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.
CFTC sees late flood of rules comments
The window slammed shut on Thursday for the CFTC’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with 1,541 total comments. The final 48 hours delivered a flood of comments that reshaped the record. Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, Robinhood/SIG’s Rothera Exchange, FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, MLB, the NBA, the PGA Tour, and a joint players union all waited until the last moment before the April 30 deadline to weigh in, adding 278 entries to the docket.
Opposition arrived in full force, too: Roughly 27 tribal gaming entities, two state sports betting regulators (Tennessee, Pennsylvania), and approximately 28 U.S. senators voiced opposition or caution around prediction markets. They focused on the first-ever criminal prediction markets indictment (in connection with the Nicolas Maduro ouster in Venezuela and Polymarket’s international site), active litigation in three federal circuits, states’ rights concerns, and a mounting record of insider trading and manipulation incidents. The CFTC and its vocal proponent and lone commissioner, Michael Selig, will now turn to drafting the proposed rules.
To this point it’s unclear which potential rules may gain more traction than others, although Selig raised some eyebrows this week when indicating that he appears open to potentially restricting parlay/combination wagers for sports on registered exchanges.
— Brett Smiley
MLB union, Hard Rock Bet reach deal
Hard Rock Bet has a new agreement to become an officially licensed sportsbook of MLB Players Inc., which manages the commercial business interests of the players union. The entities announced a long-term deal that enables MLB player name, image, and likeness aspects to become part of Hard Rock Bet’s digital and retail platforms.
Hard Rock touted the agreement as one that will enhance its platforms visually and in other ways that will benefit customers. Player headshots are now live across its app, embedded within player profiles and prop betting markets.
“Fans connect to athletes,” noted Evan Kaplan, president of MLB Players Inc. “As sports betting continues to evolve, the experience is shifting from a screen full of odds to something more recognizable, more intuitive, and closer to the game itself. This partnership with Hard Rock Digital ensures that connection is authentic, licensed, and reflective of the value MLB players bring to the game.”
New partnerships in the racing realm
FanDuel has become Formula 1’s latest official betting operator and the first sportsbook the racing circuit has teamed with in the U.S. Racing and betting content will be integrated across the FanDuel and Formula 1 online sites as a result of the new partnership.
“Formula 1 generates an incredible amount of real-time data, and our platform is built to turn that into engaging betting opportunities for fans,” said Karol Corcoran, managing director of FanDuel Sportsbook. “This partnership will allow us to deliver even more immersive, data-driven experiences throughout the race weekend.”
Meanwhile, PrizePicks has a new role as official partner of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team in Formula 1. The partnership will be symbolized this week with the unveiling of the No. 31 PrizePicks Arrow McLaren Chevrolet at the McLaren Racing Live event in Miami.
Erin Andrews is latest FanDuel ambassador
Erin Andrews, long a familiar face as a Fox Sports and ESPN broadcaster, will be FanDuel’s newest responsible gambling ambassador. The company said her connection with fans will be valuable as she creates responsible gambling content across social media platforms, participates in key campaigns, and supports broader education and awareness efforts.
“I’ve seen firsthand how sports betting can become such a huge part of the fan experience, and FanDuel provides the tools and awareness to enjoy sports betting safely from the start,” Andrews said in a company press release. “It’s so important for people to bet responsibly when gaming to ensure that this space remains safe for others.”
She joins Craig Carton, Randy Livingston, and Anita Ondine Smith among those who serve in the ambassador role for FanDuel promoting safe betting.
Odds and ends
- The Virginia Lottery reported Friday that statewide sports betting handle was down in March from a year ago though up 17.1% over February. The state’s dozen online sports betting platforms and three retail sportsbooks took $609 million in bets, compared to $698.7 million in March 2025. The operator hold was 9.5%, and they paid the state $9 million in taxes at the 15% tax rate.
- The Michigan Gaming Control Board is offering a new way to help residents of the state with responsible gambling problems — free access to the Gamban software that blocks use of gambling apps and websites. The board says its partnership with Gamban “gives anyone who wants help a free, proven tool to block access to onlne gambling — instantly and across all their devices.” The Gamban license offer is now available on the board’s website as one of many problem gambling tools.
- William Hill has another location for customers to make use of in Nevada, as the sportsbook is accepting wagers through two kiosks at Verdi Grillhouse and Casino outside of Reno. The addition follows the company’s placement of new betting kiosks recently at Barton’s Club 93 Hotel and Casino in Jackpot, Nevada.
ICYMI
EKG Report: California, Texas Drive 43% Of Sports Event Contract Volume
Senate Prohibits Members, Staff From Using Prediction Markets
Robinhood CEO: There Won’t Be ‘Dozens Of DCMs In The Future — Get Ready For Consolidation
Data Giant Sportradar In ‘Intense’ Talks With Prediction Markets
Gemini Wins CFTC Clearinghouse Approval
DAZN Applies For NFA Membership To Offer Prediction Market Contracts
What Wisconsin Sports Betting Might Look Like
The HG Vora Effect? Penn Filing Reveals Snowden Pay Cut, Shifting Priorities
Federal Prosecutors: Damon Jones ‘Converted His Fame’ Into ‘Criminal Betting Operation’
Prediction Markets, Legal Books, Offshores Battle For World Cup Betting Dollars
