iGaming Daily

Welcome back to iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, the leader in positionless marketing and player engagement. In today’s episode, host Charlie Horner and Managing Editor, Jessica Welman, unpack a major industry rift and a notable consumer protection lawsuit.

FanDuel and DraftKings have ended their seven-year membership with the American Gaming Association (AGA). The split follows last week’s news that both operators are openly pursuing sports-related prediction market deals. Welman says the move made it clear that “we’re breaking up, for real,” underscoring the companies’ willingness to ditch their trade group to advance prediction-market ambitions. 

The AGA has long opposed prediction markets, calling them indistinguishable from illegal sports betting, and the departure reflects the long-standing divide between land-based operators (like MGM and Caesars) and online-focused companies. FanDuel and DraftKings likely resigned before a formal membership vote.

The episode also covers Baltimore’s lawsuit against the two operators, accusing them of violating local consumer protection rules through excessive advertising and questionable VIP practices. A federal judge remanded the case back to Baltimore City Circuit Court, seen as a win for the city. 

Host: Charlie Horner
Guest: Jessica Welman
Producer: James Ross
Editor: James Ross

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

The latest episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, tackles the imminent UK autumn statement and the anticipated tax hike set to impact the gaming sector.

Host Fernando Noodt welcomes iGaming Expert and SBC News's Senior Journalists Conor Porter and Viktor Kayed, to analyse the uncertainty surrounding the figures, noting that the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) proposed a jump in the Machine Gaming Duty (MGD) from 20% to potentially 50%. This potential hike has already sparked alarm across the gambling and hospitality industries. The experts discuss how chains like JD Wetherspoon warn that such a change could see their post-tax profits fall by almost 50%.

The conversation delves into why evidence from firms like PWC, which suggests jurisdictions with online tax rates above 25% produce lower overall tax revenue, may be ignored by Treasury officials. The team also debates the industry’s campaign against the increases, focusing on warnings from the BGC about potential job losses and the growth of the unregulated black market if the licensed sector loses its competitive edge.

Tune in to analyse the vulnerability of the UK market and discuss whether the industry can maintain a working relationship with the government beyond the budget statement on November 26th.

Host: Fernando Noodt
Guests: Conor Porter & Viktor Kayed
Producer: James Ross
Editor: James Ross

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

This episode of iGaming Daily explores why Europe is preparing to introduce stricter gambling regulations in 2025. Host Charlie Horner is joined by Ted Menmuir, SBC Media’s Editor-at-Large, and iGaming Expert's Editor, Joe Streeter, to unpack major regulatory shifts across two key markets: Italy and Romania.

The team first examines Italy’s overhaul of its online gambling industry, driven by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. Central to the reform is a significantly higher entry barrier, with a new nine-year concession priced at €7 million, resulting in fewer available licences. Italy aims to streamline the sector, strengthen oversight, phase out the fragmented skins model, and position itself as Europe’s most secure and tightly regulated market. The episode also touches on new compliance requirements, including mandatory digital ID verification for player account registration.

Attention then shifts to Romania, where the Liberal Party is pushing to increase the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. The guests debate whether this measure meaningfully enhances player protection, especially given the stark contrast between Romania’s relatively volatile regulatory landscape and Italy’s push for structured control.

This episode is supported by Optimove, the creator of positionless marketing and the leading player engagement platform.

Host: Charlie Horner
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Joe Streeter
Producer: James Ross
Editor: James Ross

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

The prediction markets explosion is reshaping the US gaming landscape in 2025. Major operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, PrizePicks, and Underdog are now firmly focused on sports contracts, viewing this vertical as a critical "sideways market entry" into major untapped jurisdictions, specifically California and Texas. 

And this will be the core topic on today's episode of iGaming Daily as host Charlie Horner, is joined by SBC Americas's Senior Journalist, Tom Nightingale, to dissect this regulatory firestorm. The two examine integrity concerns, especially in light of recent NBA and MLB betting scandals, and the high-stakes political maneuvering, including the surprising decision by FanDuel and DraftKings to voluntarily leave Nevada in pursuit of their prediction market ambitions. 

Learn whether state regulators will follow through on warnings and potentially bring "the house crashing down".

Host: Charlie Horner

Guest: Tom Nightingale

Producer: James Ross

Editor: James Ross

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, brought to you by Optimove, host Fernando Noodt, is joined by SBC's Editor-at-Large, Ted Menmuir, and SBC's Senior Journalist, Tom Nightingale, to break down the latest developments at Flutter Entertainment following its Q3 performance update.

In this episode, we unpack how the global gambling giant absorbed a $500 million impairment linked to the closure of its Junglee business after unexpected regulatory changes in India. The team also explores the mixed signals coming from the US market: while FanDuel’s margins have been hit by unfavourable sports results, its iGaming division continues to surge, up 44% last quarter.

