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.
RSI’s tack on rising taxes
During its fourth-quarter earnings call Wednesday, Rush Street Interactive (RSI) President and CFO Kyle Sauers noted to analysts that RSI raised its minimum bet from $1 to $5 in response to increased sports betting taxes in Illinois, instead of “passing through a transaction fee like some of our competitors.” Sauers added that RSI would “absolutely” raise the minimum bet in other markets, eliminating low-stakes and low-margin bets entirely, if more states increase their tax percentages.
In response to another analyst’s question, Richard Schwartz, RSI co-founder and CEO, said that the company continues to monitor the positions of the “stakeholders” in the prediction market space, “including regulators, legislators, and anyone else involved.” As a “nimble company,” RSI can react quickly in that market if necessary, Schwartz said.
National operators headed to Arkansas?
Arkansas voters in November 2018 were the first to legalize online and retail sports betting by referendum, and since going live for online in March 2022, the choices have been decidedly local. BetSaracen, the platform crafted and offered by Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, has dominated the space.
But that could soon change, as KNWA/FOX 24 reported Wednesday. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said DraftKings and FanDuel have filed applications. The state’s racing commission, which regulates wagering, could consider the applications as soon as next Thursday, Feb. 26.
Per Arkansas law, wagering platforms must be tethered to one of three existing casinos — Oaklawn, Sacacen, or Southland. Given the response from Saracen’s CMO Carlton Saffa, it seems unlikely that either wagering giant will partner with his company:
Saffa is referring to the prediction products now offered by DraftKings and FanDuel, which are regulated by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), but not the state.
Outside operators eschewed Arkansas when sports betting was legalized due to the state’s unique revenue setup — operators or management service providers must pay their host casinos 51% of revenue, putting the state on par with tax rates in several other smaller states like Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and two bigger states, Illinois and New York.
Jill R. Dorson
Boomer’s booming
The CEO of Boomer’s Sportsbook, Joe Asher, made another in a recent string of appearances before the Nevada Gaming Control Board last week in support of the new company’s three latest locations in the state: the Grand Lodge Casino at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, and Club Fortune in North Las Vegas, as reported by CDC Gaming.
Assuming the three books are approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission and open in the coming months, Boomer’s will operate 10 sportsbooks in the Silver State, with plans to seek approval from regulators in April for three more locations.
Boomer’s launched its first location a mere six months ago as “Nevada’s only independent sportsbook,” meaning it operates as a standalone non-casino-owned entity, allowing the company “to prioritize fair pricing, compelling offers, and a player-first mindset, values that resonate with every bettor,” per the website.
X nixes gambling paid promotions
Social media platform X on Wednesday notified advertisers that gambling products and services are no longer welcome under its updated paid partnership policy. According to iGaming Expert, lotteries, social casinos, sports betting, and other wagering-related services now join financial products, crypto services, alcohol and tobacco, pharmaceuticals and health supplements, political and geo-political campaigns, and adult content as ineligible for paid promotion on X.
“X defines paid partnerships as the involvement of a third-party brand providing compensation or incentives to a user, such as an influencer or content creator, to promote their product or service,” iGaming Expert wrote. As such, the gambling ban “applies to all types of ‘compensated content arrangements,’ including influencer endorsements, affiliate agreements, brand ambassador deals, and ‘free gifts’ as promotional activity.”
Super Bowl props take a weird turn
An anecdote went viral on X last week involving a guy who reportedly placed a hefty bet that someone would streak onto the field during Super Bowl LX — then proceeded to do the streaking himself.
Multiple sources reported that Alex Gonzalez (@FXAlexGI) bet $50,000 to win upward of $300,000 — though certainly not at any regulated U.S. sportsbooks, as they don’t offer markets like this.
The curling curve
Betting on the Winter Olympics is typically a minor blip for sportsbooks; Circa Sports’ Jeffrey Benson told Wired in a piece published as the games in Italy were beginning, “Our [handle] on Kentucky Derby Friday-Saturday is more than the entire Olympics.”
But the Canadian sport of curling has proven something of a surprise this year, called “a betting magnet” in an Associated Press report despite — or because of — its quirky nature. “It looks to be one of the more bet-on winter sports under ice hockey,” Christian Cipollini of BetMGM Sportsbook told AP.
ICYMI on InGame
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Prediction Market Issue Complicates South Carolina Sports Betting Legalization Effort
CFTC’s Ninth Circuit Amicus Overshadowed As Nevada Regulator Sues Kalshi In State Court
DraftKings Will Spend $400 Million On Prediction Market In 2026, Analyst Estimates
New Jersey Sportsbooks Ride Parlays To $114M January Haul
Two Papers Show Predictions Markets Are Pretty Good At What They Do
FanDuel Predicts Draws On Current Gambling Success, User Familiarity
Congressional, Tribal Leaders Don’t Mince Words In Upping Pressure On CFTC
Alleged Liaison Between Clase, Ortiz, Dominican Gambling Ring Indicted
