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OAKLAND PARK, Fla. (Gambling911.com) - The new entrant into the prediction market space, NoVig, is flexing its muscles along side the likes of Kalshi and Crypto.com by suing Missouri's attorney general.
Missouri is the latest state to begin sending out cease and desist letters to companies Attorney General Catherine Hanaway claim are offering illegal, unlicensed sports wagering that infringe on the Show Me State's regulated betting market.
NoVig really had no other choice to react as they were facing an October 17 deadline to respond.
Novig filed a preemptive federal lawsuit, seeking to prevent Missouri officials from enforcing state gambling laws against its sports prediction contracts.
The company argues that its sports event contracts are federally regulated financial instruments under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Its lawsuit seeks an injunction preventing Missouri from taking enforcement action against those contracts. No injunction had been verified as granted.
NoVig has made headlines in recent weeks with its controversial ad campaign featuring a scantily clad Sydney Sweeney, who has appeared on Euphoria and The White Lotus.
Sweeney reportedly lost more than 200,000 Instagram followers as a result of those ads while NoVig arguably gained a significant number of new customers.
Prediction Markets
Powerade Takes Aim at Novig Over Sydney Sweeney Ad Campaign
Powerade has issued something of a rebuttal to Novig’s nearly-naked ad campaign starring Sydney Sweeney. The sports drink company released a series of ads featuring female athletes training in a variety of sporting events with the tagline at the end of all three ads reads “Never Just Sports” — an apparent response to Novig’s recent “Just Sports” campaign with Sweeney, who appeared in her ads nearly naked. Leah Macko, its director of brand marketing, wasn't shy about letting NoVig know these ads were in response to the Sweeney spots. “We’ve seen the conversation around women in sports evolve and felt it was important for POWERADE to add its voice,” Macko said. “For us, women’s sports have never been ‘just’ sports, and this is an opportunity to celebrate women athletes for the impact they make, both in sport and beyond it.”
Gambling News Scandal
Former ESPN Producer Says Gambling Partnerships Compromised Coverage
Nicole Noren's criticism of ESPN's relationship with gambling companies received fresh attention in a Guardian article published Saturday morning. Among the stories she claims were held back, those that took a negative approach when it came to gambling. “What was telling to me was that I had pitched numerous stories that would take a harder look at some of the gambling companies and addiction, and none of those stories was greenlit,” Noren told the Columbia Journalism Review in an interview with journalist Danny Funt. “They ended up doing a show on it around that time, but it became very neutered. Some of the people involved intended to make it much more hard-hitting and hold the gambling companies accountable. Let’s just say the final product didn’t end up doing that.” Noren, who detailed a family history that included seeing her grandfather, father and brother’s lives unspool due to gambling addiction, left the network in 2023 after ESPN announced the debut of ESPN BET, a partnership with Penn Entertainment. “I’m not going to work for a gambling company and have blood on my hands,” Noren bluntly told Funt.
Political Betting
FL-25 has pulled out further ahead for Democrat Jared Moskowitz, who is currently serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 23rd congressional district since 2023. Moskowitz is now the -500 favorite to win against Republican Scott Singer. His odds shot up a full -100 from -400 just a few days ago. Following redistricting, Moskowitz is running for reelection in the 25th district. He faced a primary challenge from activist and union organizer Oliver Larkin, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Moskowitz defeated Larkin in the Democratic primary, receiving 63.5% of the vote. Scott Singer pays close to $400 for every $100 bet with a win.
Casino Crime
Vegas Casino Flamingo Theft Defendant Says He Had 30 to 40 Drinks Before Yanking Peachy From Bird Habitat
The jury provided Canadian tourist, Mitchell Fairbairn, 34, with an extensive set of questions as his trial kicked off this week in Las Vegas. Fairbairn is accused of stealing and harming a beloved flamingo named Peachy at the aptly named Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino resort on March 3. While claiming to have drank upwards of 40 beers the day of the incident, Fairbairn, who lives on a farm, told jurors he does "not drink a lot" and followed that with "Nowhere near what I drank here". Fairbairn claims he climbed into the bird habitat hoping to fix Peachy's "detached wing" but ultimately ended up mingling with another bird prior to allegedly forcibly removing Peachy and taking him up to his hotel room. Jurors asked "If someone hops your fence and enters your farm and hurts an animal that you own, what is your expectation of local law enforcement?: His response: "That’s a good question. I would say a proper investigation to ensure that an individual that took it actually is the one who harmed it." The trial continues Monday and Gambling911.com will be providing full coverage.
NBA Sports Betting
NBA Tells Sportsbooks to Stop Certain Bets, Restrict Parlays
Bettors will not be able to include the under on the same player's statistics in parlays, in addition to other betting markets the league considers problematic, according to the memo, which was obtained by ESPN. The league also directed its authorized gambling operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel, not to offer bets on the winner of the opening tip, players to miss specific shots and under bets on players who are expected to play fewer than 12 minutes in a specific game. "There's a balance between ensuring that we are removing problematic bet types but also ensuring that we don't just move activity into the illegal market," NBA executive vice president Scott Kaufman-Ross told ESPN. "And where we landed right now, we think, is the right balance of those two objectives." These new prohibitions open the door for local bookies and offshore sportsbooks as most are expected to continue offering the banned prop and parlay options.
College Football
Bovada Rooting on the First Half Under in the Ohio State-Indiana Game Apparently.
Bovada has been posting reactions to the first-half action in the Ohio State vs. Indiana game, particularly bettors who were taking the under. Its posts from roughly a few hours ago have attracted hundreds to approximately 1,000 views each. The game ended with a 19-15 win by Ohio State and 17 points scored in the first half. At least one site had the total set at 18.5. Action was split at DraftKings but it looks like Bovada had more on the Over.
Ohio State vs Indiana first half https://t.co/ow0ZuZchmZ
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) October 17, 2026
The doink sounds so much sweeter when you bet the under https://t.co/X1OAJA5Qf6
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) October 17, 2026
Gambling News
New York Sports Betting Handle Surpasses $600 Million Again
A recently listed report says New York recorded its second $600 million betting week in four weeks. New York's weekly sports betting handle recently reached $619.4 million during NFL Week 4, with top operators like FanDuel generating over $209 million in a single week.
Casino News (Florida)
Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Opens Latin Gaming Area
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood today unveiled Zona de Fuego, Florida’s first fully integrated Latin gaming and entertainment experience, during an exclusive preview held as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, “My Rhythm. My Flavor. ¡Mi Gente!” The launch builds on the resort’s broader commitment to the Latin community, with more than 75 Latin artist performances and Latin-focused events and concerts on property in 2026 alone. Hard Rock Live’s lineup includes upcoming performances by Ricky Martin, Dalvin La Melodia, Marcello Hernandez, Grupo Niche and Menudo. The resort also hosts the popular “Noches de Neon” pool parties several times a year and plans to continue the series. Ongoing culinary pop-ups featuring Michelin-starred Latin chefs showcase Latin America’s diverse flavors and culinary traditions. Guests can also look forward to Sabores de Las Americas, a Latin food festival taking place Nov. 14. Joined by several world-renowned Latin music artists, influencers and media personalities for the first bet, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Randy Morton stated, “Zona de Fuego represents an evolution of Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s multicultural entertainment offerings while strengthening our longstanding connection to the Hispanic community. We created an exciting and welcoming destination that celebrates the energy, diversity, and cultural influence of South Florida’s Hispanic community while bringing guests together through gaming, music, food, and shared experiences."
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
