This week has brought a series of significant regulatory and business developments in the gambling industry. Let’s dive in. Polymarket has made headlines with its confirmed acquisition of a rival prediction market platform, QCX, LLC, for $112 million. The deal was officially announced on Monday, July 21, by Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, who sees this acquisition as a stepping stone for the company's return to the United States. This transaction follows the recent decision by the US government to end their investigations into Polymarket, effectively giving the platform a clean slate. Meanwhile, Resorts World New York City (RWNYC), a prominent hotel and casino operator, is vying for one of the three new casino licenses available in downstate New York. This week, they unveiled their ambitious proposal to create the largest fully integrated resort in the state. The multi-billion-dollar complex would feature 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, and 2,000 hotel rooms.
Business and finance
This week, CVC Capital Partners made headlines by announcing their plans to acquire a 100% stake in Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a leading authority in testing the fairness of games and products within the gambling industry. The acquisition will be executed through a newly-formed subsidiary, Avalon Buyer LLC, which aims to gain sole ownership of GLI and several related companies, including Worldwide Laboratories LLC and Kobetron LLC, which are GLI affiliates. In another development, the saga involving PointsBet, Australian betting giant Betr, and Japanese tech and gaming company MIXI continues. PointsBet's Board of Directors has once more turned down an unsolicited takeover bid by Betr. Betr has been attempting to acquire PointsBet, engaging in a bidding war with MIXI, which PointsBet previously regarded as the more favorable option. The latest bid was for 3.81 Betr shares per PointsBet share. PointsBet's Board of Directors released a statement recommending that shareholders accept the MIXI takeover offer in the absence of a superior proposal. The Nederlandse Loterij, or the Dutch Lottery, is on the hunt for a new chairman following the announced departure of their current chair, Alexander Pechtold. The search for his successor has begun. Koin, an expert in cashless gaming, has introduced a new Head of AI and Data Strategy position, filled by Hemash Bhatti. With over 15 years of experience in tech, Bhatti has worked with Fortune 500 brands to build and scale impactful data and analytics products and practices. Evolution has launched its first dedicated live casino studio in Brazil, marking significant progress in both the recently regulated market and Brazil's broader iGaming sector. The new studio will offer Portuguese-speaking live dealers and feature localized versions of popular Evolution games. These include Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack, with plans to localize XXXTreme Lightning Roulette and Crazy Time—one of Evolution's most renowned and innovative game shows—among other popular titles. Finally, BetParx has partnered with IC360 to enhance its monitoring capabilities. Through this partnership, BetParx will benefit from IC360's advanced solutions such as the Integrity Monitoring Dashboard, ProhiBet, and Playbook AI. These tools are designed to detect suspicious betting activities and inform operators, who can then alert relevant authorities to further investigate the legitimacy of flagged contests across all levels, from major leagues and events to secondary and feeder competitions.
Responsible gambling
A recent survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling has highlighted several important trends in gambling behavior across the United States. Since 2018, the percentage of problem gamblers has remained relatively stable, with 7% of the population reporting at least one instance of gambling-related harm. By 2024, this figure had increased slightly to 8%, even though 38 states and the District of Columbia had by then established regulations for their gambling industries. In contrast, the proportion of people engaged in sports betting decreased to 23% from 26% in 2021, according to a similar survey conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Another report by US News contributes to the discussion on problem gambling and its consequences in the United States. This survey found that 30% of participants currently hold debt due to gambling. Additionally, one in four respondents admitted to neglecting a bill to fund their gambling habits instead. The survey aims to provide insight into gambling behavior and contribute to the existing body of evidence analyzing consumers' real-world gambling activities.
The voice of the industry
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