Robinhood is enabling “Custom Combos” for users wagering on professional football, underscoring efforts to flesh out its prediction market offering as gambling heats up in the U.S. alongside the NFL postseason, the company said Friday. The contracts are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and resemble parlays offered by traditional gaming companies Draft Kings and FanDuel, allowing users to predict the likelihood of multiple outcomes at once, including the performance of individual playe ...

Core Insights - Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have gained regulatory approval to offer sports-based prediction contracts, becoming significant competitors to traditional sportsbooks [1] - Concerns regarding the impact of these prediction sites on established sportsbooks such as DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment's FanDuel may be overstated, with a reported 5% decrease in overall betting handle for legal U.S. sportsbooks attributed to these new platforms [2] Group 1: Company Strategies - DraftKings launched its DraftKings Predicts platform, allowing entry into markets where sports betting is not yet legal, such as California and Texas [5] - This strategy not only opens new markets but also aims to demonstrate potential tax revenue to state lawmakers, potentially accelerating legalization efforts [6] - Flutter Entertainment has also entered the U.S. prediction markets with FanDuel Predicts, planning to expand its reach nationwide [7][9] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The emergence of prediction markets is prompting traditional sportsbooks to adapt, with companies like DraftKings and Flutter making significant moves into this space [3] - Both DraftKings and Flutter are leveraging prediction markets as a means to penetrate states where traditional sports betting remains illegal, indicating a strategic shift in their business models [8][9]

Group 1 - Freedom Capital Markets initiated coverage on Gambling.com Group (NASDAQ: GAMB) with a Buy rating and a price target of $8.50, indicating a potential upside of approximately 60% [1] - Gambling.com is recognized as a leading performance marketing and sports data provider for the global online gambling industry, utilizing a portfolio of authoritative websites monetized through player referral fees and recurring subscription revenue [1] Group 2 - The company is characterized as a pure-play, capital-light investment opportunity to gain exposure to the state-by-state legalization of online gambling in the United States [2] - Gambling.com's portfolio of premium domain names and proprietary technology offers a sustainable competitive advantage in a digital landscape increasingly influenced by search engines that prioritize trusted and authoritative content [2] - The disciplined, founder-led management is highlighted as a significant factor supporting long-term execution and success [2]

Core Insights - The global gambling industry in 2025 is projected to be worth over $574.55 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.1 percent, but it is experiencing a significant bifurcation between traditional land-based operations and the rapidly growing digital sector [1][4]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The land-based gambling industry faces challenges from inflation and changing travel trends post-pandemic, while the digital sector, driven by online gaming and sports betting, is experiencing robust growth rates of up to 12.3% CAGR [2][4]. - The online segment is valued at $117.5 billion, highlighting a shift from location-based entertainment to a mobile-first transactional economy [4]. - The US casino revenues are softening in the terrestrial sector, with operators like MGM Resorts International facing operational challenges, while high-net-worth individuals sustain profitability in luxury markets like Singapore [5][6]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - A significant regulatory crackdown on the sweepstakes casino sector has occurred, transferring billions from unregulated platforms to the regulated ecosystem, benefiting major players like DraftKings and FanDuel [17][18]. - The introduction of a regulated market in Brazil has positioned it as the fifth largest betting market globally, with projected revenues of $4.1 billion and a high-barrier licensing regime [22][23][24]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The North American market has evolved into a disciplined oligopoly dominated by FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, with FanDuel holding a 43% market share in online sports betting [13][14]. - DraftKings reported $1.14 billion in Q3 2025 revenue but faced a net loss of $256.8 million, indicating ongoing challenges with customer acquisition costs [15]. - BetMGM has carved out a sustainable niche in iGaming, capturing 21% of the market and generating significant net revenue [16]. Group 4: Technological Innovations - Mobile channels dominate online gambling, with nearly 80% of usage mediated by smartphones, leading to changes in product design and user acquisition strategies [8]. - Artificial Intelligence has transitioned from a marketing tool to a critical component of profitability, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency [34][39]. - The crypto-gambling sector is growing, with Stake.com projected to reach nearly $4.7 billion in revenue by 2025, indicating a bifurcation between regulated and crypto-native operators [35]. Group 5: Regional Insights - Singapore has emerged as a leading gaming market, with Las Vegas Sands reporting strong performance driven by affluent travelers, while Thailand's plans for casino development have been delayed due to political instability [27][28]. - The UAE has entered the global gaming market with a regulated framework, aiming to create a high-end tourism integrated model [31]. - Europe is experiencing consolidation, exemplified by the $4.6 billion acquisition of Tipico by the Banijay Group, creating a closed ecosystem for betting and media [32].

