Federal Indictments & “Point Shaving” Scandal
In mid-January 2026, the NCAA and federal authorities unsealed indictments against several current and former basketball players and coaches. The charges involve an illegal sports betting and money-laundering conspiracy.
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The Allegations: Co-conspirators allegedly used “insider information” from locker rooms to bet on “under” statistics (prop bets).
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The Fallout: NCAA President Charlie Baker is now calling on all states to ban player prop bets entirely to protect the integrity of college sports.
⚖️ Industry Giants in a “Smear Campaign” Lawsuit
A massive legal showdown is unfolding between Evolution and Playtech. Evolution is suing for defamation, claiming Playtech secretly commissioned a report that falsely accused Evolution of taking illegal bets. Evolution claims the “smear campaign” has cost them billions in market value.
🥊 Snoop Dogg Enters the “Dogg House”
In lighter industry news, Snoop Dogg has officially launched his own sweepstakes casino in the US. This comes as many states (like Maryland and California) are actually considering bills to ban sweepstakes casinos, setting the stage for a major regulatory clash.
🎟️ Lottery News: The Texas “Loophole” Drama
The most talked-about story in the lottery world involves a group of “math wizards” and a massive $95 million jackpot in Texas.
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The “Hustle”: A group led by a London-based gambler reportedly spent $25 million to buy up almost every possible number combination for a Lotto Texas draw.
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The Controversy: They used “courier services” to print thousands of tickets. Texas lawmakers are now investigating the “spirit of the law,” leading to the resignation of the Texas Lottery Commissioner.
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The Result: Texas has moved to ban lottery courier services, and social media is currently obsessed with the story, with many calling for a Netflix documentary to break down how the group successfully “gamed” the system.
📉 Regulatory & Tax Shifts
💸 “One Big Beautiful Bill” Tax Changes
Under the new “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, tax rules for gamblers have changed significantly as of January 1, 2026.
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The Catch: Wagering loss deductions are now limited to 90%, even for professionals.
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The Impact: This can trigger “phantom income” taxes, where a gambler might owe taxes on winnings even if they didn’t actually make a net profit for the year.
🗺️ State-Level Changes
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Maine: In a surprise move, Governor Mills recently legalized online casinos, making Maine one of the few states to offer full iGaming.
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Virginia: Lawmakers are currently debating a ban on credit cards for sports betting to curb problem gambling.
