By Nate Raymond Feb 17 (Reuters) - Nevada gaming regulators filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to block prediction market operator Kalshi from offering events contracts that would allow its ‌residents to bet on sports including football and basketball games. The Nevada Gaming Control Board ‌filed the lawsuit as part of an escalating battle over the ability of state gaming regulators nationally to police companies like ​Kalshi that allow users to place financial bets through their prediction markets. Wyn ...

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has argued that hedging on prediction markets could provide the same kind of price stability as stablecoins, potentially rendering fiat currency unnecessary. In a long tweet, Buterin offered his views on how to make prediction markets more useful, with the Russian-Canadian programmer arguing that, while achieving a “high level” of success, they are currently producing an increasing quantity of “corposlop.” He wrote, “[Prediction markets] seem to be over-converging to a ...

Core Viewpoint - Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) criticizes President Joe Biden's regulatory policies, claiming they hinder U.S. companies and contrasts them with President Donald Trump's approach, which he argues encourages business operations in America [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Environment - SBF accuses the Biden administration of imposing "insane regulation" that requires licenses but fails to issue them, making it difficult for companies to operate legally in the U.S. [2] - He claims that the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Biden has indicted entire industries, pushing prediction markets and crypto firms offshore, a situation he argues has improved under Trump [3]. Group 2: Economic Impact - SBF credits Trump's expanded business tax breaks for attracting investment back to the U.S. [4]. - He criticizes Democratic tax policies for increasing corporate taxes and creating loopholes that keep money offshore [3]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings - SBF's new trial motion challenges his fraud conviction, asserting that FTX was never insolvent but faced a temporary liquidity crisis due to a run on the exchange [5]. - The motion alleges that the DOJ engaged in witness intimidation, which, if proven, could undermine the prosecution's argument regarding the flow of funds [6]. Group 4: Market Implications - The reframing of the $8 billion loss from a permanent fraud to a temporary cash-flow issue could change market perceptions and create uncertainty for the crypto industry [7]. - SBF's endorsement of Trump contradicts his conviction narrative, as he praises the administration while serving a 25-year sentence for fraud [8].

Core Viewpoint - Robinhood Markets has experienced a significant decline in share price, losing over a third of its value in 2026 due to Q4 revenue falling short of expectations [1] Financial Performance - Q4 revenue increased by 27% to $1.28 billion, but was below the $1.35 billion analyst estimate [2] - Transaction revenue rose by 15% to $776 million, with options revenue soaring 41% to $314 million and equity revenue climbing 54% to $94 million [3] - Cryptocurrency revenue fell sharply by 38% to $221 million, while net interest revenue jumped 39% to $411 million [3] - Total platform assets surged 68% to $324 billion [3] Growth Prospects - The company aims for at least 20% net deposit growth in 2026 and targets $1 trillion in assets in the coming years [4] - Robinhood has launched a banking product with over $400 million in assets and 25,000 funded customers, offering 3.5% interest on deposits [5] - The predictions market is also a focus, with volumes doubling in Q4, reaching a $300 million annual run rate [6] Investment Consideration - Despite challenges in cryptocurrency revenue, the stock is considered attractively valued with a forward P/E ratio of about 29 times based on 2026 estimates, suggesting a potential buying opportunity [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - DraftKings Inc is set to report its fourth-quarter results, which may highlight both the potential and challenges of prediction markets in the sports betting industry [1] DraftKings Q4 Earnings Estimates - Analysts project DraftKings' Q4 revenue to reach $1.99 billion, an increase from $1.39 billion in Q4 2024 [2] - Expected earnings per share for Q4 are 38 cents, up from 14 cents per share in the same quarter last year [2] - The company has missed revenue estimates in six of the last ten quarters, including Q3, but has beaten earnings estimates in nine of the last ten quarters [2] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Bank of America views DraftKings favorably compared to competitors, particularly due to a lower betting handle on the Seattle Seahawks [3] - Recent analyst ratings include: - Canaccord Genuity: Buy rating, price target lowered from $54 to $50 - Stifel: Buy rating, price target lowered from $46 to $44 - Guggenheim: Buy rating, price target lowered from $45 to $42 - Morgan Stanley: Overweight rating, price target raised from $50 to $53 [8] Key Items to Watch in DraftKings Q4 Results - The focus during the conference call will likely be on prediction markets, as DraftKings is among several firms entering this space [4] - The results will be analyzed in the context of the recent Super Bowl, with insights expected on betting handle and new customer acquisition [5] - The company may discuss its DraftKings Prediction platform and a partnership with Crypto.com to enhance consumer offerings [6] Stock Price Action - DraftKings stock has decreased by 3.4% to $26.21, with a year-to-date decline of 26.5% and a 39.6% drop over the last 52 weeks [10]