Core Insights - The number of self-made billionaires under 30 has reached a historic high of 13, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, prediction markets, and online gambling, surpassing the previous record of 7 [2][3]. Group 1: Emerging Billionaires - Shayne Coplan, founder of the prediction market platform Polymarket, became the youngest self-made billionaire at 27 after a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange, raising Polymarket's valuation to $9 billion [2]. - The three co-founders of AI startup Mercor, all aged 22, have now taken the title of the youngest self-made billionaires in history, surpassing Mark Zuckerberg's record by one year [2][3]. - In a short span from November to December, seven more entrepreneurs under 30 joined the billionaire ranks, including Luana Lopes Lara, the youngest self-made female billionaire at 29 [3]. Group 2: Industry Growth - The rise of young billionaires is attributed to the rapid growth of industries like AI and prediction markets, which were not significant a decade ago [3]. - The 2023 Forbes Billionaires list included only two entrepreneurs under 30, highlighting the recent surge in this demographic [4]. - The total number of billionaires in their 20s has reached 30 when including 17 inheritors of family wealth, with the youngest being Johannes von Baumbach at 20, valued at $5.8 billion [5]. Group 3: Notable Billionaires - Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, has a net worth of $3.2 billion after selling 49% of the company to Meta for approximately $14 billion [4][25]. - Ed Craven, co-founder of Stake.com, has a net worth of $2.8 billion, with the platform projected to generate $4.7 billion in revenue in 2024 [31]. - The list of 13 self-made billionaires includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, with six originating from outside the U.S. [4].

爱尔兰沃特福德, Dec. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneTwenty Group 旗下子公司 Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC) 就美联储提出的“支付账户”框架及其对在线博彩交易的潜在影响发布最新评论。 该提案于 12 月 19 日正式公开征求意见，拟允许符合条件的非银行金融机构在无需获得完整银行特许权的前提下，有限接入美联储核心支付系统，包括 FedNow 与 Fedwire。 MDC 发言人表示：“美联储向金融科技公司开放其支付基础设施的做法是一次历史性转变。 虽然此举旨在促进创新、减少摩擦，但对持牌博彩运营商的影响可能十分显著。 更快的结算和直接清算可能提高派彩速度，但同时也带来了新的风险和合规要求。 而这些都不会是无偿的。” 拟议账户常被称为“精简主账户”，旨在实现美国经济中资金流动方式的现代化。 它对账户余额、访问权限和风险控制设有严格限制，但为支付提供商绕开传统银行中介提供了直接路径。 这可能从根本上改变博彩平台的资金存取方式。 尽管该提案仍处于公众咨询阶段，MDC 指出这反映出监管层面一个更广泛的趋势：对数字支付的审查日益严格。 若最终 ...

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Core Viewpoint - Meridianbet has secured a B+ online gaming license in Belgium, allowing it to launch online casino products in January 2026, expanding its operations beyond sports betting in a highly regulated market [1][2][3] Group 1: License and Operations - The B+ license enables Meridianbet to operate a comprehensive online casino platform, including slots, table games, and automated live games, in addition to its existing sports betting services [2][3] - The new online casino platform will be distinct from Meridianbet's sports betting operations, which are governed by separate licensing [3] Group 2: Market Overview - Belgium's online gambling market generated €944.6 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2023, reflecting an 18% year-over-year growth [4] - The online casino segment specifically contributed €455 million to the GGR in 2023, marking a 20.2% year-over-year increase and representing the largest segment of the online gambling market in Belgium [4] - The market is highly concentrated, with ten operators accounting for 94% of online wagers among 24 active license holders [5] Group 3: Regulatory Environment - Belgium has one of the strictest regulatory frameworks for online gambling in Europe, characterized by comprehensive licensing requirements and stringent player protection protocols enforced by the Belgian Gaming Commission [5] Group 4: Technology and Innovation - Meridianbet's online casino platform will utilize proprietary AI-driven recommendation technology to analyze player behavior and preferences, providing real-time personalized game suggestions [6] Group 5: Company Background - Meridianbet Group, founded in 2001, operates in 18 jurisdictions across Europe, Africa, and South America, leveraging proprietary technology and scalable systems for its omni-channel market approach [7] - Golden Matrix Group, the parent company of Meridianbet, operates globally through B2B and B2C divisions, including various online gaming platforms [8]

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for digital-first players, today provided an update on accelerating momentum in Ontario, the Company’s core regulated market. Ontario Performance Update Rivalry continues to see accelerating momentum in Ontario following the completion of its October capital restructuring and refinancing. Based on results to date, the Company is tracking toward an all-time record qu ...

I aim to invest in companies with perfect qualitative attributes, buy them at an attractive price based on fundamentals, and hold them forever. I hope to publish articles covering such companies approximately 3 times per week, with extensive quarterly follow-ups and constant updates.I manage a concentrated portfolio targeted at avoiding losers and maximizing exposure to big winners. This means that often I'll rate great companies at a 'Hold' because their growth opportunity is below my threshold, or their d ...