VALLETTA, Malta, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator and subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), announced its title sponsorship of Fight Nation Championship (FNC 26), to be held on December 20, 2025, in Podgorica, Montenegro. The event features fighters with international combat sports experience competing in a regional promotion that serves as a talent pipeline for top-tier global MMA organizations. The global mixed martial arts (MMA) market ...

Core Insights - Codere Online Luxembourg is an overlooked sports betting stock with a market capitalization of $353 million, currently priced at $7.70 per share [2][7] - The company does not operate in the U.S. market, which is beneficial as competitors with significant U.S. exposure are facing challenges [5][8] - Codere's shares have increased nearly 20% year to date, indicating strong performance despite its lack of U.S. operations [4][5] Company Overview - Codere Online went public through a reverse merger with a SPAC about four years ago [7] - The company has exposure to key markets such as Italy, South Africa, and the U.K., with its most lucrative operations in Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain [8] - Codere is positioned to benefit from the upcoming 2026 World Cup betting trends, potentially offering a better investment opportunity compared to U.S.-focused rivals [8][9] Market Position - The absence of U.S. operations allows Codere to avoid regulatory risks associated with prediction markets, which are becoming a competitive threat to U.S. sportsbook operators [5][7] - Investors view Codere stock as inexpensive, providing exposure to the high-growth Latin American internet wagering market [9] - As the growth story in Latin America gains traction, Codere may attract takeover offers from companies looking to enter the region [9]

Core Insights - Deutsche Bank maintains a "Buy" rating for Robinhood, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential in the prediction markets and sports betting sectors [1][6] - Robinhood is expanding its offerings by launching sports-focused event contracts, allowing users to wager on individual performances of professional football players, positioning itself against traditional sportsbooks [2][5] Company Overview - Robinhood is known for pioneering commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs via a mobile app, and it is now entering the competitive sports betting market [1][2] - The current stock price of Robinhood is $119.40, reflecting a 3.59% increase, with a market capitalization of approximately $105.68 billion [3][6] Product Launch - The new features enable users to engage in parlay and prop bets on NFL games, with the ability to trade preset combinations of outcomes, totals, and spreads [4][5] - By early 2026, users will have the option to create custom combinations of outcomes across different NFL games, enhancing user engagement and betting options [4] Market Position - Robinhood's entry into the sports betting market is part of a broader strategy to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional stock trading, capitalizing on the growing interest in sports betting [5][6]

Industry Overview - The horse racing industry in the U.S. has been experiencing a decline in annual revenue due to increased competition from other forms of gambling, such as online gaming and legalized sports betting [5] - The coupling of racetracks with casinos is a common practice, as casinos significantly contribute to the revenue generated in the gaming sector [2] Company Developments - VanEck ETFs announced a name change for its VanEck Gaming ETF (BJK) to the VanEck Degen Economy ETF, reflecting a trend in the gaming and crypto industries [3] - The BJK ETF has accumulated $24 million in assets over 17 years, indicating a relatively small size compared to other investment vehicles [3] Market Performance - The BJK ETF has underperformed relative to major indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, suggesting challenges in the performance of non-mega-cap stocks within the gaming sector [5] - The current valuation of the BJK ETF stands at 21 times trailing earnings, indicating potential for growth in the gaming industry despite its recent performance [5] Consumer Trends - Modern gambling methods, such as mobile betting, are perceived as more engaging compared to traditional horse racing, which is viewed as "too slow" by some consumers [5] - The shift in consumer preferences towards faster-paced gambling options is impacting the appeal of horse racing as a betting choice [5]

