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Based on its projections, EKG sees the overall sports wagering industry growing 8% year-over-year, outpacing the current baseline growth rate of 5% (a figure that strips out temporary boosts from the 2026 World Cup).

Assuming that 8% spurt is realized, it’d be impressive because since the end of the 2025 football season, only Missouri and Alberta, Canada joined the live and legal sports betting party with Arkansas opening to DraftKings and FanDuel earlier this year.

Prediction markets have proven effective at attracting sharp bettors and high-rollers who are often limited or banned by traditional sportsbooks. However, consumer surveys indicate that when given the choice between a sportsbook and a yes/no exchange, most recreational bettors still prefer the traditional sportsbook interface. That dynamic helps explain why prediction markets remain in second place.

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In April, Casino.org reported that VGW had contributed $30,000 to Tuberville’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign.

New financial disclosures from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office show that VGW gave the campaign another $100,000, bringing the firm’s total contributions to $130,000. The latest check, dated Aug. 31, came from the Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and LuckyLand Casino operator.

Tuberville, the famed former football coach of the Auburn Tigers, has served in the US Senate since 2021. Tuberville has expressed a willingness to consider gambling expansion in the Cotton State, one of the most restricted gambling states in the union.

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Türkiye’s Law No. 7258 criminalises the operation of gambling activities without a licence. Offences are often combined with money laundering and fraud charges, amplifying legal consequences for offenders.

This latest operation forms part of an ongoing surge in Türkiye’s efforts to curb illegal betting throughout 2026. 

Earlier this year, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi called illegal betting a “scourge that corrupts society” and emphasised a move towards tougher enforcement.