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The Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD) has conducted one of the largest illegal gambling raids of its kind, seizing over $500,000.
After several months of investigation, the CCPD, in collaboration with the Florida Gaming Commission (FGC), searched six casinos and one residence under suspicion of illegal gambling casino activity. The department named it ‘one of the first — and largest — operations of its kind in Southwest Florida’. It saw the mobilization of more than 90 members of staff across the seven locations.
The businesses searched were found to target vulnerable populations, especially elderly people struggling with gambling addictions. The investigations revealed that the casinos were using illegal machines that were deliberately designed to result in consistent losses, exploiting those playing, especially those at greater risk of addiction. Evidence was also found of further illegal activity, such as trafficking narcotics.

A large quantity of money and illegal machines were found during the raid. Image credit: Cape Coral Police Department
Illegal gambling investigation ongoing
During the searches, the CCPD investigators seized more than $540,000 in cash and 428 gambling machines. No arrests were made, but the department noted that multiple people of interest were identified. The investigation is determined to still be ongoing, with continued support from the Florida Gaming Commission.
“This morning’s operation mobilized upwards of 90 members of our staff, reflecting the size and scope of the effort,” said the CCPD in a statement. “The Cape Coral Police Department extends its gratitude to the City of Cape Coral for their continued support in eliminating these illegal establishments.
“We also recognize the Florida Gaming Commission, whose partnership has been instrumental throughout the course of this investigation.”
This comes as the latest data shows that nearly one-third of the US gambling market consists of illicit gaming. While much of this activity centers around online gambling, the AGA made special mention of unregistered or unlawful casino machines, making up a substantial sector of the market.
Featured image: Cape Coral Police Department
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Flutter Entertainment has confirmed it will shut down Junglee real-money gaming operations in India following legislative changes in the country. 
India’s parliament voted to adopt the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, meaning that money games, including games of skill, have been outlawed. 
Flutter CEO Peter Jackson said he was “extremely disappointed” by the development, while the online gambling giant criticised the “exceptionally short timeframe” from the bill being introduced to parliament to the Presidential assent just two days later.
Overall, the update represents a threat to the wider fantasy gaming sector, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government taking action due to the risk of financial harm to users. 
Flutter has detailed that Junglee has stopped its real-money activity, with more than 1,100 workers employed by the subsidiary firm.
The parent company of Paddy Power and Betfair announced a round of job cuts in the United Kingdom in June, and there will be concerns of what impact the new law in India will have on Junglee. 
Law change in India will drive users to black market, says Flutter chief
Flutter added that its Indian operations were expected to record around $200 million in revenue and $50 million in earnings on adjusted EBITDA this year, but no latest forecast was provided after the Junglee update. 
Company CEO Jackson stated, “I am extremely disappointed with the sudden changes to the regulatory landscape in India. 
“Over the last four years Junglee has invested significantly in its local market, building a workforce of over 1,100 employees to deliver innovative skill-based gaming products to Indian customers. Central to this has been a strategy which prioritizes consumer protections and responsible gaming. 
He continued, “We believe this change will drive customers to the unregulated market, offering limited consumer protections and providing no contribution to the local economy. We believe in regulatory frameworks that put customers first, and are evaluating options to restore skill-based games in the Indian market.”
As part of this, Flutter has vowed to consult with other parties to build support to return the 70-year-old constitutional protections for skill-based games, but that appears unlikely without a U-turn from the Modi administration.
Image credit: Flutter Entertainment / Canva
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Shooter Malik Beasley is no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation into allegations tied to gambling on NBA games and prop bets.
The investigation, which started back in June, looked into suspicious betting patterns on Beasley’s prop bets earlier this year, leading to a subsequent lawsuit from his ex-representation agency. The mounting costs led to him getting evicted from his apartment.
Now, his attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, have asserted to ESPN that the shooter is no longer the target of the federal probe. They argue that the far-reaching consequences, both financial and social, facing Beasley should never have happened.
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney told the outlet. “An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence.”
The future of Malik Beasley in the NBA
As an NBA free agent, all of Beasley’s ongoing negotiations and offers were paused one day before the official start of free agency. This followed rumors that he and the Detroit Pistons were set to agree to a three-year, $42 million contract – a deal that was never finalized due to the lawsuits. However, ESPN reports that several teams have remained in contact with Beasley’s representatives in the months since.
Some of the teams with the opportunity to sign Beasley to contracts exceeding $7.2 million – the maximum he could re-sign with the Pistons for – include the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards.
During the 2023–24 season, when the allegations were centered, Beasley averaged 11.3 points over 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2024–25 season, he averaged 16.3 points across the 82 games he played.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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Sweepstakes giant Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) has confirmed it will be pulling out of Canada to focus on the US this fall.
VGW, parent company of Chumba Casino and Global Poker, will pull out of the Canadian market from October 23 onwards. This will allow the company to focus on the more lucrative US market – despite more and more states banning sweepstakes casino games. Players have already been informed of the upcoming change.
This comes after VGW reported $6.13 billion in total global revenue and $491.6 million in profits at the end of the 2024/25 fiscal year on June 30, 2025.

