The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2026. In order to properly take stock of it all, we offer InGame’s “EndGame,” an end-of-week compilation of the top storylines, some overlooked items, and all the other news bits from this past week that we found interesting.
NCAA loses to DraftKings
The NCAA was relatively polite when it sent a cease-and-desist letter last month to Kalshi over trademark infringement compared to its complaint against DraftKings that the league filed March 20 in federal court. The NCAA requested an emergency restraining order from the Southern District of Indiana to stop DraftKings from using such trademarked terms as “March Madness,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Elite Eight,” and “Final Four” in its sports bets, promotions, or marketing, according to the Associated Press.
Thursday, a federal judge denied the NCAA’s request for a restraining order, concluding at this stage that the league did not show convincingly that DraftKings’ use would cause irreparable harm. DraftKings can continue using the trademarked terms in its promotions — for now.
If it walks and quacks like gambling …
Republican Sen. John Curtis and Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff Monday introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit Commodity Futures Trading Commission-registered entities from listing any prediction contract that resembles a sports bet or casino-style game.
Big wins, big loss, and big futures bet
In March Madness zaniness, a bettor turned $5,000 into more than $332,000 on a five-leg parlay at Fanatics that included a moneyline pick on VCU, which erased a 19-point deficit to win in overtime. Another gambler sweated a $500 nail-biter at +1000 on DraftKings that paid $5,500 when St. John’s won on a last-second layup. Both were reported by Fox Sports. A third bettor dropped $110,000 on Prairie View A&M +35.5 against No. 1 Florida at Hard Rock Bet, according to Sports Illustrated; Florida won by 59 points (114-55), so the spread didn’t come even close.
The favorites made history during the action on March 20, going 16-0 on the moneyline for the first time since 1992.
Fox Sports also covered a massive futures ticket: $10,000 on Purdue +600 to reach the Final Four; it’s still alive, after the Boilermakers won a squeaker on Thursday, as one of the biggest liabilities reported, potentially paying $600,000. On the longshot side, someone threw $500 at High Point at +200,000 (2000-1 odds) to win the whole thing; the payout would have been $1 million, but 12th-seed High Point lost to fourth-seed Arkansas on Saturday.
Ole Miss debuts college gambling research center
The University of Mississippi on Monday announced that it has begun hiring staff for a “first of its kind in the nation” Center on Collegiate Gambling. The center will study “the heightened risks” for college students and student athletes caused by the rapid growth of legalized sports betting and online gambling.
The center was approved after a Mississippi survey last August found that nearly 40% of college students in the state gambled in one form or another in the past year and 6% “met criteria for problem gambling as defined by the American Psychiatric Association.”
Fanatics, FanDuel launch new products
In new-products news, Fanatics Sportsbook “Squad Bets” was announced Tuesday via an Instagram post featuring Luke Manley (Marty Supreme). This function allows bettors to build a “custom squad” of players (from the same or different games and/or teams), pick a single market/outcome (e.g., combined points, assists, etc.), and set a target total for their whole squad to achieve together (five players combining for 100 points or six players recording 60 assists, etc.). It’s described as being more flexible than traditional player-prop parlays, since it’s a collective performance instead of individual legs that all must win independently.
FanDuel announced Wednesday a comprehensive upgrade to its MLB offerings with a suite of features designed around home-run betting. Among others, in free-to-play Daily Dinger, bettors who pick one player each day to hit a home run win a profit boost for MLB wagering the following day. “Laser” bets are on home runs hit with an exit velocity of 110-plus miles per hour.
Alberta go-live appears set for July 13
Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) continues to drip information about launch, last week posting guidance for current unregulated operators. The announcement appears to indicate a July 13 launch and says unregulated operators must submit finished applications and pay all fees by that date. AGLC leaves open the possibility of a three-month extension on a “case-by-case basis.” Should the go-live date be July 13, any unregulated operator not granted an extension will have to shutter.
As go-live nears, legal operators continue to enter the market. Caesars Sportsbook announced it is open for signups. Consumers can download the app and create an account. The Alberta option on the platform will become available to select once launch occurs.
Jill R. Dorson
Odds and ends
- New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that the legalization of sports betting is tied to an increase in credit problems. Legal sports betting states “have seen a deterioration in household credit health, with higher delinquency rates and lower credit scores,” Seeking Alpha reported Thursday, especially among gamblers 40 and younger.
- Idaho’s attorney general’s office this week announced that it signed on to an amicus brief in support of the state of Nevada in its case against Kalshi. The case is in the Ninth Circuit, which directed Kalshi to take down certain markets, including sports event contracts. The platform pulled some markets Monday.
- The Baltimore Orioles announced on March 20 a partnership with PureWager Group, the Florida-based online gaming and sportsbook tech company. The partnership is PureWager’s second in Maryland — it is partnered with Long Shot’s OTB to offer online sports betting. The deal is PureWager’s first with a U.S. pro team.
- Swiss-based global provider of sports betting and entertainment products Sportradar announced Wednesday an expansion of its multi-year agreement with Hard Rock Bet that adds official PGA TOUR and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) data, odds, and in-play betting capabilities to its existing suite of services in the U.S.
ICYMI
MLB-Polymarket Pact Bad On Optics, But Was ‘Inevitable,’ Says Sports Attorney
For Pro Bettors, It’s Easier To Make Money On Prediction Markets Than Sportsbooks
March Madness Helps Kalshi Make $25M In Fee Revenue In Four Days
Kalshi Limits Nevada Choices Under Court Order, But Some Arguably Banned Bets Remain
The Other CFTC Consultation That Could Have A Big Impact On Prediction Markets Like Kalshi
Arizona: Kalshi Only Faces Harm If It Refuses To Comply With Law
PBS Examination Of Sports Betting Provides Balance In Face Of Tilted Framing
Study: Media Bias In Gambling Is Real
One Sportsbook Lawsuit Involving DraftKings Tossed, Another Gets Filed
