, play and reward. With Jon Hamm’s talent and universal appeal, he’s a natural fit to represent the refined essence of our brand.”
The spots will premiere during college football games, with more roll-outs across TV, social, digital, out-of-home, and BetMGM properties nationwide.

“We didn’t just create ads, we built a creative platform that gives BetMGM a long-term advantage,” said Mark Gross, co-founder and co-chief creative officer at Highdive. “This is about storytelling, connection and creating a brand that truly speaks to today’s players, not at them.”
The new ads were directed by two-time Directors Guild of America Director of the Year Noam Murro, working together with Hamm for a cinematic look.
“BetMGM is all about style, and the ‘Make it Legendary’ campaign captures that energy,” said Hamm. “It’s witty, cinematic, and shows that betting with BetMGM is an unmatched experience.”
Beyond the new look at BetMGM
As well as seeking to promote its services, the gambling brand also highlighted the importance of responsible gaming, providing resources for users through GameSense, which offers responsible gambling tools across both mobile and desktop. It was developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
This investment comes after BetMGM reported strong revenue growth in the first half of 2025. The company has also invested in customer experience with a new app redesign in the past week.
Featured image: BetMGM
The post BetMGM launches a new look with Jon Hamm as its face and brand ambassador appeared first on ReadWrite.

Brazil’s Permanent Subcommittee on Sports Betting Regulation has stressed that greater focus must be placed on the massive revenue losses to the illicit black market. 
In recent days, a public hearing in Congress detailed that the underground gambling sector is believed to generate around R$35 billion ($6.4 billion) per year. That is thought to equal around half of all online gambling activity in Brazil. 
There was a consensus at the hearing that the primary challenge facing the South American nation was not the regulated gambling industry, but the proliferation of illegal platforms, and the absence of any controls or player protections. 
As with all underground gambling networks, the government in Brazil does not receive any tax revenues from these operations. 
Participants at the hearing included the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling (IBJR), together with lawmakers, industry representatives, and other authority bodies.
Fernando Vieira, CEO of the IBJR, noted that the illegal market’s revenue rivals the legal market’s R$38 billion figure, causing the government to lose approximately R$10.8 billion ($2 billion) in tax revenue annually due to untaxed operations.
The discussion placed great emphasis on the fact that illegal platforms operate without any oversight, age controls, or user protections, which only increases the risks of underage gambling, fraud, and other illicit activity. 
Last month, the IBJR presented new data showing that the Central West region uses illegal betting platforms more than anywhere else. 
Call to suffocate the financial operations of illegal gambling operators in Brazil
Since last year, authorities in Brazil are estimated to have blocked around 17,000 unauthorized websites, averaging over 1,700 per month.
However, the Brazil Congress hearing was told that efforts must be increased to combat the illegal market, especially with the funds that are collected from the regulated sector.
Deputy Caio Vianna, the President of the Subcommittee, who initiated the hearing, called for “financial suffocation” of illegal operators by targeting their payment methods, as shutting down websites alone is insufficient due to their ability to quickly relocate under another jurisdiction.
There was also significant opposition expressed toward the proposed measure, currently under review in the Brazil Congress, to increase the tax on gross gaming revenue from 12% to 18%, which the IBJR warns could weaken the legal market and create further momentum for the growth of illegal platforms.
IBJR chief Viera added, “This is a turning point. If Brazil shifts just 5 percentage points from the illegal to the regulated market, the additional revenue could reach R$1 billion per year. 
“The solution is not to hastily increase taxes, but rather to invest in oversight, monitor financial transactions, certify suppliers, and raise consumer awareness. Only then will we reduce the scale of illegality and consolidate a strong and sustainable regulated sector.” 
Image credit: IBJR
The post Brazil Congress told to focus on $6.4B gambling revenue losses to the black market appeared first on ReadWrite.