News & Law Updates

FanDuel's parent Flutter is changing CEOs, alongside a rough Q2

FanDuel fined $95,000 in Iowa for offering banned soccer-card and minor-league bets

Virginia bettors wagered $589 million in June, and the state took $8.4 million in tax

A Minnesota bookkeeper who blamed an old ESPN app for his gambling gets prison for a $692K theft

Austen Strom of Dilworth, Minnesota was sentenced this week in US District Court in Fargo to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud for stealing more than $692,000 from his employer, F-M Forklift, and losing it gambling online. As the company's bookkeeper of several years, he wrote unauthorized checks to himself, forging an owner's signature, from March 2024 to April 2025. The detail that made headlines is his claim that a now-defunct, free ESPN prediction game he used as a minor started his gambling problem. It is worth being precise: that app is not the ESPN Bet sportsbook but an old free pick'em game, and the addiction claim is a defendant's mitigation argument, not a court finding. Beyond prison, Strom must serve five years of supervised release, repay $692,000, undergo gambling-addiction treatment, and abstain from all gambling and casinos. The case is a stark illustration of real gambling harm; Minnesota still has no legal online sports betting. If gambling is causing harm, 1-800-GAMBLER is free and confidential. Reporting draws on the Star Tribune and other Minnesota outlets.

IG Group buys Underdog for up to $1.3 billion in a big bet on prediction markets

A South Carolina lawsuit uses a colonial-era law to go after DraftKings and Polymarket prediction markets

Sports betting is now the third-biggest corporate spender of the 2026 midterms

Choctaw launches a free-to-play sports app while Oklahoma betting stays banned

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts has launched Choctaw Sports, a free-to-play app that lets users predict game outcomes with digital tokens rather than real money, with live-moving odds across 12 sports and no in-app purchases. It is 21+ and available nationwide through the App Store, Google Play, and the Choctaw Sports website. The context matters: Oklahoma is one of the last big states with no legal sportsbook, stuck in a standoff over tribal exclusivity, so Choctaw is building a sports-betting audience the only way it legally can, with play money. Senior director of digital gaming Tom McDonald, the same executive who recently put the odds of Oklahoma legalizing in 2027 at 68 percent, framed the app as a risk-free way for fans to learn how betting works. Separately, Choctaw is preparing Bet Choctaw, an on-property iGaming app for slots and iBingo built with Kambi and White Hat Gaming, launching this fall at its Durant property; that Kambi, a major sportsbook-technology provider, is involved signals where this is heading. Choctaw has run the free-to-play Choctaw Slots social casino since 2022. Neither product takes real sports bets. Reporting draws on Indian Gaming, CDC Gaming, and other trade coverage.

FIFA says the World Cup was clean; a watchdog flagged seven betting alerts, including the Balogun market

Two integrity bodies read the same 2026 World Cup differently. FIFA's Integrity Task Force said on Tuesday it monitored all 104 matches and found no suspicious betting activity or match manipulation in any fixture; a day later the Group of Copenhagen, an independent watchdog under the Council of Europe's Macolin Convention, said its monitoring raised seven notices over possible betting irregularities. The gap is narrower than it sounds: all seven were 'yellow' notices, the second-lowest alert tier, and the group is itself a member of FIFA's task force. The flag closest to home for US fans is that Polymarket opened a 'Will Folarin Balogun play against Belgium?' market on July 2, the day the American forward was red-carded against Bosnia, three days before FIFA suspended his ban; no such market existed for the other 14 players sent off. Other flags included a South Africa red card, a 3.5-minute VAR delay on a disallowed Ferran Torres goal, and about $4.8 million on Polymarket backing Spain not to beat Cape Verde (0-0). An estimated $240 billion was wagered, roughly double Qatar 2022, and for the first time the group monitored prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, a FIFA partner, continuously. Experts caution the flags often have innocent explanations such as hedging. Reporting draws on The Athletic and the Council of Europe summary.

Is a Kalshi sports contract a bet? A House hearing takes up the prediction-market fight

A House Agriculture subcommittee that oversees the CFTC held a hearing on Tuesday, July 21, on the two questions shadowing sports prediction markets: are event contracts tied to games really sports bets, and should federal regulators oversee them rather than state and tribal authorities? American Gaming Association lobbyist Chris Cylke argued the contracts are sports bets that skip the guardrails sportsbooks live under, including responsible-gambling rules, state tax, and tribal exclusivity, while Indian Gaming Association chairman David Bean pressed the tribal-sovereignty point. On the other side, former CFTC counsel Robert Schwartz and Carl Kennedy defended the agency's authority, and Solidus Labs CEO Asaf Meir argued prediction-market surveillance is actually superior to sportsbooks'. Update, after the hearing: the panel took no action, but chairman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) said Congress should not be silent and promised more hearings, and witnesses broadly agreed it was extraordinary that the CFTC had ordered Kalshi to defy a Michigan court ruling voiding its sports contracts there. No prediction-market companies testified in person. Kalshi says it added three million users in a month, and its World Cup-winner market hit a record $1.9 billion in volume. The classification fight is still headed toward the Supreme Court. Reporting draws on Barron's, post-hearing coverage, and the posted hearing materials.

Arizona to open applications for up to 10 racetrack sports betting licenses in August

The Arizona Department of Gaming announced on July 14 that it will accept applications for limited event wagering licenses from August 13 to August 27, 2026, closing at 5 p.m. Arizona time. The license type, sometimes shortened to LEWO, lets an event wagering operator run in-person, retail-style sportsbooks in partnership with a racetrack or off-track betting facility permitted by the Division of Racing. Under A.R.S. 5-1307 the department may issue up to ten of these licenses at ten specific locations, so the two-week window is a competition for a fixed pool of retail slots. Retail revenue is taxed at 8 percent, below the 10 percent online rate, and trade coverage has reported a $1,000 application fee plus a $10,000 initial license fee and $5,000 annual renewal. Assistant Director of Certification and Licensing Cliff Holden said applicants will undergo a review structured to ensure consumer protection. Arizona has taken $34.6 billion in wagers since its 2021 launch, generating about $185.8 million in privilege fees; this program fills in the retail side of a market that has been almost entirely mobile.

Cardinals scouting director Ryan Gold to appeal indefinite NFL gambling suspension

Spain win the 2026 World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time

Spain are world champions. In a final that was goalless through 90 minutes, Ferran Torres headed in Nico Williams' cross in the 106th minute to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time, by which point Argentina were down to ten men following Enzo Fernandez's second yellow late in regulation. It is Spain's second World Cup and first since 2010, the finishing touch on an undefeated tournament in which they conceded just one goal in seven matches; Argentina did not register a single shot on target. Our card landed where it mattered: the best bet, Spain to lift the Cup at -156, cashed, and the under and low-scoring read cashed emphatically. The misses were the Argentina plus-money value side and the pre-match Messi anytime-scorer note, as Lionel Messi ended what is likely his last World Cup without a goal. We predicted Spain 2-1; it finished Spain 1-0. With Messi held scoreless, Kylian Mbappe's 10 goals take the Golden Boot outright. Full result and recap on the final page.

England 6-4 France: the bronze game becomes the highest-scoring World Cup match since 1982

England took third place at the 2026 World Cup by beating France 6-4 in Miami, in a game that produced the most goals ever seen in a third-place match and the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982. England led 4-0 at half-time through early goals from Ezri Konsa and Declan Rice plus a Bukayo Saka double; France hit back after the break through Kylian Mbappe twice, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, before Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th and Jude Bellingham sealed it in stoppage time. Our card ran hot where it counted: the best bet, a Mbappe anytime scorer, cashed twice over, the over and both-teams-to-score lean cashed emphatically, and the England live dog at +280 won outright. The read we got wrong was the headline one, since we made France the side and predicted France 3-1. Mbappe's two goals took him to 10 for the tournament and sole leadership of the Golden Boot race, and to 22 career World Cup goals, passing Lionel Messi as the all-time leading scorer. Messi goes into Sunday's final on eight, needing two to draw level and three to take the Golden Boot outright.

Spain vs Argentina prediction, odds & picks: the World Cup final at MetLife

France vs England prediction, odds & picks: the World Cup third-place playoff

World Cup final set: Spain vs Argentina after Argentina rally past England 2-1

The 2026 World Cup final is set: Spain vs Argentina on Sunday. Argentina reached it with a dramatic late comeback against England, as Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute opener was overturned by an Enzo Fernandez strike (85') and a Lautaro Martinez header (92'), with Lionel Messi assisting both goals against a fatigued England side. It vindicated the value read we had flagged, Argentina at plus money against a worn-down England, even as our Bellingham anytime-scorer best bet missed. On the other side of the bracket, Spain reached the final by controlling and beating France 2-0. The final pits the tournament's best possession side against the defending champions and Messi one more time. Our recaps and how our cards fared are on both semi-final pages.

