STEPHEN CRYSTAL FEATURED IN GLOBAL GAMBLING NEWS MAGAZINE ‘CRYPTO GAMING: THE NEXT PHASE’
Crypto Gaming: The Next Phase Cryptocurrency in gaming has moved beyond novelty, it is now a structural shift, and what matters next is how it is implemented. For years, the conversation has centered around volatility and token hype, but this was never the real opportunity. The real value has always been infrastructure; how crypto enhances […]
Breaking: Evoke Takeover Talks Reveal the New Reality for Legacy Gaming Brands
By Stephen Crystal The news that Bally’s Intralot is in talks to acquire Evoke for roughly £225 million is not just another M&A headline. It is a flashing warning light for the entire gambling industry. When the owner of William Hill and 888 is discussing a deal at around 50p per share, after once spending […]
Skill-Based Wagering Is Being Pulled in Two Directions: Growth in Digital, Crackdowns in Retail
Skill-based wagering is no longer one conversation. For years, the phrase suggested a single broad category: games where player ability, strategy, or decision-making could create legal and commercial distance from traditional gambling. But in 2026, that category is breaking apart. On one side, digital operators are turning skill-based products into part of broader online gaming […]
Tribal Leaders Are Expanding the Fight From Sweepstakes to Prediction Markets
For much of the past year, tribal gaming’s political energy was focused on sweepstakes casinos. That made sense. Sweepstakes operators were seen by many tribes as testing the edges of state law while intruding on markets where tribal exclusivity, compacts, and sovereignty were supposed to matter. But that fight has widened. At the 2026 Indian […]
BetMGM’s Latest Numbers Show Why iGaming Remains One of the Healthiest Segments in Regulated U.S. Online Gambling
BetMGM’s latest quarterly update offered a useful reminder for anyone still treating online sports betting as the main engine of U.S. digital gambling growth: the steadier, healthier story continues to come from iGaming. In its Q1 2026 business update, BetMGM reported total net revenue of $696 million, up 6% year over year. But the more […]
Why the Future of U.S. Gaming May Be Decided by Who Gets to Define the Product
For years, the American gaming industry was built around a fairly straightforward expansion question: Which state will legalize next? Today, that question is no longer enough. The harder question in 2026 is this: How do you grow in a market where states are legalizing some gaming products, restricting others, banning adjacent models, and redefining the […]
The Jake Paul Effect: When Gambling Products Start Looking Like Creator Brands
By Stephen Crystal Betr’s move into prediction markets through its new partnership with Polymarket is more than a product expansion. It is a sign that gambling is entering a new phase, one where the operators with the biggest edge may not be the ones with the oldest bookmaking infrastructure, the widest menu, or the deepest […]
CFTC Innovation Task Force Signals New Direction for Prediction Markets Oversight
The CFTC Innovation Task Force marks a significant shift in U.S. regulatory strategy, aiming to create clearer oversight for prediction markets and emerging financial technologies. By bringing together experts across digital assets and enforcement, the initiative could shape a more predictable future for market operators and innovators.
Brazil Online Betting Ban Risk: Why the $7.9 Billion Warning Matters for Lula’s Next Move
The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gambling has pushed back against President Lula’s calls for a nationwide ban on online betting, warning that prohibition could strengthen illegal markets rather than eliminate gambling. The group estimates that illicit betting already accounts for roughly half of Brazil’s wagering activity—around R$40 billion ($7.9 billion) per year—and argues that only stronger regulation can reduce harm, protect consumers, and maintain public revenue streams.
Belo Horizonte Betting Advertising Ban Delay Raises Questions About Next Steps
The Belo Horizonte betting advertising ban delay signals a cautious approach to gambling regulation, as policymakers weigh economic interests against public concerns while leaving the future of local advertising restrictions uncertain.