Core Viewpoint - DraftKings Inc is set to report its fourth-quarter results, which may highlight both the potential and challenges of prediction markets in the sports betting industry [1] DraftKings Q4 Earnings Estimates - Analysts project DraftKings' Q4 revenue to reach $1.99 billion, an increase from $1.39 billion in Q4 2024 [2] - Expected earnings per share for Q4 are 38 cents, up from 14 cents per share in the same quarter last year [2] - The company has missed revenue estimates in six of the last ten quarters, including Q3, but has beaten earnings estimates in nine of the last ten quarters [2] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Bank of America views DraftKings favorably compared to competitors, particularly due to a lower betting handle on the Seattle Seahawks [3] - Recent analyst ratings include: - Canaccord Genuity: Maintained Buy rating, lowered price target from $54 to $50 [8] - Stifel: Maintained Buy rating, lowered price target from $46 to $44 [8] - Guggenheim: Maintained Buy rating, lowered price target from $45 to $42 [8] - Morgan Stanley: Maintained Overweight rating, raised price target from $50 to $53 [8] Key Items to Watch in DraftKings Q4 Results - The focus during the conference call will likely be on prediction markets, as DraftKings is among several firms entering this space [4] - The results will be analyzed in the context of the recent Super Bowl LX, although its outcomes will not directly impact this quarter [5] - Investors will be interested in insights regarding betting handle, customer acquisition, and the performance of the DraftKings Prediction platform [6][9] DraftKings Stock Price Action - DraftKings stock has decreased by 3.4% to $26.21, with a year-to-date decline of 26.5% and a 39.6% drop over the past 52 weeks [10]

Robinhood (HOOD) shares crashed more than 10% on Feb. 11, after the fintech firm came in short of revenue estimates in its fourth financial quarter of 2025. As the stock crumbled under the weight of a downbeat earnings release, its relative strength index (14-day) slipped into the deeply oversold territory — a technical setup that often precedes a rebound. More News from Barchart Following the post-earnings plunge, Robinhood stock is down about 50% versus its October high. www.barchart.com Bernstein ...

Core Viewpoint - Robinhood Markets Inc. is a significant player in the financial services industry, known for its commission-free trading platform, which has gained popularity among retail investors, particularly younger demographics [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Bernstein has reiterated an "Outperform" rating for Robinhood, with the stock currently priced at $74.72, reflecting a decrease of 12.71% from its previous value of $85.60 [2][6]. - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $74.68 and a high of $79.90 on the current day, with a market capitalization of approximately $67.19 billion and a trading volume of 23.54 million shares [5]. Group 2: Business Developments - CEO Vlad Tenev expressed optimism regarding the company's prediction markets business, noting that NBA contracts have surpassed NFL contracts in trading activity, indicating strong user engagement [3][6]. - Upcoming major events such as the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and March Madness are expected to further boost trading activity on the platform [3]. - Robinhood is experiencing significant volume in non-sports contracts, including a notable government shutdown contract, as part of its strategy to diversify offerings and enhance customer experience [4][6].

Core Insights - The gaming sector is experiencing a mixed performance, with MGM reporting a solid quarter despite a challenging 2025, while expectations for Wynn and DraftKings are cautiously optimistic as they prepare for upcoming earnings reports [1][2][3]. MGM Insights - MGM faced a difficult 2025 with high single-digit declines in visitation and gross gaming revenue, but anticipates a better performance in 2026, particularly in the latter half of the year [2][3]. - Growth in Macau and the digital business is highlighted as a positive aspect of MGM's diversified operations, despite the stock underperforming in 2025 [3][4]. Wynn Insights - Wynn is positioned as a luxury play within the gaming sector, expected to perform better than mid-tier operators, with positive outlooks for both its Vegas operations and the recovering Macau market [5][6]. - The stock is trading at approximately 20 times earnings, with significant luxury assets and plans to open a property in the UAE by late 2026 [7]. DraftKings Insights - DraftKings is expected to exceed Q4 expectations, driven by a strong December performance, although guidance for 2026 may be slightly below expectations due to investments in prediction markets [9][10]. - The company is rolling out a prediction product in markets where sports betting is not available, and initial tracking indicates positive reception [11]. Market Trends - The luxury segment in the gaming and lodging industry is showing growth, while other segments are declining, reflecting a K-shaped economic recovery [5]. - The Chinese market is seen as a bright spot for gaming companies, particularly with the upcoming Chinese New Year [8].

Robinhood (HOOD) shares slumped 10% in early trading on Wednesday after fourth-quarter revenue missed estimates, with a decline in crypto trading impacting results. The popular trading app reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $0.66, beating expectations of $0.63. However, revenue came in at $1.28 billion, below the $1.33 billion analysts had forecast. A downturn in crypto trading weighed heavily on results, with crypto revenue dropping 38% year over year to $221 million. Wall Street bank JPMor ...