Haslams Pay $205M for NWSL Expansion Team in Columbus The NWSL is adding a Columbus expansion team, owned by the Haslam Sports Group, at a record $205 million expansion fee.

A new record NWSL expansion fee, exclusive from @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social 💰

Sports Betting Regulator to House: I’m ‘No Expert’ on Betting Lines CFTC chairman Michael Selig sidestepped questions about sports betting at a Congressional hearing.

He's the federal government's sports betting regulator.

Yet he told Congress today that sports betting isn't his area of expertise.

Kalshi, IC360 Launch New Prediction Market Self-Exclusion Initiative The deal, which hasn't been publicly announced, shows how tools to fight addiction are being built for prediction market platforms.

EXCLUSIVE: Kalshi is the first member fully onboarded with IC360's new self-exclusion hub for prediction markets.

The initiative will let people ban themselves from multiple leading prediction market platforms at once.

Jon Rahm made more money than anyone else in golf over the past year.

Polymarket Rebels Still Betting in Banned Countries Using VPNs Polymarket announced market surveillance tools after receiving criticism over rules enforcement. Is it enough?

It's the biggest open secret in prediction markets.

And Polymarket's recent "market surveillance" announcements haven't made it go away.

Kalshi Classifies Itself as ‘Gambling’ in Federal Trademark Request Kalshi has publicly argued it has nothing to do with gambling, but the company classified itself as being tied to the sector for the purposes of IP.

EXCLUSIVE: Kalshi classified itself as a sports gambling product in a trademark filing for the term "prediction market."

That's despite the company's public stance being that it has nothing to do with gambling.

Oregon Insists DraftKings’ Historic Pitch Product Isn’t Casino Game "DK Replay" solicits timed bets on anonymized MLB pitches that have already occurred. If it spreads nationwide, it could boost DraftKings' revenue.

I asked Oregon regulators how DK Replay isn't a prohibited casino game.

They defended their approval of DraftKings offering historic MLB pitch betting.

Three of the top 10 political contributors from the 2024 election cycle are involved in prediction markets—a sign of the influence the new line of business can tap into

Behind Kalshi’s Political Influence Machine as DC Lobbying Heats Up The prediction market company and its allies are increasing their spending on lobbying and political contributions, data shows.

As Kalshi and its prediction market peers grumble about the "casino lobby" working behind-the-scenes levers, records show they are ramping up their political influence machine, too.

New feature from me 👇

MLB’s Polymarket ‘Integrity’ Deal Has Limitations MLB suggested its agreement with Polymarket is essential to guard against bad actors.

MLB's main justification for its Polymarket deal is not as meaningful as it might seem at first glance.

The average MLB team value is up 12% to $3.17 billion 📈

It is the biggest year-over-year franchise value gain for MLB since Sportico’s baseball valuations launched in 2021.

How Kalshi’s Criminal Charges in Arizona Differ From Its Civil Cases As Kalshi battles states—including Arizona‚over attempts to apply sports betting laws to prediction markets, Arizona has charged Kalshi with crimes.

Kalshi faces criminal charges in Arizona as legal battle between the company and states—and over whether those states are preempted by federal law from enforcing state law—expands. As we recently wrote, this seems headed for SCOTUS. @dan-bernstein.bsky.social and I explain for @sportico.bsky.social:

When accounting for endorsement earnings, no one in MLB is making money like Shohei Ohtani 💰

Peak Experience: The Volunteers Who Lifted the Denver Summit The Denver Summit open NWSL play as a financial giant. But they sprung from an unpaid group making the case for Denver's first women's pro franchise.

Here's the inside story of the grassroots effort to bring the NWSL to Denver ⚽

FanDuel Sports President Mike Raffensperger to Leave Company Raffensperger is making a personal decision to depart, according to multiple sources.

EXCLUSIVE: Significant leadership change at FanDuel, as Mike Raffensperger is set to depart.

Angel City remains the most valuable NWSL franchise.

But it now has company in the $200+ million club 👀

2026 NWSL valuations here: www.sportico.com/valuations/t...

Marc Lasry Invests in NWSL’s NC Courage at $155M Valuation Billionaire Marc Lasry is buying a stake in the NWSL's North Carolina Courage via his Avenue Sports Fund. The deal values the club at $155 million.

The NWSL's North Carolina Courage are selling a minority stake for $40 million 💰

Caesars May Lose Rockets Bets If Fertitta’s Company Takes Over Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, could expand his gaming portfolio by acquiring Caesars. But it would create operational hurdles.

A major sportsbook and an NBA team?

The Houston Rockets owner could have both.

NWSL’s Dash Relaunch Sale Process After Last Year’s Talks Fell Apart The Houston Dash owners tried to sell the NWSL team to RHC Group. Now, after pushback from the league, they're putting the team back on the market.

The NWSL's Houston Dash are restarting their sale process.

Netflix Says No to Warner Bros. After Price War, Beltway Concerns If approved by regulators, David Ellison's latest megabucks acquisition will give Paramount the richest sports portfolio this side of ESPN.

An absurd bidding process became too much for Netflix.

They're out 👋

The Firm Harvesting Polymarket Data for Wealthy Clients Intercontinental Exchange says it's investing up to $2 billion in the prediction market company so it can turn around and sell info to clients.

Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the NYSE, has so far avoided scrutiny for its ties to the Polymarket war bets that have drawn outcry from public critics and lawmakers.

Meta’s Addiction Trial Could Spell Trouble for Sports Betting If social media is found to be addictive in a way that violates the law, will the same finding be made with sports betting? Sportico investigates.

If Instagram and other social media apps are found to cause addictions in ways that break the law, what does that mean for sports betting apps and sports apps?

The Meta/social media trial isn't about sports, but sports should be paying close attention.

My @sportico.bsky.social legal column:

Robinhood Boldly Expands Online Betting With Exchange Purchase By owning an exchange and clearinghouse, Robinhood opens the door to more revenue on a per-prediction market wager basis in its app.

Here's my analysis from when Robinhood agreed to buy the exchange

Robinhood's prediction market exchange and clearinghouse Rothera submitted an all-caps "FINAL" version of its rulebook this week.

Robinhood has not provided an exact date for migration to the exchange, but it could be coming soon.

What Is Polymarket Doing in Panama? The prediction market firm’s international exchange is operated by an entity in Central America.

Despite its $9 billion valuation, Polymarket's corporate umbrella gets little coverage.

Take its connections with Panama, for example.

New feature from me on the Central American "operator" of Polymarket's international exchange.

Novig Raises at $500M Valuation With Help of Crypto’s Pivot Novig's Series B round is worth $75 million at a $500 million valuation.

Some big numbers in Novig's new raise led by Pantera Capital. I'm told company is now valued at $500 million.

Seeing a notable pick-up in trend of crypto companies and funds jumping into prediction markets.

NBA Applies TV History Lesson to All-Star Format, and Ratings Rise Wemby's parents were toddlers when "Battle of the Network Stars" premiered, yet the big man seems to have applied its lessons to today's NBA.

Signs of life for the NBA All-Star Game 👽

Battle of the Bookies: Gaming Savants Face Wall Street’s Best Institutional funds and sportsbooks are becoming market makers. Here's what that means.

When sportsbook veterans make markets in the same place as financial firms, who has the edge?

New prediction markets feature story from me.

The value of the average MLS franchise is up 6% from last year 📈