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This week’s iGaming news cycle delivered a mix of courtroom drama, regulatory crackdowns, expansion moves, and product innovation. From DraftKings scoring an early win in its trademark fight with the NCAA to Ukraine tightening gambling restrictions for military personnel, the industry saw just how quickly legal, political, and operational pressures can reshape the market.
This week in the online gambling industry:
- DraftKings wins early ruling in NCAA trademark dispute.
- BetMGM fined $100,00 in Pennsylvania.
- DraftKings launches betting on historical MLB games.
- Ukraine blocks gambling for military personnel.
😄 Missed last week’s edition? Catch up with our previous iGaming Weekly News Recap!
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Here’s the full rundown:
Regulatory & Legal Updates
Judge Sides with DraftKings in March Madness Trademark Battle, NEXT
A federal judge denied the NCAA’s request for a temporary restraining order against DraftKings, allowing the sportsbook to keep using terms like “March Madness,” “Final Four,” and “Elite Eight” for the remainder of the 2026 tournaments.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled the NCAA failed to demonstrate irreparable harm, partly because DraftKings has used the contested terminology for more than five years without prior legal challenge. The ruling is a short-term win for DraftKings, but the broader trademark case remains very much alive.
Minnesota Lawmakers Advance Sweepstakes Casino and Prediction Market Ban Bills, Gambling Insider
Minnesota lawmakers advanced two bills out of committee on March 24. SF 4474 would ban dual-currency online sweepstakes games and hold the entire supporting ecosystem, payment processors, affiliates, platform providers, liable. HF 4437 would make it a felony to offer prediction market contracts tied to sports, politics, or disasters.
The bills land in a state that has no legal online betting or iGaming, creating a situation where grey-market products are being banned before regulated alternatives exist. Critics warn this could push demand toward offshore platforms with even fewer consumer protections.
BetMGM Fined $100,000 in Pennsylvania Over KYC Failures, NEXT
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board fined BetMGM $100,000 after investigators found its KYC controls allowed four separate fraud rings to operate across BetMGM and Borgata platforms for periods of up to 34 months. The rings collectively created thousands of fraudulent accounts using stolen identities and payment methods, generating over $2 million in wagers.
The fine is the latest in a string of BetMGM penalties across multiple jurisdictions. The PGCB separately fined the operator $260,905 in early 2025 for allowing self-excluded players onto its platform, and regulators in Ontario, Massachusetts, and now Pennsylvania have each taken action against the company within the past year.
Financial Performance & Business Moves
Digitain Marks Latest Step in Bulgarian Expansion, SBC News
Armenian technology provider Digitain has secured both Manufacturer and Importer licences from Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency. The Manufacturer licence allows it to supply its in-house developed products, including its Centrivo platform, while the Importer licence opens the door to distributing certified third-party products.
The Bulgarian licences are the latest move in a busy European push that has also seen Digitain secure supplier licences in the UK and Isle of Man, debut in Belgium with Magic Betting Online, and sign a deal with AdmiralBet in Serbia, all within the past two months.
Codere Reportedly Up for Sale at $2.3 Billion Valuation, iGaming Business
Spanish operator Codere has hired Jefferies and Macquarie Capital to manage a potential sale, with non-binding offers expected by mid-May and a final deal targeted before August. The company is valued at over €2 billion, a notable figure given it underwent a full recapitalisation just two years ago that cut its debt from €1.4 billion to €190 million.
Allwyn International and Flutter Entertainment have been named as potential suitors, though H2 Gambling Capital’s Ed Birkin cautioned the price may be too high for most buyers. Codere operates across Spain, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, Uruguay, and Colombia.
Year of Turbulence at Playtech as Revenues Drop Despite American Growth, SBC News
Playtech reported a 10% year-on-year revenue decline for FY2025, with adjusted EBITDA falling 10% to €132 million as regulatory headwinds in Colombia and Brazil weighed on results. The company came in below analyst expectations despite strong underlying momentum elsewhere.
The standout bright spot was the Americas, where US revenue nearly doubled year-on-year as Playtech’s iCasino push across six regulated states gained traction. Management said 2026 has started strongly and guided full-year performance ahead of current consensus, with plans to double down on Live Casino investment in the US as the company’s long-term growth engine.
Technology & Innovation in Gambling
DraftKings Launches ‘DK Replay,’ Allowing Bets on Historical MLB Games, Gambling Insider
DraftKings has launched DK Replay in Oregon, a pitch-by-pitch betting product built on historical MLB plate appearances. Players are presented with anonymised pitcher versus batter matchups, rated bronze, silver, or gold based on their real stats, and must bet within a pitch clock on whether the next pitch will be a ball, strike, or in-play.
The product is officially classified as sports betting by Oregon regulators, but its expansion to other states will depend heavily on how regulators interpret the format. DK Replay is a direct piece of DraftKings’ broader Super App strategy, keeping users inside its ecosystem even when there is no live sport to bet on.
AxiumAI Unveils ‘New UX Paradigm’ for Mass-Scale Sporting Events, SBC News
AxiumAI has launched AxChat, a context-aware conversational interface built specifically for sportsbook environments during high-traffic events. Rather than replacing menu-driven navigation, AxChat layers natural language interaction on top, letting players ask questions, receive real-time match insight, and place bets in a single flow.
AxChat works alongside AxiumAI’s existing Verso engagement engine, which has already delivered a 10% uplift in bets and revenue for sportsbook clients. Together, the two products form a full-stack AI engagement layer, from autonomous in-play narratives through to conversational bet placement.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
Ukraine Blocks Military From Online Gambling With New Automated System, SBC News
Ukraine is moving ahead with a new automated system that would stop military personnel from accessing online gambling platforms during the martial law period. The system will check gambling login attempts against both a military roster and a list of restricted individuals.
The measure is part of a broader effort to reduce gambling-related harm among service members and follows earlier restrictions on military access to online casinos and tighter advertising rules.
PBS Roundtable Explores Online Sports Betting Debate, Gambling Insider
A PBS roundtable took a more balanced approach than usual to the online sports betting debate. The Public Broadcasting Service special, “Breaking the Deadlock: Gambling With Your Life,” brought together a diverse panel led by UC Davis law professor Aaron Tang.
The panel examined the ethical and political tensions around online betting through fictional but reality-based scenarios, including a young bettor whose behavior spirals into addiction.
- Today, Gambling.com Group announced a leadership transition, Gambling.com Group on LinkedIn
- Kalshi has restricted key markets in Nevada after a court order, iGB on X
- Brazil’s regulated online gambling market enters a new phase, Francisco Zazzu on LinkedIn
- Many popular video games now incorporate features similar to betting and online gambling, Ethic on X
Stories from iGaming Forums
- Sports betting casinos under threat, Bitcoin Forum
- Moonspin could be closing up shop soon!!!! Reddit
- Effects of Gambling in Front of Our Children, Bitcoin Forum
Keep up with news and trends in the iGaming industry. Gambling ‘N Go provides a recap each week. Join our spam-free newsletter to stay ahead. We are a GPWA-approved portal that supports responsible gambling. Check out our guides for beginners and experts to find trusted and reliable games, avoid scams, and responsible gambling practices.