England vs Norway prediction, odds & picks: the goals and a Haaland scorer prop headline the World Cup quarter-final

Kalshi hits a record $9.4 billion in June as the World Cup supercharges prediction markets

USA vs Belgium prediction, odds & picks: Balogun is reinstated, and the US is now the Round of 16 favorite

Prediction markets hit $24 billion a month, and the states are fighting back

The 90% rule: how a 2026 tax change can make break-even bettors owe money

A change buried in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025) rewired how gambling is taxed, effective for tax year 2026: you can now deduct only 90% of your losses against your winnings, down from 100%. Because winnings are fully taxable and losses were the offset that kept things fair, the 10% haircut creates phantom income. A bettor who wins $50,000 and loses $50,000, netting exactly zero, can deduct only $45,000 and owes tax on $5,000 they never actually made, and the more you bet, the bigger the disallowed-loss figure. It is a real problem for high-volume and professional bettors who itemize, and a non-issue for recreational net-losers who take the standard deduction. The backlash is bipartisan: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) filed the WAGER Act (H.R. 4630) to restore the full deduction, one of at least three pending bills, but none has passed, so the 90% rule stands for 2026. Separately, the IRS is finally raising the long-frozen $1,200 slot-jackpot reporting threshold. If you bet at volume, keep clean records and talk to a tax professional; this is reporting, not tax advice.

USA 2-0 Bosnia: the USMNT reaches the Round of 16 with a 10-man win, but loses Balogun to a red card

The United States is into the World Cup Round of 16, its first knockout win since 2002, after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi's Stadium. Folarin Balogun turned in a deflected Malik Tillman through ball just before halftime for his third goal of the tournament, then was sent off in the 64th minute for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic; the 10-man US saw it out and Tillman sealed it with a superb free kick in the 81st. Our card cashed cleanly: the best bet (a low-scoring US win to nil) hit, the Balogun anytime-scorer lean landed, and our 2-0 prediction was exact, while the upset angle we had flagged as the only value (the draw or Bosnia to advance) never came. The catch: Balogun's red card carries a suspension, so the USMNT loses its in-form striker for the Round of 16.

Turkiye 3-2 USA: the USMNT loses its group finale on the final kick, but advances anyway

The United States lost its first game of the World Cup, but it did not matter to the standings: Turkiye won 3-2 at SoFi Stadium on a Kaan Ayhan goal on the final kick of the match, and the US, which had already clinched the Round of 32 with its win over Australia, advances regardless. It was a textbook dead rubber: with the group wrapped up, Mauricio Pochettino rotated heavily and rested starters, while an eliminated Turkiye named its strongest XI. Auston Trusty headed the US in front early and Sebastian Berhalter equalized from 20 yards in the 49th, but Arda Guler, Orkun Kokcu and Ayhan scored for Turkiye. The betting lesson is the familiar one: the US was a -125 favorite even in rotation, and the live underdog (Turkiye +290) plus the over were the value, not the chalk; five goals meant the over 2.5 cashed comfortably. The USMNT moves on to the knockout round, where it is set to meet Bosnia and Herzegovina.

USA 2-0 Australia: the USMNT clinches the knockout round, and the under cashes

The United States is into the Round of 32. A 2-0 win over Australia at Lumen Field gave the USMNT back-to-back World Cup wins for the first time since 1930 and clinched Group D after Turkiye lost to Paraguay. Folarin Balogun set up the opener with a surging run down the left that Cameron Burgess turned into his own net (11'), and Alex Freeman headed in a deflected Sergino Dest effort just before halftime (43') for his first World Cup goal; Christian Pulisic sat out with the calf issue we had flagged. Our card split: the best bet, the under 2.5, cashed in the 2-0 game, but the Folarin Balogun anytime-scorer lean missed (he created the first goal but did not get on the scoresheet), and our caution on USA -1.5 was the wrong steer since the two-goal win would have covered it. We predicted 1-0; it finished 2-0.

Oklahoma's best sports betting window may open in 2027, after Governor Stitt leaves office

Carolina are Stanley Cup champions: Hurricanes win Game 6 3-0 to take the Final 4-2, their first title since 2006

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 2006, closing out the Final 4-2 with a 3-0 Game 6 shutout on the road in Las Vegas. Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake scored, each netting his seventh goal of the postseason, and rookie Brandon Bussi capped a remarkable late-season rise with the clinching shutout. The title turns years of regular-season excellence into a championship for a Carolina side that went 15-2 in the playoffs and twice erased multi-goal Final deficits (back from 3-0 in Game 2 and 4-0 in Game 3). Vegas, the 2023 champion, reached its second Final in four years behind Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel but ran out of answers. How our Game 6 card fared: it was a rough night in a low-event clincher, with the best bet (over 5.5) and the Seth Jarvis scorer pick both missing and our Vegas-steals-it prediction wrong, though the model's season-long call that Carolina was the heavy favorite to lift the Cup proved correct. Captain Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, scoring six goals in the Final (including in each of the first five games, the first player to do that since 1956) and, at 37, becoming the oldest Conn Smythe winner in NHL history.

Germany 7-1 Curacao: the handicap and the over both cash as the favorites roll

Netherlands 2-2 Japan: the over and both-teams-to-score cash, but the Dutch plus-money side misses

Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador: the under 1.5 cashes in the lowest-scoring game on the board

Sweden 5-1 Tunisia: the over romps home, but the double-chance best bet is buried in a rout

New York are NBA champions: Knicks win Game 5 94-90 to take the Finals 4-1, their first title since 1973

The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973, closing out the Finals 4-1 with a 94-90 Game 5 win on the road in San Antonio. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after a 45-point clincher, including 13 straight points in the fourth quarter; Victor Wembanyama went for 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in defeat. The title run was defined by the largest comeback in Finals history (back from 29 down in Game 4) and two stolen games in San Antonio to open the series. How our Game 5 card fared: the value side, New York +5.5, cashed (the Knicks won outright) and the under 216.5 hit easily (184 total); our cautious score prediction had the Spurs extending it, and the Wembanyama over missed. The Spurs, behind Wembanyama, reached their first Finals since 2014 but won only Game 3.

Qatar 1, Switzerland 1: Qatar grabs a stoppage-time equalizer for its first-ever World Cup point

Qatar drew 1-1 with heavily favored Switzerland at Levi's Stadium for its first point in World Cup history, on a day Switzerland will rue. Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute and Switzerland spurned chance after chance, only for Qatar captain Boualem Khoukhi to equalize in the fourth minute of stoppage time. It was exactly the favorite-trap we flagged in our best-bets card: Embolo anytime cashed on the penalty, but the headline Switzerland -1.5, the over 2.5, and our 3-0 prediction all missed against a disciplined Qatar low block. Group B is now tight, with all four teams (Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia) on a point apiece after one round.

USA 4, Paraguay 1: the USMNT routs Paraguay in its World Cup opener for a record scoreline at SoFi

The United States opened its home World Cup with a statement, beating Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium, the most goals the US men have ever scored in a World Cup match. Folarin Balogun scored twice, an own goal and a late Gio Reyna strike completed the rout, and Christian Pulisic ran the game without getting on the scoresheet. The win puts the USMNT top of Group D after matchday one. How our pre-game reads fared: the United States to win cashed comfortably, but our best bet (the under 2.5) and the Pulisic anytime-scorer prop both missed, as the US blew open a game we expected Paraguay to grind down. Tonight: Carolina can clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6 in Las Vegas, and the Knicks can clinch the NBA title in Game 5 in San Antonio.

Canada 1, Bosnia 1: the co-hosts earn their first-ever World Cup point in front of a home crowd in Toronto

Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 1-1 at BMO Field in the first men's World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil, and the point is itself history: Canada had lost all six of its previous World Cup matches across 1986 and 2022. Bosnia led through a first-half Lukic strike, and substitute Cyle Larin equalized in the 78th minute to rescue a point for a Canada side playing without the injured Alphonso Davies. Two of our three reads landed: the under 2.5 cashed (two goals) and both-teams-to-score hit, which we had flagged as the live alternative; our Canada-to-win lean missed against an organized Bosnia. Co-host USA won its opener 4-1 the same day.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5: Hurricanes beat Golden Knights 4-2 to take a 3-2 lead, one win from the Cup

World Cup opening day done: Mexico beats South Africa 2-0, South Korea rallies past Czechia 2-1

Group A's favorites both won on the opening day of the 2026 World Cup. Co-host Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in front of more than 80,000 at the historic Estadio Azteca: Julian Quinones struck early and Raul Jimenez doubled it with an emotional first World Cup goal of his career. In the Guadalajara nightcap, South Korea rallied to beat Czechia 2-1, with Hwang In-beom equalizing a Ladislav Krejci header and Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring the winner around the 80th minute. Our reads split: on the opener, Mexico to win (and Mexico -1, a win by two) plus the under 2.5 both cashed; on the nightcap, our draw lean, the under 2.5, and a Son Heung-min scorer angle all missed in a genuine three-way coin flip. Co-hosts Canada (vs Bosnia) and the USA (vs Paraguay) open Friday. Full results, the reads, and how to bet a six-week tournament sensibly.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 preview: Golden Knights at Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh; series tied 2-2, our model has Carolina at 59%

NBA Finals Game 4: Knicks erase 29 down for the largest comeback in Finals history, win 107-106 and take a 3-1 lead

The 2026 World Cup is set to be the biggest betting event in history: $50 billion globally, and the first full-scale test of the US market

NBA Finals Game 4 preview: Spurs at Knicks tonight at MSG; New York leads 2-1 but the road team has won all three, our picks are Spurs +2.5 and the under

Game 4 of the NBA Finals is tonight, Wednesday June 10 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at Madison Square Garden, with New York leading 2-1 after San Antonio took Game 3 at the Garden 115-111 to end the Knicks' 13-game playoff winning streak. The Knicks can build a near-decisive 3-1 lead (NBA teams up 3-1 close it out about 95% of the time); the Spurs are close to must-win to even it. The defining oddity: the road team has won all three games, only the second time that has happened to open an NBA Finals (the other was 1993, Suns-Bulls). The market makes New York a short home favorite (around -2.5, about -130, with some books at -1.5) and the total 216.5. Our editorial reads (we do not run an NBA model): Spurs +2.5, riding the road-team trend, Spurs desperation, and a dominant Wembanyama; and the under 216.5, with two of the first three games landing under and both teams under-trending on the season. Wembanyama over his points line is the prop. NHL: the Stanley Cup Final is tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Raleigh on Thursday.