Core Insights - DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is recognized as one of the top sin stocks to invest in for 2026, with Benchmark maintaining a Buy rating and a price target of $37 for the company's shares as of December 1 [1] Group 1: Market Performance - In New York's sports betting industry, there has been a year-over-year growth with handle increasing by 12.7% and revenue rising by 16.2% compared to the same period last year [1] - DraftKings has reported a handle increase of 15.6% year-over-year and a revenue growth of 13.1%, despite a hold rate of 8.3% which is lower than the state average of 9.3% [2] - The overall positive trend in New York's sports betting market is attributed to a balanced model where FanDuel aids margin expansion while DraftKings drives handle growth [2] Group 2: Expansion Plans - DraftKings is set to expand its sports betting operations into Missouri, having received a temporary mobile sports wagering license from the Missouri Gaming Commission, allowing it to operate independently [3] - With this expansion, Missouri becomes the 29th state where DraftKings offers regulated sports betting [3] Group 3: Company Overview - DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company that provides sports betting, digital lottery courier services, daily fantasy sports, and online casino games including roulette, slot machines, blackjack, and baccarat [4]

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winners, Inc., (OTC: WNRS), a Company that provides predictive sports analytics and data products driven by Gen AI for US sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA to predictive markets Polymarket and Kalshi, today announced the completion of acquisition of Moneyline Sports Inc. and provided the following year end Letter To Shareholders from the new Winners Inc. CEO, Michael Friedman. Dear Shareholders, As we move toward the year end of 2025, I am honored to intr ...

Matchbook, a sports betting exchange, is launching a prediction market platform in the UK as it prepares to compete with rivals Kalshi and Polymarket in the US https://t.co/OgZOluhdOC ...

Core Insights - Global Alpha Capital has increased its stake in Genius Sports Limited by purchasing 537,900 shares, bringing its total holdings to 4,733,700 shares valued at approximately $58.60 million as of the end of the third quarter [2][3] - Genius Sports reported a significant sales growth of 38% in the last quarter, indicating strong performance in the sports data and technology sector [1][11] - The company currently has a market capitalization of $2.57 billion and trades at a price of $10.75 per share, reflecting an 11% increase over the previous year [4][3] Company Overview - Genius Sports Limited is a leading provider of technology and data-driven services to the sports, sports betting, and media sectors, leveraging proprietary technology for live data collection and distribution [6][8] - The company serves over 400 sports leagues, more than 650 sportsbooks, and 250 brands, providing a comprehensive suite of data, streaming, marketing, and integrity solutions [11][9] - Genius Sports has established contracts with major partners, including the English Premier League, NCAA, NBA, and holds a 10% stake from the NFL, aligning incentives for continued collaboration [12][11] Financial Metrics - The company reported a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $604.52 million, with a net income of -$119.17 million, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving profitability [4][11] - Genius Sports' stock-based compensation currently accounts for 24% of its revenue, which may impact future profitability if not managed [12] - The stock is trading at 36 times forward earnings, suggesting a premium valuation relative to its growth potential and market position [13]

In the fast-moving world of sports betting, a few seconds can mean everything. On https://t.co/1aQemhmjuy’s prediction market, those seconds now belong to the pros https://t.co/EelG0fYKBr ...

Core Viewpoint - Polymarket is transitioning to hire an internal market-making team, which may blur the lines between a prediction market and a traditional sportsbook [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - The company is engaging with traders and sports bettors to establish the new market-making desk, following a similar initiative by rival Kalshi [2] - The decision to create an in-house trading team appears to be more focused on revenue generation rather than product improvement, as the company currently does not charge fees or generate profit [3] - Polymarket plans to introduce parlays through a Request for Quote (RFQ) protocol, with the internal desk responsible for pricing and matching bets [3] Group 2: Financial Implications - The financial logic behind the strategy is questioned, as the potential profits from the trading desk may be minimal compared to the company's high valuation [5] - There are concerns that the company should avoid making the trading desk too profitable to prevent public relations and legal issues, referencing a class-action lawsuit against Kalshi [6] Group 3: Market Positioning - The shift towards an in-house trading model aligns Polymarket more closely with a sportsbook, where users trade against the house rather than each other, potentially altering the market dynamics [7] - This transition could create conflicts of interest and may unsettle bettors who prefer prediction markets for their distinct nature, as market prices would reflect the internal desk's decisions rather than collective trader wisdom [8]