News & learning for US sports bettors.
Long-form explainers on regulation, state launches, betting policy, sportsbook promotions and the industry changes that can affect how and where you bet.
Bettors Are Winning Early: Low NFL Hold Squeezes Sportsbooks as New York Handle Tops $600 Million Twice
New York's weekly reports show record-pace betting volume but single-digit hold, and Wall Street analysts warn that early-season results are running against DraftKings.
- Weekly handle: $619.4 million in New York for the week ending Oct. 4, the second $600M week of the NFL season
- Hold: New York has not posted a double-digit statewide hold since mid-August
- Analyst warning: Susquehanna flagged unfavorable hold for DraftKings in early October
NBA Tips Off 2026-27: Thunder and Spurs Share Title Favoritism as LeBron's 76ers Become the Sportsbooks' Biggest Liability
Oklahoma City and San Antonio lead a crowded futures market heading into opening night on October 20, while a summer of blockbuster moves has reshaped where bettors are putting their money.
- Co-favorites: Thunder and Spurs at around +250 to +280 to win the 2026-27 title
- Biggest liability: The 76ers at BetMGM after LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joined Philadelphia
- MVP favorite: Victor Wembanyama at +210 at DraftKings
Football Fuels Record Prediction Market Volume as States Escalate Their Legal Fight
Kalshi posted its biggest week yet in early October, helped by football contracts, while 40 state attorneys general urged the Supreme Court to decide who regulates sports event contracts.
- Record week: Kalshi reported $19.03 billion in contract volume for Oct. 5-11
- Football: $1.5 billion in standalone Kalshi football trading that week
- Legal pressure: 40 state attorneys general backed New Jersey's request for a Supreme Court ruling
World Series 2026: Brewers Are Heavy Favorites, but Milwaukee Fans Cannot Bet on Them From Home
Milwaukee's NLCS sweep made the Brewers a -190 favorite to win the World Series, while the Rays-Guardians ALCS heads to Game 5. Here is how the market and the betting map line up.
- Favorite: Brewers -190 to win the World Series at DraftKings
- ALCS: Rays and Guardians tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Oct. 18
- First pitch: World Series Game 1 in Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 23
NFL Kickoff 2026: Record $32.3 Billion Handle Projected as Prediction Markets Close the Gap
Legal sportsbooks are on pace for a record $32.3 billion NFL handle in 2026-27, even as prediction markets grow twice as fast. Here's what's driving both numbers.
Leagues vs. Sportsbooks: Inside the 2026 Player Prop Crackdown
After a wave of gambling scandals across the NBA and MLB, leagues and sportsbooks are rewriting the rules on player prop bets. Here's what changed and why.
The Per-Wager Tax Spreads: Why More States Are Eyeing Illinois's Sportsbook Surcharge Model
Illinois's per-bet excise tax pushed FanDuel and DraftKings to add wager surcharges. Here's how that model is influencing tax fights in other states in 2026.
Why the US Sports Betting Map Has Stalled in 2026
Missouri's December 2025 launch may be the last new state market for a while. Here's why legalization has stalled in 2026 and which states are still trying.
Sports Betting Cash Flows Into the 2026 Midterms as Industry Fights State Tax Hikes
Sportsbook operators are spending heavily in state-level 2026 races to fight tax hikes, prop bet restrictions, and lingering state bans. Here's where the money is going.
The "Phantom Income" Tax Fight: What the New 90% Gambling Loss Rule Means for US Sports Bettors in 2026
How the 90% federal gambling-loss deduction cap can create taxable phantom income, who is most exposed, and what Congress may do next.
Prediction Markets vs. Sportsbooks: Inside the Kalshi Legal War Reshaping US Sports Betting
Why Kalshi, Polymarket, state gaming regulators, and the CFTC are fighting over who gets to regulate sports-related event contracts.
Missouri Sports Betting: Inside the 39th State's First Year of Legal Wagering
A look at Missouri’s December 2025 launch, its crowded operator field, licensing structure, promotions, and what the rollout says about modern state markets.
2026 State-by-State Sports Betting Roundup: Where Legalization Stands Right Now
Where US sports betting legalization stands in August 2026, from states nearing mobile launches to long-term holdouts and tribal-compact roadblocks.
NFL Season Sportsbook Promos 2026: How No-Sweat Bets, Odds Boosts, and Bonus Bets Actually Work
How 2026 NFL sportsbook offers work - including bonus bets, no-sweat structures, deposit matches, odds boosts, expiration windows, and payout considerations.