FanDuel closes its Fairmount Park retail sportsbook in Illinois, the second betting counter in the state to go dark in two weeks

Stanley Cup Final Game 4: Hurricanes win 5-3 to even the series 2-2 as rookie Brandon Bussi wins his playoff debut

Carolina Hurricanes 5, Vegas Golden Knights 3 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, evening the series 2-2. Carolina led 3-1, let Vegas climb back to 3-3 (William Karlsson, Mark Stone, Brett Howden), then captain Jordan Staal scored his second goal of the night midway through the third period for the winner, with Nikolaj Ehlers adding an empty-netter; Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake also scored. The story was in net: rookie Brandon Bussi got the start with Frederik Andersen scratched (not even dressed) and made 18 of 21 to become the first goalie since 1961 to win his playoff debut in a Cup Final. Carter Hart made 23 saves for Vegas. The win hands home ice back to Carolina, which now hosts Games 5 and 7 in Raleigh; our model swings to the Hurricanes at 59%, with the Game 5 goalie call (Bussi or Andersen) the open question. Our pre-game reads split: the over 5.5 cashed at eight goals, but our top goalscorer pick Seth Jarvis did not score. Game 5 is Thursday June 11 in Raleigh. NBA Finals Game 4 (New York leads 2-1) is tonight at MSG.

DraftKings Predictions tops $1 billion in annualized consumer volume for May, up 24% as the prediction-market bet accelerates

FanDuel lays off several hundred employees, its third round of cuts in a year, even as it floods Times Square for the NBA Finals

Stanley Cup Final Game 4 preview: Hurricanes at Golden Knights tonight; Vegas leads 2-1 but Carolina is a slight road favorite, our model likes the over again

Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final is tonight, Tuesday June 9 (8 p.m. ET, ABC) at T-Mobile Arena, with Vegas leading the series 2-1 after a 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 3. The stakes are huge: teams that take a 3-1 Cup Final lead have won the series 38 of 39 times (97.4%), so a Carolina loss is near-fatal, while a win evens it 2-2 with two of the last three back in Raleigh. Oddly, Carolina is a slight road favorite (-115 vs Vegas -105) despite trailing, because the Hurricanes have out-chanced Vegas at 5-on-5 in all three games, even erasing a 4-0 Game 3 deficit before losing. Our model agrees it is a coin flip (Carolina 50.8% on the road) and sees the edge on the total: model over 5.5 at 59% versus a market that de-vigs lower, with the first three games going for nine, seven, and nine goals. Over 5.5 is our best bet. The wild card is the Carolina net: Brind'Amour has not said whether Andersen or Brandon Bussi starts. NBA: the Knicks lead 2-1 after dropping Game 3, with Game 4 Wednesday at MSG.

NBA Finals Game 3: Spurs end the Knicks streak with a 115-111 win at MSG to avoid the sweep; New York still leads 2-1

San Antonio Spurs 115, New York Knicks 111 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday night. The Spurs ended New York's 13-game playoff winning streak and avoided falling into an 0-3 hole no team has ever escaped. Victor Wembanyama was dominant with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks, and rookie Stephon Castle iced it with 23 points, including a clutch three inside two minutes and the game-clinching free throws with six seconds left. Jalen Brunson scored 32 for New York but on an inefficient 11-of-25, and OG Anunoby added 28 on 9-of-13. The Knicks led by seven at halftime before San Antonio outscored them by 11 in the second half. New York still leads the series 2-1 and remains the title favorite (~-450), with Game 4 Wednesday June 10 back at the Garden. Our pre-game reads landed two of three: Spurs +2.5 cashed (they won outright) and Wembanyama over his points line hit, but the under 216.5 missed at 226 combined. NHL: Stanley Cup Final Game 4 (Vegas leads 2-1) is tonight in Las Vegas.

NBA Finals Game 3 preview: Spurs at Knicks Monday at MSG; New York leads 2-0 and lays a short 2.5, our picks are Spurs +2.5 and the under

The NBA Finals return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 1999 with Game 3 on Monday, June 8 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). New York leads the series 2-0 after stealing both games in San Antonio (105-95, then 105-104 on a missed Wembanyama buzzer look) and rides a 13-game playoff winning streak. The math is daunting for San Antonio: teams up 2-0 in the Finals win the title roughly 90% of the time, and no team has ever come back from 0-3, so Game 3 is effectively do-or-die for the Spurs. The market makes New York only a 2.5-point home favorite (about -135) with the total at 216.5, a short number that prices in real Spurs desperation. Our editorial reads (we do not run an NBA model): Spurs +2.5 on a do-or-die spot with the best player in the series, and the under 216.5, with both games so far finishing well below the number (200 and 209). Wembanyama (26 then 29 points) over his points line is the prop. NHL: Stanley Cup Final Game 4 (Vegas leads 2-1) is next in Las Vegas.

Stanley Cup Final Game 3: Golden Knights win double-OT classic 5-4 to take 2-1 series lead after blowing a 4-0 lead

Vegas Golden Knights 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4 (2OT) in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas raced to a 4-0 lead behind a Mitch Marner hat trick (the fastest in Cup Final history, completed in 6:10), but Carolina erased all of it: Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal scored three goals in 39 seconds in the third period (the fastest three goals in Cup Final history), and Andrei Svechnikov tied it on the power play with 1:42 left in regulation. Shea Theodore ended it 5:38 into the second overtime on a bank-in off the end boards. Frederik Andersen was pulled to start the third (four goals on 16 shots, a strategic move with Carolina trailing, not an injury); Pyotr Kochetkov relieved and stopped 18 of 19. Carter Hart made 29 saves for Vegas. The win sends Vegas ahead 2-1 with Game 4 back in Las Vegas. Our pre-game read split: the over 5.5 cashed easily at nine total goals, but our top goalscorer pick Seth Jarvis did not score. Our updated model now has the series at Vegas 61%, Carolina 39%, with Carolina kept alive mainly by a potential Game 7 in Raleigh. NBA Finals Game 3 (New York leads San Antonio 2-0) is Monday June 8 at Madison Square Garden.

NBA Finals Game 2: Knicks win 105-104 on Wembanyama buzzer miss, steal both in San Antonio for 2-0 lead

New York Knicks 105, San Antonio Spurs 104 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center, sealed when Victor Wembanyama (29 points, 9 rebounds) missed an open 20-foot jumper with 2 seconds left. Mikal Bridges carried New York with 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting (4 threes) on a night Jalen Brunson was uncharacteristically quiet (15 points on 18 shots). The Knicks have now won both games in San Antonio, extended their playoff winning streak to 13 games, and head home to Madison Square Garden with a commanding 2-0 series lead. The history is daunting for San Antonio: teams that fall behind 2-0 in the NBA Finals have come back to win the title less than 10% of the time, and the Spurs must now win four of five with Games 3 and 4 on the road. New York shortens to roughly -450 to win the series; San Antonio drifts to about +340. Game 3 is Monday June 8 at MSG. (Our Game 2 preview leaned Spurs bounce-back and the over 214.5; both missed, with the total finishing at 209.) NHL: Stanley Cup Final Game 3 (series tied 1-1) is tonight, Saturday June 6, in Las Vegas.

Stanley Cup Final Game 2: Hurricanes erase 3-0 deficit, win 4-3 in OT on Jarvis power-play winner to even series 1-1

Carolina Hurricanes 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3 (OT) in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Vegas led 3-0 through two periods behind two Brett Howden goals and one from captain Mark Stone, but Carolina stormed back with three third-period goals (Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, Jordan Staal) to tie it. Stone scored again with 21 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, but Seth Jarvis won it for Carolina on the power play at 3:56 of OT. The comeback evens the series 1-1 and resets the home-ice picture: Vegas stole Game 1, Carolina answered in Game 2, so each team has won once in Raleigh. The series now shifts to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Game 3 (Saturday June 6) and Game 4. Our pre-game model picks both hit: the over 5.5 cashed at seven total goals, and Seth Jarvis (our top goalscorer pick) scored the overtime winner. Our updated model now has the series at Carolina 58%, Vegas 42%, with the Hurricanes back in front on the strength of a potential Game 7 in Raleigh. NBA Finals Game 2 (New York leads San Antonio 1-0) is tonight, Friday June 5.