NEWS: Chumba Casino will no longer be available in Canada effective October 23rd. According to Canadian gaming lawyer Jack Tadman, sweepstakes casino behemoth VGW is pulling out of Canada. pic.twitter.com/4N8ys1boGY

— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 22, 2025

“We can confirm that following careful consideration, we’ve informed players of a decision to phase out our brands that offer products in Canada (Chumba Casino and Global Poker),” a VGW spokesperson told ReadWrite. “We understand this is an adjustment after many years and our valued Canadian players may be disappointed.
“This decision wasn’t taken lightly and our focus is on ensuring players are fully informed about the changes, and that this transition is as smooth as possible.
“Ultimately, this is a difficult but strategic, isolated decision. Our Canadian business is relatively small, as the vast majority of our players reside in the larger US market, where we will concentrate our management focus, resources and investment going forward.”
VGW in the United States
There are various legal obstacles facing VGW at the moment, with lawsuits in progress and an announcement back in May that the company would be reeling back sweepstakes games in New York, followed by ceasing operations in New Jersey a few months later in July.
Such issues are perhaps what the company wants to focus its “management focus, resources and investment” in the future. Legal battles and lobbying for support are expensive pursuits, which could be more easily pursued with funds freed up from pulling out of Canada.
Featured image: Midjourney
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The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued a letter warning sportsbooks about offering prediction markets.
With Ohio boasting one of the biggest legal sports betting markets in the US, sportsbook operators have now been warned by the Ohio Casino Control Commission about working with or incorporating prediction markets into their services. Dated to August 25 and seen by The Closing Line, the letter highlighted that any prediction market requires a proper license and vetting to operate within the state.

“Any business relationship between an Ohio sports gaming licensee (including its related entities or those under common ownership) with any entit(ies) offering or facilitating the offering of unlicensed sports gaming in Ohio calls into question the reputation of the licensee and the integrity of sports gaming in Ohio.” – Ohio Casino Control Commission

However, the letter left it unclear whether getting a second license would be required for prediction markets, or whether operators with an existing license could look into prediction markets under that same one.
This could even affect operators who are using prediction markets in other states, with the letter stating that restricting the use of such markets to residents of Ohio “may not alleviate the suitability concern,” depending on the circumstances.
“Any business relationship between an Ohio sports gaming licensee (including its related entities or those under common ownership) with any entit(ies) offering or facilitating the offering of unlicensed sports gaming in Ohio calls into question the reputation of the licensee and the integrity of sports gaming in Ohio,” the letter, signed by Matthew Schuler, the OCCC’s executive director, stated.
This comes as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called on the Casino Control Commission to ban prop bets, asking that they be taken off the list of wagers operators are legally allowed to offer.
The ever-growing world of prediction markets
This comes after one of the biggest prediction markets, Kalshi, recently forayed into sports betting earlier this month. Another sports betting giant, FanDuel, has also shown interest in getting into the world of prediction markets, with rumors about a potential partnership between it and Kalshi circulating.
Indeed, the competition around prediction markets has been heating up in recent months. If the Ohio Casino Control Commission takes a stronger stance on the issue, with the power of its large sports betting audience, it could represent a major obstacle for the growing sector to overcome.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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