The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2025. 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.
Legal wagering approved in Alberta
Alberta’s Bill 48: iGaming Alberta Act got Royal Assent Thursday, meaning that the province is now the second in Canada to legalize digital sports betting. The only other legal market in Canada is Ontario, where wagering and iGaming operators went live in April 2022. The Alberta bill was approved by the provincial legislature May 8.
Alberta will have multiple regulators — Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannibis (AGLC) will handle day-to-day regulation while iGaming Alberta will oversee the market and handle contracts with potential operators. There is a similar setup in Ontario, where the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) oversee wagering and iGaming. Those agencies officially separated — previously iGaming Ontario reported to AGCO — Monday. According to Gaming News Canada, the move should make the iGO more agile and able more quickly implement changes.
Alberta’s new law leaves much to the regulatory agencies, including determining how many licenses will be available, what the tax rate will be, and how much licensing and renewal fees will be. The regulators must also develop a framework for wagering and vet applicants. It seems likely that many gray-market operators will move into the legalized market, as was encouraged in Ontario. Ahead of legalization, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction minister Dale Nally said the province will use Ontario’s rules as a guide, but “massage” them to fit Alberta’s needs.
The AGLC operates a single-source gambling platform, PlayAlberta, and will continue to do so when the market opens.
New wagering platform coming to Arizona
Desert Diamond Casinos Tuesday revealed a new partnership with White Hat Gaming to launch a sports betting platform. Owned by the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Desert Diamond platform will become the first white-label betting platform in the state. White Hat will use its Player Account Management (PAM) system to operate the sportsbook, according to multiple media outlets.
“As the only local casino offering mobile sports betting statewide, this collaboration reflects our commitment to providing top-tier entertainment while honoring our commitment to tribal sovereignty, economic opportunity, and community enrichment,” Desert Diamond CEO Daniele Chilton said, per Tribal Gaming & Hospitality.
Arizona law allows for 20 event wagering licenses — 10 each for professional sports teams and tribes. There are currently 15 in use, including eight awarded to tribes.
Underdog already back in New York
And just like that, Underdog drafts are back in New York. Two months ago the New York State Gaming Commission levied a $17.5 million fine against the company, and Underdog pulled out of New York as part of the agreement, but now — with Best Ball Mania VI open for drafting — New York residents are back in the dog park.
The commission has given the company the go-ahead — at least temporarily — to offer its draft games. An Underdog spokesperson confirmed the company is able to offer its product due to the gaming commission allowing it to operate on a temporary license.
Pick ‘em DFS is still not allowed in the Empire State.
— Jeff Edelstein
Mizuhara prison reporting date delayed
Former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is now set to report to surrender himself at a California prison June 12, more than four months after he was sentenced for stealing $17 million that he spent with an illegal bookmaker. Mizuhara was initially set to report to prison within 45 days of sentencing, but has twice filed motions to delay. Both were granted.
Mizuhara pled guilty in June 2024 to one count of bank fraud and one count of signing a fraudulent tax return. According to court documents, Mizuhara filed for the latest extension April 28, and it was entered into the record May 8, four days before he was set to report for a 57-month prison term. The motion is sealed.
Florida still studying prediction predicament
Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) Commissioner Julie Brown told InGame at the SBC Summit Americas 2025 that her state isn’t prepared to join six others attempting to shut down prediction markets or sweepstakes casinos. The Florida Seminoles have a monopoly on retail and digital gambling in Florida and have been live with their Hard Rock Bet platform since November 2023, after a brief launch in 2021. The commission was created in May 2021, during the same special session at which the Florida legislature approved the most recent Seminole compact.
Brown on prediction markets, which take action on sports event contracts: “We’ve not taken any formal stance. We’re a very young agency, and we’re very lean and we do have limited resources. It’s kind of a priority-shift thing, so we haven’t really had a position.”
On sweeps casinos: “It’s a hot topic, and it’s the one that we’re looking at. I think the compact is pretty clear and the [Seminoles] have been a very good partner with us.”
The FGCC issued cease-and-desist orders to several daily fantasy sites in 2024, and the Florida Lottery in December shut down online courier service The Lotter.
Speaking of prediction markets …
They’ve been in the news a lot since disrupting the legal sports betting landscape when Kalshi first got approval to take money on presidential election contracts last fall. Just this week on InGame:
Nevada casinos want in on Kalshi lawsuit
Fanatics not fanatical about prediction markets
Indian Country calls prediction markets an ‘existential threat’
There are whales in Kalshi’s pool
Maryland fights back against Kalshi
WNBA Connecticut Sun moving?
Connecticut’s Mohegan Tribe is in the early stages of considering a sale of the only WNBA franchise that is not owned by an NBA team. The Connecticut Sun finished the 2024 season in second place in the Eastern Conference and third overall before losing to the Minnesota Lynx in the postseason semifinals. The Sun’s 28 wins in 2024 were a franchise record.
Sportico first reported the news Monday, writing that the Mohegans have retained investment bank Allen & Company to explore the possibility of a sale. Among the possibilities are raising funds for a dedicated practice facility through an LP stake sale or selling the team outright and relocating it.
Since Caitlin Clark’s arrival ahead of the 2024 season, wagering on the WNBA has soared. According to the Associated Press, BetMGM reported futures betting ahead of the 2024 season up 106% and real money up 175%. Ahead of the playoffs, ESPN reported that sports betting analytics company Rithmm noted a 180% rise in bets placed by its users. The 2025 WNBA season opens Friday.
Check this out …
Minnesota is among the states that cannot seem to form consensus — either in the legislature or among stakeholders — to get legal sports betting done. Rather than rehash, yet again, we refer to you to Matthew Blake at MinnPost, who uses a Senate committee’s refusal to even approve a gambling study bill as a jumping off point for a look at messy Minnesota. The legislative session there closes Monday.
ICYMI on InGame
Ohio lawmaker proposes second state tax on wagering operators
In-stadium sportsbooks don’t deliver
Grandfather knows best? Sports betting’s sharp(est) dressers channeling their gramps
Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe, and God get together
Most major operators already have Missouri access and application window now open