NBA Finals Game 1: Knicks erase 14-point deficit to stun Spurs 105-95 on the road, take 1-0 lead on 11-0 closing run

New York Knicks 105, San Antonio Spurs 95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. The Spurs led by 14 in the third quarter, but New York chipped back to tie entering the fourth and closed the game on an 11-0 run after San Antonio briefly retook the lead late. Jalen Brunson led with 30 points, 13 of them in the fourth quarter; Karl-Anthony Towns added 18, with OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet also in double figures. Victor Wembanyama scored 26 for San Antonio but on 6-of-21 shooting (2-of-9 from three), and the Spurs' supporting cast went cold down the stretch. The road win is significant: San Antonio earned home court on the better regular-season record, and dropping the opener hands that edge to New York, which now leads the series 1-0, becomes the series favorite (~-130), and extends its playoff winning streak to 12 games, the franchise's best Finals position since 1999. It also tracks the value lean from our pre-series analysis, which had the Knicks underpriced as +170 underdogs. Game 2 is Friday June 5 in San Antonio; a Spurs loss would send the series to Madison Square Garden with San Antonio down 0-2. NHL: Stanley Cup Final Game 2 (Vegas leads Carolina 1-0) is tonight, Thursday June 4, in Raleigh.

Stanley Cup Final Game 1: Golden Knights steal it 5-4 on the road, take 1-0 lead and flip the series on Hertl late winner

Vegas Golden Knights 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Carolina jumped ahead 2-0 in the first period on two Nikolaj Ehlers goals, but Vegas answered with five of the next six: Shea Theodore (1G+2A), Ivan Barbashev, William Karlsson, and Brett Howden, before Tomas Hertl scored the game-winner with 3:24 left off a Colton Sissons behind-the-back feed, beating Andersen blocker-side. Carter Hart got the start over Adin Hill and made 23 saves; Frederik Andersen made 18 in the loss. The road win is significant: Carolina's pre-series edge was built almost entirely on home ice (113-point regular season vs Vegas's 96), and dropping the opener at home hands that advantage to Vegas, which now leads the series 1-0 and becomes the new favorite (~-125). It also validates the single biggest factor our pre-series analysis flagged for Vegas: steal one of the first two games in Raleigh and the series math shifts fast. Game 2 is Thursday June 4 in Raleigh; a Carolina loss would send the series to Las Vegas with the Hurricanes down 0-2. NBA Finals Game 1 (New York at San Antonio) is tonight, Wednesday June 3.

2026 NBA Finals preview: Spurs vs Knicks, a 1999 rematch; San Antonio favored at -205, our lean is the Knicks value at +170

Our full betting preview of the 2026 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks, a rematch of the 1999 Finals that launched the Tim Duncan dynasty. San Antonio opens as the series favorite at -205 on home court (the better regular-season record) and the momentum of a road Game 7 win over the defending-champion Thunder; the Knicks are the +170 underdog in their first Finals since 1999, riding an 11-game playoff winning streak with nearly two weeks of rest. The headline matchup is Victor Wembanyama's length and rim protection against Jalen Brunson's shot-making. We think -205 is too short and lean the Knicks at +170 plus a long series (over 6.5 games); the honest read is closer to a 60/40 series than the 67/33 the price implies. Full breakdown of the odds, the case for each side, the key matchups, the full schedule, and our prediction. Game 1 Wednesday June 3, 8:30 PM ET, Frost Bank Center, on ABC.

2026 Stanley Cup Final preview: Hurricanes vs Golden Knights; Carolina favored at -155 on home ice, our lean is unders and a long series

Our full betting preview of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final: Carolina Hurricanes vs Vegas Golden Knights. Carolina opens as the series favorite at -155 (about 61% implied) thanks to home ice from a 113-point regular season; Vegas, the 2023 champion, is the +135 underdog and for the first time in franchise history will not hold home ice in a Cup Final. The Hurricanes were 12-1 over three rounds behind Frederik Andersen's goaltending (three shutouts); Vegas rode the postseason scoring leader Mitch Marner (21 points) and Jack Eichel (18) through a Colorado sweep. Both teams play structured, goaltending-led hockey, so our higher-confidence angle is game-level unders and a long series (over 5.5 games); for a side, Vegas at +135 is the better value relative to true probability since the market is pricing home ice heavily. Full breakdown of odds, both teams, key matchups, the schedule, and our prediction. Game 1 Tuesday June 2, 8 PM ET, Lenovo Center in Raleigh, on ABC.

NBA Finals set: Spurs stun Thunder 111-103 in road Game 7 to reach first Finals since 2014; San Antonio opens favorite, Game 1 Wednesday 6/3

The 2026 NBA Finals are set: San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks, a rematch of the 1999 Finals. San Antonio pulled off the upset of the postseason, winning Game 7 of the Western Conference Final 111-103 on the road at Oklahoma City's Paycom Center after trailing the series 3-2. Victor Wembanyama led with 22 points and 7 rebounds, Julian Champagnie added 20 and Stephon Castle a 16-6-6 line, with seven Spurs in double figures; San Antonio became the first team to win a Game 7 on the road this postseason. It is the Spurs' first Finals since their 2014 championship, the last of the Duncan era. For the defending-champion Thunder, it is a brutal end: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 35-9-4 but his MVP-caliber season finishes in Game 7 heartbreak, and a 64-win title defense falls one series short of the Finals. Despite being the lower conference seed, the Spurs hold home court on the better regular-season record and open as series favorites at roughly -205; the Knicks, who swept Cleveland 4-0 and waited 12 days for an opponent, are the +170 underdog in their first Finals since 1999. Game 1 is Wednesday June 3 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 8:30 PM ET on ABC; Games 1, 2, 5, 7 in San Antonio, Games 3, 4, 6 at Madison Square Garden. The headline matchup: Wembanyama's length and rim protection against Jalen Brunson's experience and shot-making. NHL: Stanley Cup Final Game 1 (Vegas at Carolina) is Tuesday 6/2 on ABC.

Fanatics lands the only official FIFA World Cup prediction markets in the US, co-branded with PredictStreet on a CFTC-regulated exchange

Stanley Cup Final set: Carolina rolls Montreal 6-1 to reach first Final since 2006; opens -155 favorite over Vegas, Game 1 Tuesday 6/2

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is set: Carolina Hurricanes vs Vegas Golden Knights. Carolina closed out the Eastern Conference Final 4-1 with a 6-1 Game 5 rout at Lenovo Center on Friday. Six different Hurricanes scored (Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Eric Robinson in a dominant first period; Jackson Blake, a Shayne Gostisbehere power-play goal, and a Seth Jarvis empty-netter), and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves (.958) for first-star honors while playing through the death of his agent. Cole Caufield's power-play goal was Montreal's only answer. It is Carolina's first Cup Final since 2006; the Canes went 12-1 across the first three rounds. The matchup creates a rare dynamic: despite Vegas's 2023 championship pedigree and Mitch Marner leading the playoffs in scoring (21 points), Carolina opens as the SERIES FAVORITE at -155/-162 (about 61% implied) because its 113-point regular season earned home ice. It is the first time in franchise history Vegas will not hold home ice in a Cup Final. Game 1 is Tuesday June 2 at 8 PM ET in Raleigh on ABC; Games 1, 2, 5, 7 in Carolina, Games 3 (6/6) and 4 (6/9) at T-Mobile Arena. NBA: rest day before the OKC-San Antonio Western Conference Final Game 7 tonight (Saturday 5/30), winner-take-all for the right to face the Knicks.

Thursday wrap (5/28): Spurs force Game 7 with 118-91 home rout; Wembanyama 28/10/3blk; OKC opens -350 for Saturday

Western Conference Final goes the distance. San Antonio Spurs 118, Oklahoma City Thunder 91 in Game 6 at Frost Bank Center. Victor Wembanyama led with 28/10/3blk on 4-of-9 from 3 (best 3PT shooting of his playoffs); Dylan Harper added 18 off the bench; Castle was steady. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 15 points. Jalen Williams returned from a 3-game hamstring absence but went 0-of-1 for 1 point in 10 minutes. Home court has now held in all six games of the series. Winner-take-all Game 7 Saturday 5/30 at Paycom Center; OKC opens as roughly -350 home favorite, Spurs +280 road dog. NBA Finals tip pushed to first week of June with Knicks waiting 11 days for an opponent. NHL: rest day before Carolina-Montreal Game 5 in Raleigh tonight (close-out chance, Carolina leads 3-1).