The three also examine the mounting pressures on the PLC, including stagnant UK growth and rising group debt (now nearing £10 billion). Finally, we discuss Flutter and FanDuel’s bold move into sports contracts and prediction markets through the new Project Predict platform, an ambitious push to unlock opportunities in large, non-regulated US states such as California, Texas, and Florida.

Tune in to find out whether Flutter’s operational strength can offset its growing financial and regulatory headwinds.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by Tom Nightingale, Senior Journalist at SBC Americas and Canadian Gaming Business, as the duo discuss the latest U.S. sports betting scandal involving MLB players Clase and Ortiz, the growing integrity crisis in sports, and what it means for the future of regulated wagering.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Who has been charged in the latest U.S. sports betting scandal
• How the scheme operated and how much was fraudulently won
• What potential jail time Clase and Ortiz could be facing
• How the Cleveland Guardians, MLB, and DOJ have responded
• Whether this marks a turning point for player prop bets and betting integrity in U.S. sports

Towards the end of today’s episode, we’re joined by SBC News Business Journalist Viktor Kayed, who joins us live from Gaming in Germany to share his key takeaways and the latest insights from the event.

Host: Fernando Noodt

Guest: Tom Nightingale

Producer: Anaya McDonald

Editor: Anaya McDonald

Links to relevant articles:
https://sbcnews.co.uk/featurednews/2025/11/11/gaming-in-germany-2025/
https://sbcnews.co.uk/marketing/2025/11/07/betting-ads-ban-australia/

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and SBC News Editor Ted Orme-Claye as the trio discuss Australia’s deepening crisis over gambling advertising and the political fallout facing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. 

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Where the Labor government truly stands on gambling reform and its unfulfilled election promises.
• Why Nine Entertainment is demanding government compensation over a potential ad ban.
• How the Murphy Report’s recommendations were sidelined and what that means for policy.
• Why gambling advertising has become a national flashpoint, dividing sports and media sectors.
• Whether Australia is heading toward a fragmented state-by-state regulatory future and what this means for 2026.

Towards the end of today’s episode, we’re joined by SBC News Business Journalist Viktor Kayed, who joins us live from Gaming in Germany to share his key takeaways and the latest insights from the event.

Host: Fernando Noodt

Guests: Ted Menmuir & Ted Orme-Claye

Producer: Anaya McDonald

Editor: Anaya McDonald

Links to relevant articles:
https://sbcnews.co.uk/featurednews/2025/11/11/gaming-in-germany-2025/
https://sbcnews.co.uk/marketing/2025/11/07/betting-ads-ban-australia/

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by Founder and CEO of eyeDP, Warren Russell, and Neal Luke, Principal Consultant at Luke ARC, as the trio discuss the growing importance of supply chain due diligence in the iGaming industry, exploring how operators can protect themselves from regulatory risks, reputational damage, and compliance failures stemming from unchecked supplier relationships.

Tune in to today's episode to find out:

• Why supplier due diligence is just as critical as customer KYC.
• What recent cases reveal about risks within the iGaming supply chain.
• How the UKGC’s latest guidance impacts operator responsibility.
• Where AI can streamline KYC and AML checks without adding friction.
• The key takeaways for balancing compliance, efficiency, and trust across your business.

Host: Charlie Horner

Guests: Warren Russell & Neal Luke

Producer: Anaya McDonald

Editor: Anaya McDonald

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by SBC’s Managing Editor Jessica Welman and Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir as the trio discuss Google’s latest move to redefine sweepstakes as real-money gambling products and what this means for operators, advertisers, and regulators worldwide.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why Google’s reclassification of sweepstakes closes a major advertising loophole
• How this shift impacts North American sweepstake operators and their partners
• What the decision reveals about Google’s broader stance on gambling content
• Whether this could trigger new regulatory interpretations across global markets
• How tech giants like Google, YouTube, and Apple are shaping the future of iGaming policy

Host: Fernando Noodt

Guests: Jessica Welman & Ted Menmuir

Producer: Anaya McDonald

Editor: Anaya McDonald

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC’s Managing Editor Jessica Welman as the duo discuss the dramatic end of the ESPN BET and PENN Entertainment partnership, and what this means for the operator’s future strategy in the U.S. sports betting market.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why the high-profile ESPN BET partnership failed to hit its ambitious market share goals.
• How PENN plans to relaunch its sportsbook under theScore Bet brand.
• What this second media partnership collapse means for PENN’s digital ambitions.
• Whether theScore can resonate with U.S. bettors as it does in Canada.
• What the ESPN BET fallout reveals about FanDuel and DraftKings’ dominance in the market.

Host: Charlie Horner

Guest: Jessica Welman

Producer: Anaya McDonald

Editor: Anaya McDonald

iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. 

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

Relevant articles:
https://sbcamericas.com/2025/11/06/penn-ends-espn-bet-deal-after-two-years/