75% of US bettors plan to wager on the 2026 World Cup; 65% keep betting after the USMNT is out (Optimove report)

Optimove's World Cup 2026 US Betting Intentions Report (May 2026, n=1,500 US sports bettors) lands the single most important number for operators going into June 11: 75% of US bettors plan to wager on at least one World Cup match. The retention number is sharper: 65% say they will keep betting the tournament even after the USMNT is eliminated, which rewrites the long-held assumption that US interest collapses with the home team. 84% prefer live, in-play markets over pre-match. 69% use two or more sportsbooks and shop lines. 60% say they will switch books based on personalization quality (offers, market depth, tailored recommendations). 76% expect to continue betting soccer markets after the tournament ends. Full breakdown of every headline number, what it means for operator CRM strategy in May/June, and the three structural shifts the data points to.

A $55,000 bet to win $997: the math of heavy-favorite betting in plain sight (Sinner French Open upset)

New York one Senate vote from becoming first state to mandate monthly sports betting statements (A10329)

Wednesday wrap (5/27): Hurricanes shut out Canadiens 4-0 to take 3-1 ECF lead, one win from Stanley Cup Final vs Vegas

Tuesday wrap (5/26): Vegas sweeps Colorado to reach Stanley Cup Final, Thunder take 3-2 NBA WCF lead behind SGA 32 + Caruso 22

Sports betting industry spent $10M on Georgia legislative races; industry-backed candidates won or advanced in 32 of 34

Monday wrap (5/25): Knicks sweep Cavaliers to reach first NBA Finals since 1999, Carolina takes 2-1 in NHL ECF on Svechnikov OT winner

Sunday wrap (5/24): Vegas one win from Stanley Cup Final after stunning 3-0 comeback, Wembanyama drops 33 to even NBA WCF

Saturday wrap (5/23): Carolina evens NHL ECF on Ehlers OT winner, Knicks take 3-0 lead on Cavaliers with 10th straight win

Two Eastern Conference Final games Saturday and the home/away storylines flipped from Thursday. NHL: Carolina answered Game 1 with a 3-2 overtime win at Lenovo Center. Nikolaj Ehlers scored both Carolina go-ahead goals, including the OT winner at 3:29 of overtime, to even the Original Six series 1-1. The Hurricanes outshot Montreal 26 to 12; Frederik Andersen made just 10 saves while Jakub Dobes faced 26 shots for the Habs. Series shifts to Bell Centre for Game 3 Monday 5/25. NBA: New York took a 3-0 stranglehold over Cleveland with a road Game 3 win at Rocket Arena. Jalen Brunson 30 points + 6 assists; Mikal Bridges 22 on 11/15 FG; OG Anunoby 21/7. Knicks shot 56% from the field, 39% from 3, 89% from the line. New York has now won 10 straight games and sits one win from the NBA Finals. Cavs face sweep watch Monday at home. Tonight (Sunday 5/24): NHL Colorado-Vegas G3 at T-Mobile Arena (VGK leads 2-0, Makar status uncertain) + NBA OKC-Spurs G4 at Frost Bank Center (OKC leads 2-1).

Friday wrap (5/22): Vegas takes 2-0 stranglehold without Makar-led Avalanche, Thunder bench 76 points to put Spurs in 1-2 hole

Two Western Conference Finals games Friday and both road favorites left winners. NHL: Vegas pushed Colorado to the brink with a 3-1 Game 2 win at Ball Arena; Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev (two goals) scored in the third period. Cale Makar missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury and the Avalanche offense visibly dried up; a 45-game scoring streak (consecutive games with at least one goal in regulation) ended. Golden Knights take a 2-0 stranglehold heading home to T-Mobile Arena for Game 3 Sunday. Knights are now near pick-em to win the Cup. NBA: Oklahoma City took a 2-1 series lead with a 123-108 Game 3 road win at Frost Bank Center; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 26/12ast led the way, but the headline was the OKC bench dropping 76 points (the franchise's highest playoff bench output since relocating to OKC in 2008-09). Jared McCain 24 off the bench. Thunder trailed 15-0 early and never panicked. Wembanyama 26 for SAS. Game 4 at Frost Bank Center Sunday 5/24. Tonight (Saturday 5/23): NHL CAR-MTL G2 at PNC Arena + NBA NYK-CLE G3 at Rocket Arena; both home teams trying to defend court after dropping the openers.

Thursday wrap (5/21): Canadiens stun Hurricanes 6-2 in ECF opener, Knicks dominate Cavaliers behind Hart 26 to take 2-0 lead

Wednesday wrap (5/20): Vegas steals NHL WCF Game 1 in Denver as Makar exits injured, Thunder even NBA WCF after Wembanyama 41/24 double-OT classic

Tuesday wrap (5/19): Knicks erase 22-point deficit to steal ECF Game 1 from Cavaliers 115-104 in OT

Monday wrap (5/18): Canadiens win OT Game 7 in Buffalo to lock Original Six Eastern Conference Final vs Carolina

Sunday wrap (5/17): Cavaliers crush Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 to lock NBA Eastern Conference Final vs Knicks

Saturday wrap (5/16): Sabres erupt for 7 unanswered to crush Canadiens 8-3 at Bell Centre, force NHL Game 7

Friday wrap (5/15): Spurs lock NBA Western Conference Final vs OKC behind Castle 32, Pistons force Game 7 with road blowout in Cleveland

NFL releases 2026 schedule (5/14): Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl rematch opener Sept 9, first NFL game in Brazil at Maracanã, Christmas triple-header all playoff rematches

The full 2026 NFL Schedule was released Thursday May 14: 272 games over 18 weeks across 8 countries. Headline: defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks host New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday September 9; the season opener. Week 1 closes with Mahomes-Broncos on Monday Night Football (Mahomes' ACL recovery is the swing variable). 9 international games; the most ever in a single season; featuring Ravens vs Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium in Rio (first NFL game in Brazil), three consecutive London games, plus debuts in Paris and Melbourne. Five-game Thanksgiving slate including Bills' first-ever home Thanksgiving (Chiefs primetime 8:20 ET) and the first Eagles-Cowboys Thanksgiving meeting since 2014. Christmas Day triple-header is all playoff rematches: Packers-Bears (Netflix), Bills-Broncos (Netflix), and Rams-Seahawks. Updated season preview at /sports/football/nfl/season-preview-2026/.

Thursday wrap (5/14): Vegas closes Anaheim to lock NHL Western Conference Final vs Colorado, Canadiens take 3-2 lead over Sabres

Wednesday wrap (5/13): Avalanche advance to WCF on Kulak OT comeback after trailing 3-0, Cavaliers steal Game 5 in OT after blowing 9-pt deficit

Two overtime thrillers Wednesday night, both decided by comeback performances. NHL: Colorado advanced to the Western Conference Final with a 4-3 overtime Game 5 win over Minnesota at Ball Arena. The Avalanche trailed 3-0 after the first period; only the third time they've come back from a 3-goal playoff deficit since moving to Denver (53 attempts). Nathan MacKinnon tied it late in regulation; Brett Kulak scored at 3:52 of overtime to seal it. Series ends 4-1; Colorado awaits the Vegas/Anaheim winner. NBA: Cleveland stole Game 5 in Detroit 117-113 in overtime; Cavaliers trailed by 9 with under 3 minutes left in regulation. James Harden led with a playoff-best 30 points; Donovan Mitchell added 21, Max Strus 20 (6/8 from 3), Evan Mobley 19/8/8. Cade Cunningham 39/9 in defeat. Cavs lead 3-2 with Game 6 at Rocket Arena Friday; one win from joining the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Final. Three close-out chances Thursday: SAS-MIN G6 (SAS leads 3-2), VGK-ANA G6 (VGK leads 3-2), plus BUF-MTL G5 (series tied).

Tuesday wrap (5/12): Wembanyama returns with 27/17/5 to push Spurs ahead 3-2, Vegas takes OT thriller, Sabres steal road game in Montreal

Three games Tuesday night and three close-out chances now lined up for Thursday. NBA: Victor Wembanyama returned from his Game 3 ejection with a vendetta; 27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks in a 126-97 Spurs blowout of Minnesota at Frost Bank Center. Spurs led the Wolves 68-36 in the paint and took a 3-2 series lead; Wemby became the third-youngest player in NBA history with a 25-15-5 playoff line behind Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic. Wolves face elimination Thursday at Target Center. NHL: Vegas took a 3-2 series lead over Anaheim with a 3-2 overtime Game 5 win at T-Mobile Arena; Knights one win from the Western Conference Final with Game 6 at Honda Center Thursday. NHL: Buffalo stole Game 4 at Bell Centre 3-2 to even the Atlantic semifinal series; Zach Benson tipped in the third-period power-play winner. Series moves back to Buffalo for a critical Game 5 Thursday. Three close-out games Thursday night, with NHL conference final tickets on the line.

Monday wrap (5/11): Thunder sweep Lakers to book Western CF, Mitchell drops 43 to even Cleveland-Detroit, Avalanche take 3-1

Sunday wrap (5/10): Knicks sweep Sixers to join Carolina in conference finals, Wolves rally past Wemby-ejected Spurs, MTL + ANA flip both NHL series

Four games Sunday; and the contender list halved. NBA: New York demolished Philadelphia 144-114 at Wells Fargo Center to complete the 4-0 sweep, advancing to a second consecutive Eastern Conference Final. Brunson + KAT + Anunoby + Bridges all in form; Knicks will await the DET/CLE winner with 8 days of rest. NBA: Minnesota beat San Antonio 114-109 at Target Center after Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter; Anthony Edwards seized the moment with 36 pts in 40 minutes; series tied 2-2 with G5 in San Antonio Tuesday. NHL: Montreal routed Buffalo 6-2 at Bell Centre (second straight blowout) to take a 2-1 series lead; rookie Jakub Dobes outduels Lyon for the second straight game. NHL: Anaheim beat Vegas 4-3 at Honda Center to even the Pacific semi 2-2; Knights played without Mark Stone (injury). Note: a previous wrap of Friday's VGK-ANA G3 incorrectly logged it as ANA 3-1; the actual result was Vegas 6-2 on Mitch Marner's first career playoff hat trick (4 pts, Vegas led 5-0 after two). All site data corrected.

Saturday wrap (5/9): Hurricanes sweep Flyers to reach ECF, Avalanche take first playoff loss, Thunder take 3-0 stranglehold

NHL Friday wrap (5/8): Canadiens rout Sabres 5-1 to even series, Ducks take 2-1 lead on Vegas with 3-1 home win

Two NHL Round 2 games Friday night flipped both Western and Eastern second-round narratives. Montreal hammered Buffalo 5-1 at KeyBank Center to even the Atlantic semifinal series 1-1; Alex Newhook scored twice in a rout that exposed the Sabres' even-strength play after Buffalo's two power-play goals carried Game 1. Rookie Jakub Dobes outdueled Alex Lyon. Out west, the Cinderella Anaheim Ducks took a 2-1 series lead over Vegas with a 3-1 win at Honda Center in their first home playoff game in 9 years; Mark Stone tipped in a Jack Eichel shot with 6 seconds left for the Knights' only goal. Anaheim has now outscored Vegas 5-2 over the last two games. NBA SAS-MIN G3 at Target Center was tied 51-51 at halftime per latest reports; final score updating shortly. Sunday 5/10 features five Round 2 games across both leagues.

Friday slate (5/8): three games tonight after a chalky Thursday; Hurricanes one win from sweep, Pistons + Thunder both up 2-0

Three Round 2 games tonight after Thursday delivered three favorites holding serve. Carolina won 4-1 in Philadelphia (Staal + Svechnikov 1G+1A each) and now leads the Flyers 3-0; sweep watch Saturday. Detroit took both road games at Cleveland 107-97 to lead 2-0 (Pistons closed wire-to-wire as the Cavs coughed up 11 turnovers). Oklahoma City rolled the Lakers 125-107 for a 2-0 series lead and the season's highest playoff scoring total. Tonight: NHL BUF-MTL G2 in Buffalo (7pm ET TNT, BUF leads 1-0); NHL VGK-ANA G3 at Honda Center (9:30pm ET TNT, series tied 1-1, first home playoff game for the Cinderella Ducks); NBA SAS-MIN G3 at Target Center (9:30pm ET Prime Video, series tied 1-1 after the Wolves stole G1 in San Antonio and the Spurs answered with a 38-point Game 2 blowout).

NJ would push effective World Cup betting tax to 29.75% under A4838; and recoup under 1% of hosting costs

Assemblyman Michael Venezia introduced A4838 Monday: a 10% surcharge on World Cup-related online sports betting revenue from June 12 through July 20, layered on top of New Jersey's existing 19.75% rate for an effective 29.75% combined hit. Projected NJ yield ~$2.4M against $300M+ in commitments for the 8 MetLife matches (including the July 19 final). Our take: the math is theatre, not policy, but it will probably pass; the more interesting question is what operators do to lines once their effective tax jumps. Full analysis of the bill, the deadline, the bipartisan opposition (Gottheimer + Barlas), and what cross-river bettors should expect on World Cup pricing.

Thursday preview (5/7): three Round 2 Game 2s headline a stacked night; CLE-DET, OKC-LAL, plus CAR-PHI Game 3

Three pivotal playoff games tonight. NBA: Cleveland (CLE -135) hosts Detroit at Rocket Arena 7pm ET on Prime Video; Cavs MUST win to avoid going to Detroit down 0-2 after the Pistons stole Game 1 on the road. NBA: Oklahoma City (OKC -380) hosts the Lakers at Paycom Center 9:30pm ET on Prime Video; defending champs heavy chalk after rolling LA in Game 1 108-90. NHL: Carolina (CAR -425) visits Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center 8pm ET on TNT for Game 3, with the Hurricanes one win from a 3-0 stranglehold. Stankoven (5-game playoff goal streak) and Andersen carrying CAR. Note: Knicks already took a 2-0 lead Wednesday over the 76ers (108-102 at MSG; Brunson 26, late 9-0 closing run, Embiid OUT); Knicks now -650 to advance.

NHL Wednesday wrap (5/6): Sabres take 1-0 on Doan + McLeod, Ducks even Vegas series 1-1

Two NHL Round 2 games Wednesday night. Buffalo opened the Atlantic semifinal with a 4-2 home win over Montreal at KeyBank Center; Josh Doan and Ryan McLeod each had 1G+1A, Zach Benson 2 assists, Bowen Byram a power-play goal, Alex Lyon 26 saves. Two power-play goals (McLeod, Byram) defined the win. It's Buffalo's first second-round playoff game since 2007. Out west, Anaheim evened its Pacific semifinal vs Vegas 1-1 with a 2-1 Game 2 win at T-Mobile Arena: Beckett Sennecke scored at 11:23 of the second, Leo Carlsson at 6:36 of the third, and Lukas Dostal made 24 saves and was 5 seconds from a shutout before Mark Stone's late power-play goal. The Ducks' forecheck dominated all night. Series moves to Anaheim for Game 3 Friday 5/8. Tonight 5/7: Carolina-Philadelphia G3 in Philly (CAR leads 2-0).

Tuesday wrap (5/5): Knicks rout Sixers 137-98, Pistons steal Game 1 in Cleveland, Thunder + Avalanche take 1-0 leads

Four games Tuesday night. NBA: New York demolished Philadelphia 137-98 at MSG; the largest home playoff win in Knicks franchise history (39-pt margin). Brunson 35 (27 in the first half on 10/14 FG); Knicks shot a franchise-playoff-record 63.1% from the field. Embiid held to 14, Maxey to 13. Knicks have now won three straight playoff games by 25+ points, an NBA-history first. Detroit followed up its Round 1 1-3 comeback over Orlando by stealing Game 1 in Cleveland 111-101; Cunningham 23/7ast, Duncan Robinson 19, Pistons closed on an 18-8 run after the Cavs tied at 93. Mitchell + Harden combined for 45 in defeat. Out west, Oklahoma City defended home court 108-90 over the Lakers; Holmgren 24/12, SGA + Ajay Mitchell 18 each, LeBron 27 + Hachimura 18 for LA. NHL: Colorado tightened up for a 5-2 Game 2 win over Minnesota at Ball Arena (MacKinnon 1G+2A, Wedgewood 29 saves; Avalanche through 6 playoff games unbeaten). All four favorites lead 1-0 except CLE; series move to Thursday 5/7.

NHL Monday wrap (5/4): Hurricanes take 2-0 on Hall OT winner, Vegas blanks Anaheim in Game 1

Two NHL Round 2 games Monday night. Carolina took a commanding 2-0 series lead over Philadelphia at Lenovo Center after Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of overtime; the Flyers had blown a 2-0 lead built on Jamie Drysdale (PP) and captain Sean Couturier scoring 39 seconds apart. Out west, Vegas opened its Pacific semifinal vs Anaheim with a tight 1-0 win at T-Mobile Arena: Brett Howden scored midway through the second period (his 5th of the postseason) on a Mitch Marner setup, and Carter Hart made 21 saves for the shutout. Series move to Game 3 Wednesday for CAR-PHI (in Philadelphia) and Game 2 Wednesday for VGK-ANA (Vegas at home). Tonight 5/5: COL-MIN Game 2 at Ball Arena.

NHL Round 2 begins: Hurricanes blank Flyers 3-0, Avalanche outlast Wild 9-6 in chaotic Game 1

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is under way. Carolina opened the Metropolitan semifinal with a 3-0 shutout of Philadelphia at Lenovo Center on Saturday; Logan Stankoven scored twice (extending his playoff goal streak to five games), Jackson Blake had 1G+1A, and Frederik Andersen made 19 saves for his second postseason shutout. Sunday brought the wildest game of the playoffs so far: Colorado beat Minnesota 9-6 in a 14-different-scorer chaos at Ball Arena, the 10th-ever 15+ combined-goal playoff game and the second since 1994. Cale Makar returned from injury to score twice in the third period after the Wild had clawed to a 5-4 lead; MacKinnon iced it with a late empty-netter. Vegas-Anaheim Game 1 tips at T-Mobile Arena tonight (Monday 5/4) and Buffalo-Montreal opens Wednesday 5/6 in Buffalo (Montreal gets two extra rest days after the Tampa G7 grind).

Round 1 closes (5/3): Canadiens stun Lightning 2-1, Pistons + Cavs win Game 7s; Round 2 brackets locked

Round 1 wrap (5/2): 76ers stun Celtics 109-100 in Game 7, complete 1-3 comeback

Game 7 weekend preview (5/2-5/3): four Round 1 deciders across NHL + NBA

Four Game 7s in the next 36 hours decide who advances to Round 2. Saturday 5/2 at TD Garden: Boston (-3.5) hosts Philadelphia in the only NBA Eastern Conference Game 7 standing; Tatum's defending-champion core vs Embiid back to playoff form (33 in G5, key in G6). Sunday 5/3 has three: Tampa Bay (favored) hosts Montreal at Amalie Arena, where rookie Jakub Dobes faces Vasilevskiy in the matchup of the round; Detroit (-5) hosts Orlando after erasing a 22-point halftime deficit in G6 (Magic missed 23 straight third-quarter shots); Cleveland (-7) hosts Toronto after RJ Barrett's 1.9-second OT corner three forced the deciding game. Public money is heavy on home favorites in three of four; the sharper play is the Magic +5 if Banchero's hamstring tightens up. Our Stanley Cup model has Tampa at ~9% Cup probability if they win G7 (pushing total Atlantic outcomes to over half the East field), Montreal at ~5%.

Round 1 wrap (5/1): Sabres + Knights advance, Lakers close out Houston, three Game 7s set for Sunday

NHL + NBA Round 1 wrap (4/29-4/30): 3 NHL series end, Knicks set NBA playoff-record blowout, Cavs/Pens drama

Three NHL series concluded: Philadelphia eliminated Pittsburgh 4-2 with a 1-0 OT Game 6 win on Cam York's late winner (Pens fell short of historic 0-3 comeback); Anaheim eliminated Edmonton 4-2 with a 5-2 Game 6 (3 goals in <7 min Q1, McDavid + Draisaitl out in Round 1 again); Minnesota eliminated Dallas 4-2 with a 5-2 Game 6 (Quinn Hughes 2G including series-winner). Vegas mounted stunning comeback against Utah, taking Games 4 and 5 in OT (G5: 5-4 2OT, Howden short-handed winner) to lead 3-2 with Game 6 in Salt Lake City Friday. NBA: Knicks set NBA playoff record for largest halftime lead (47 points) in 140-89 Game 6 demolition of Atlanta to advance 4-2; 76ers forced Game 7 with 106-93 over Boston in Philly Thursday. Cavs took 3-2 lead with 125-120 OT-style win at home (Harden + Mobley 23 each). Stanley Cup model: Vegas jumped from 2.6% to 12.7% Cup probability; Utah collapsed from 6.5% to 1.6%; Philly + Minny + Anaheim all secured advance (slight bumps). Colorado tops at 30.8%.

New research: The Promo Erosion Calendar; 13-operator longitudinal study of US sportsbook bonuses

NHL + NBA Round 1 wrap (4/28-4/29): Spurs sweep watch closes 4-1, every other 3-1 leader drops Game 5

Tuesday-Wednesday flipped four sweep watches into Game 6 trips. NHL: Boston staved off elimination 2-1 OT in Buffalo on Pastrnak's overtime winner; Edmonton beat Anaheim 4-1 at home (Draisaitl 2G); Minnesota took a 3-2 series lead with a 4-2 win in Dallas (McCarron go-ahead, Kaprizov ENG); Montreal stole Game 5 in Tampa 3-2 on Texier's go-ahead 66 seconds into the third (Dobes 38 saves). NBA: 76ers stayed alive 113-97 in Boston (Embiid 33); Knicks took the series lead 126-97 over Atlanta at MSG (Brunson 39); Spurs were the only sweep watch to close: 114-95 over Portland in San Antonio (Wembanyama 17/14/3 ast/6 blocks) for a 4-1 series win. Stanley Cup model: Minnesota jumped from 2.3% to 3.7% Cup probability; Dallas dropped from 5.5% to 2.9%; Buffalo trimmed from 13.9% to 12.8%. Colorado tops the field at 32.0%.

NBA Round 1 Monday 4/27: OKC sweeps Phoenix, Magic stun Pistons to take 3-1 lead, Jokic keeps Nuggets alive

Three big stories from Monday April 27. (1) OKC completed the sweep of Phoenix 4-0 with a 131-122 Game 4 win (SGA 31, Holmgren 24): defending champs through to Round 2 with their third consecutive first-round sweep. (2) Orlando shocked Detroit 94-88 in Orlando to take a 3-1 series lead and put the East 1-seed on the brink of a historic 1-vs-8 elimination (Bane 22, Wagner 19, Cunningham 25 in defeat). (3) Denver staved off elimination with a 125-113 Game 5 win behind Jokic's 23rd career playoff triple-double (27/16/12); Wolves still lead 3-2 but the series goes back to Minneapolis for Game 6 Thursday. Tonight 4/28: Boston @ Philadelphia (BOS leads 3-1, sweep watch), Knicks @ Hawks (tied 2-2 at MSG), Spurs @ Trail Blazers (SAS leads 3-1, sweep watch).

NHL Round 1 Monday 4/27: Utah takes 3-1 lead on Vegas, Penguins steal Game 5 from Flyers

Two big shifts before tonight's four Game 5s. Utah Mammoth beat Vegas 4-3 in Salt Lake City to take a commanding 3-1 series lead and put the Pacific Division champs on the brink. Pittsburgh stole Game 5 at PPG Paints Arena 3-2 (Letang go-ahead at 17:12 of the second; Silovs 18 saves) to cut Philadelphia's series lead to 3-2 and force Game 6. Tonight's slate (4/28) has four Game 5s: Buffalo @ Boston (BUF leads 3-1), Anaheim @ Edmonton (ANA leads 3-1), Tampa Bay @ Montreal (tied 2-2), Dallas @ Minnesota (tied 2-2). Our Stanley Cup model now has Vegas down to 2.6% Cup probability (from 6.1%) and Utah up to 6.4% (from 4.7%).

New research: Who wins the 2026 Stanley Cup? A transparent 16-team probability model

Our new research piece runs a five-factor power-rating model (regular-season points, goal differential, special teams, hot-goalie SV%, expected goals) through Bradley-Terry head-to-head and a full bracket simulation. Output: a per-team Stanley Cup probability for all 16 playoff teams summing to 100%. Top-line findings: Colorado leads at 30.9%, Carolina second at 25.4%, Buffalo third at 13.9%. Anaheim leads its first-round series 3-1 but only carries 1.7% Cup probability. Edmonton has collapsed to 0.4%. Full model methodology, charts, and per-team breakdowns published.

NBA Round 1: Celtics + Spurs reach sweep watch, Lakers stumble in Houston, Raptors tie Cavs

Sunday April 26 Game 4 results: Boston demolished Philly 128-96 to take a 3-1 series lead and join Lakers + OKC + Spurs on sweep watch. Wembanyama returned from concussion protocol and the Spurs cruised 114-93 over Portland to lead 3-1. Houston staved off elimination 115-96 over the Lakers (LA still leads 3-1). Toronto beat Cleveland 93-89 (Ingram + Barnes 23 each) to even the series 2-2. Wolves still up 3-1 on Denver but Anthony Edwards (knee, multiple weeks) and Donte DiVincenzo (torn Achilles, season over) suffered Game 4 injuries that may decide the rest of their playoff run.

NHL Round 1: Avalanche complete sweep, Sabres roll to 3-1, Ducks shock Oilers in OT

Sunday April 26 results: Colorado completed the sweep of LA with a 5-1 Game 4 (MacKinnon 2G+1A, Makar goal, Wedgewood 24 saves); Avalanche advance to Round 2 and Kings captain Anze Kopitar's 20-year career ends with the loss. Buffalo demolished Boston 6-1 in Game 4 at TD Garden to take a 3-1 lead and reach sweep watch. Tampa won Game 4 in Montreal 3-2 to even the series 2-2 (first non-OT game of the matchup). Anaheim took a 3-1 series lead with a controversial 4-3 OT win over Edmonton on a Ryan Poehling deflection; McDavid + Draisaitl now on the brink heading back to Edmonton for Game 5.

New dedicated state site: BettingInVT.com launches for Vermont

NBA Round 1 update: Knicks tie Hawks 2-2, Wolves up 3-1, OKC + Lakers on sweep watch

Saturday April 25 NBA Game 4 results: Knicks 114-98 over Hawks in Atlanta (KAT triple-double 20-10-10, OG 22-10) to even the series 2-2. Wolves 112-96 over Nuggets at Target Center (Ayo Dosunmu 43 off the bench, highest reserve playoff scoring in 50 years) to lead 3-1. Game 3 results: SGA dropped a career-playoff-high 42 to put OKC up 3-0 on Phoenix; Spurs rallied from 15 down to win Game 3 in Portland 120-108 behind Castle (33) and Harper (27/10) without Wembanyama. Lakers + OKC both on sweep watch.

NHL Round 1 update: Hurricanes sweep Senators 4-0, Wild + Pens force their series back open

Saturday April 25 NHL Game 4 results: Carolina 4-2 over Ottawa to complete the sweep; first team into Round 2; third team in NHL history with a series win in 8 consecutive playoff years. Wild 3-2 OT over Stars at Saint Paul (Boldy redirect with 29 seconds left in OT, Foligno tied it late in regulation) to even at 2-2. Pens 4-2 over Flyers in Philadelphia to avoid sweep (Crosby goal+assist, Silovs 28 saves); Phi still leads 3-1. Plus Game 3: Ducks beat Oilers 7-4 at Honda Center (4-goal 3rd period) to lead 2-1.

NBA Round 1 update: Celtics + Lakers take Game 3, Lakers reach sweep watch

Friday April 24 NBA Game 3 results: Boston 108-100 over Philadelphia (Tatum + Brown 25 each, Pritchard 15 off the bench with 5 threes; Maxey 31 in defeat); Celtics now lead 2-1. LA Lakers 112-108 over Houston for a 3-0 series lead and sweep watch. Spurs at Trail Blazers Game 3 played late in Portland (Wembanyama out for concussion protocol); final result pending verification.

NHL Round 1 update: Hutson OT goal puts Habs up 2-1, Mammoth take series lead

Friday April 24 NHL Game 3 results: Montreal 3-2 OT over Tampa Bay at the Bell Centre; Lane Hutson scored just over 2 minutes into overtime to put the Habs up 2-1. Utah Mammoth 4-2 over Vegas for a 2-1 series lead and the first home playoff win in franchise history at Delta Center. Edmonton-Anaheim Game 3 played late in California; Ducks led 2-1 after the first period, final result pending verification.

NHL Round 1 update: Carolina, Philadelphia, Colorado all hit sweep watch at 3-0

Through April 24: Three series at 3-0. Carolina capped a 2-1 road win in Game 3; Philadelphia rolled Pittsburgh 5-2 in Game 3 of the Battle of Pennsylvania; Colorado closed out a 4-2 Game 3 in LA. Buffalo took the lead in their series with a 3-1 Game 3 win in Boston (first Sabres playoff series advantage since 2011). Dallas leads 2-1 after a 2OT Game 3 vs Minnesota.

NBA Round 1 update: Atlanta, Toronto, Minnesota stage Game 3 upsets

Through April 24: Three Game 3 swings on the 23rd. Atlanta took a 2-1 series lead over the Knicks in a 109-108 thriller (second straight one-point win). Toronto crushed Cleveland 126-104 to cut the Cavs lead to 2-1. Minnesota beat Denver 113-96 for a 2-1 series lead (third straight Wolves win). OKC and the Lakers still hold 2-0 leads. Three NBA Game 3s tonight: Celtics-76ers, Lakers-Rockets, Spurs-Blazers.

NHL Round 1 update: Flyers shock Penguins 2-0, Atlantic series tied after OT thrillers

Through April 21: Philadelphia leads the Battle of Pennsylvania 2-0 (capped by a 3-0 Game 2 shutout). Carolina is up 2-0 on Ottawa after a 2OT Game 2. Sabres-Bruins, Lightning-Canadiens, Vegas-Utah, and Stars-Wild are all tied 1-1. Colorado holds 2-0 on the Kings; both wins by a single goal.

NBA Round 1 update: Magic upset Pistons in Game 1, Cavs and Lakers go up 2-0

Through April 21: Cleveland and Oklahoma City lead 2-0; the Lakers stole both road games in Houston to take a 2-0 lead in the 4-5 series. Detroit responded to the Magic Game 1 upset to even at 1-1. Five series are tied 1-1 entering Game 3.

2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 18

Round 1 opened with three games on April 18. Carolina shut out Ottawa 2-0, Philadelphia upset Pittsburgh 3-2, Minnesota routed Dallas 6-1. Five more Game 1s played April 19-20.

2026 NBA Playoffs tip off April 18

Saturday April 18 opened with six Game 1s. LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo in a single playoff game. OKC opened as +110 Finals favorites.

Wisconsin becomes 33rd state to legalize online sports betting

Governor Tony Evers signed AB 601 (2025 Wisconsin Act 247) on April 9, 2026, using the hub-and-spoke tribal model. Online launch expected in 2027 after all 11 tribes renegotiate gaming compacts.

DraftKings and FanDuel finally launch in Arkansas

NC tax revenue more than doubles year-over-year

Illinois HB 5143 would repeal the per-wager tax effective July 1, 2026

Filed February 2026. The bill would remove the $0.25-$0.50 per-wager fee that operators have been passing through to bettors. Illinois remains the most complex tax structure in the US.

Federal IRS rule: gamblers can now only deduct 90% of losses (down from 100%)

Effective January 1, 2026, the IRS limits gambling loss deductions to 90% of winnings (was 100%). Bettors who itemize must absorb a 10% gap between winnings and offsettable losses. Practical impact: a $10,000 winner with $10,000 in losses still owes tax on $1,000.

Hard Rock Bet launches in Michigan and Illinois, now in 10 states

ESPN BET rebrands to theScore Bet on December 1, 2025

Missouri launches sports betting after voters approve Amendment 2

Colorado phases out promo deduction by July 1, 2026

bet365 launches in Kansas as 7th operator

First Kansas sportsbook without a retail casino anchor. The Sac and Fox Nation tribal compact was approved in November 2025, potentially opening the door for tribal sportsbooks.

New Jersey raises online sports betting tax to 19.75%

New Jersey finalized its FY26 budget on June 30, 2025, raising the online sports betting tax from 13% to 19.75% (effective July 1, 2025). The same rate applies to online casino and DFS. Retail sports betting tax stays at 8.5%. The increase is projected to generate $250M in additional state revenue.

Maryland raises mobile sports betting tax to 20%

Louisiana raises online sports betting tax to 21.5%

Louisiana increased its online sports betting tax rate to 21.5% in 2025, more than doubling from the original 10%. Retail tax stays at 10%.

FanDuel replaces GambetDC in Washington DC

North Carolina launches online sports betting

NC launched mobile betting in March 2024 with 8 operators at an 18% tax rate. The state law allows up to 11 online licenses.

Vermont launches sports betting with three operators

Hard Rock Bet returns as Florida sports betting goes live

Kentucky launches sports betting in September 2023

Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 551 in March 2023, with retail launching in September and mobile shortly after. 9.75% online / 14.25% retail tax. Minimum age 18.

Ohio governor doubles sports betting tax to 20%

Just six months after Ohio launched in January 2023, Governor DeWine doubled the operator tax from 10% to 20% in the state budget bill.

Massachusetts launches online sports betting

Ohio launches sports betting on January 1, 2023

Ohio launched on New Year's Day 2023 with 8 operators at a 10% tax rate. Massive opening weekend coincided with NFL playoffs.

Maryland launches online sports betting

Maryland mobile betting launched in November 2022 ahead of Thanksgiving and the World Cup. 8 operators went live at 15% tax.

Kansas launches sports betting on September 1, 2022

Kansas went live with 6 operators after Governor Laura Kelly signed SB 84. Max of 12 licenses allowed. 10% tax.

New York mobile sports betting launches with 51% tax

Arizona launches sports betting at NFL kickoff

Arizona launched on September 9, 2021, the same day as the NFL season opener, with 13 operators. The state quickly became one of the largest US markets.

Wyoming becomes 1st state with online-only sports betting

Wyoming launched in September 2021 with mobile-only operators (no retail). Notably set the minimum age at 18, rare for legal sports betting states.

Tennessee launches first mobile-only sports betting market

Colorado launches sports betting amid pandemic

Colorado launched on May 1, 2020 with 10% tax. Tax revenue funds the Colorado Water Plan. The market has grown to 13+ active operators with deeply competitive pricing.

New Hampshire launches with DraftKings monopoly at 51% tax

Indiana launches sports betting in September 2019

Indiana launched both retail and mobile in September 2019 with a 9.5% tax, one of the more competitive rates in the country. Now has 10 operators.

Iowa launches sports betting in just 3 months from signing

IA went live August 15, 2019, the fastest state-to-launch in US history. Tax rate 6.75% (tied with Nevada for lowest). 17 operators today.

Pennsylvania launches online sports betting

PA mobile betting launched May 2019 after retail in November 2018. Highest license fee in the US ($10 million) and 36% tax rate.

Mississippi launches retail-only sports betting

Mississippi went live with retail-only sports betting at casinos in August 2018. Mobile betting requires being on-site at the casino.

New Jersey launches first post-PASPA sports betting market

NJ launched legal sports betting in June 2018, less than a month after Murphy v. NCAA struck down PASPA, the case NJ itself brought to the Supreme Court. Now one of the largest US markets.

Delaware launches as first state outside Nevada to take single-game bets