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A relatively quiet day in the world of gambling and sports on Thursday. We will begin to see more sporting events with betting interest this coming weekend.
Gambling Crime (Detroit)
3 Wounded in Stabbing at MGM Grand Casino in Detroit
Thursday July 23, 2026 (1:28 pm EDT)
Detroit Police found three men with non-life-threatening injuries inside the MGM Grand on Tuesday. According to a preliminary investigation, a fight broke out among the trio. Detectives said two of the men were fighting with the third and all three were stabbed. The venue is no stranger to disturbing incidents over the years, as Gambling911.com reports.
Prediction Markets
Horsford and Amodei Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ban Sports Prediction Market Contracts and Protect Jobs
Thursday July 23, 2026 (1:28 pm EDT)
Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02) introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, a bipartisan bill stop federally regulated trading platforms from offering sports betting and casino-style gambling under the guise of financial products. The legislation makes clear that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversees legitimate financial markets - not sportsbook-style gambling or casino games. It closes a federal loophole that allows companies to bypass the licensing requirements, consumer protections, tax obligations, and regulatory oversight that apply to legal gaming operators. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Curtis (R-UT), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced companion legislation in March 2026.
Gambling Crime
Trial Continues for One Time Exec Tied to Malta's BestPlay Gaming Ltd Charged With Complicity in Journalist Assassination
Thursday July 23, 2026 (1:28 pm EDT)
Businessman Yorgen Fenech who once had ties to Malta's BestPlay Gaming Ltd is on trial accused of complicity in journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia voluntary homicide and criminal association. Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in 2017. The trial is ongoing and featured testimony from Fenech's former business partner, Johann Cremona, who claimed that a middleman the two knew confiding in him about his role in the assassination plot.
Gambling News
Online Gambling Hub of Malta Hit By Extensive Power Outages Due to Extreme Heat
Thursday July 23, 2026 (11:20 am EDT)
Malta's capital Valletta was without power on Wednesday, a day after the island's prime minister issued an "unconditional" apology for a wave of power cuts across the country over several days. "I want to apologise to all those who were without electricity in the last hours. That apology is unconditional," Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Tuesday as people in several localities reported having spent the night without a fan or air-conditioning. Wednesday's power cut briefly interrupted the trial of a businessman accused of association in the car bomb murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017. The Mediterranean island is at the end of a five-day heat wave which has seen temperatures reach 42 degrees. A July record of 43.3 degrees centigrade was reached on Saturday. Malta is widely considered the largest online gambling hub in the world.
News Stories We Are Watching Closely
These Are the Stories We Are Currently Following Closely
Thursday July 23, 2026 (10:10 am EDT)
- Oil Prices Leap to $100 a Barrel After Attacks in Red Sea - Crude Oil betting markets were being closely monitored Thursday following an attack in the Red Sea that expands the U.S.-Iran conflict. At least one Saudi oil tanker has been attacked in the Red Sea, widening the risks to energy supplies already disrupted by a near halt to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose to $100 a barrel Thursday for the first time since May as the violence raised fears of greater supply disruptions, an increase of about 40 percent this month. Prediction markets are giving a 46% chance of Crude Oil prices surpassing $115 this year (as a peak). There was a 69% chance of gas prices being Above 4.115 on Friday.
- 'Pray for My Enemy': Convicted Pastor Stole $340K From Churches for Gambling and Lavish Expenses - A Louisiana pastor who built an online following with upbeat sermons and a self-help book has been convicted in New Orleans of stealing more than $340,000 (around £254,000) from two churches between 2020 and 2024 to fund gambling and lavish personal expenses, according to federal prosecutors. Dale Sanders, 56, of Kenner, was found guilty last week on 25 counts of wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation following a five-day jury trial in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Gambling.com Group Limited Changes Name to Grandstand Limited - Gambling.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: GAMB) (the “Company”) today announced that it has changed its name to Grandstand Limited. Beginning with the market open tomorrow, July 23, 2026, the Company’s ordinary shares will trade on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “GRSD”. The Company’s new corporate website is live at grandstand.com.
- Pennsylvania Bill Proposes New Regulatory Approach for Prediction Markets - The proposal would establish operating rules for prediction markets without imposing a tax, distinguishing Pennsylvania from several other states. House Bill 2711, introduced July 22 by Rep. Tarik Khan and more than two dozen co-sponsors, would create a new chapter in Pennsylvania law dedicated to prediction markets. The bill establishes operational standards governing participation, market integrity and consumer protections.
Sweepstakes Casinos (Washington)
Sweepstakes Casinos in Washington State May Be Doomed
Wednesday July 22, 2026 (9:02 pm EDT)
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has taken one of the most aggressive positions in the U.S. against what his office considers unauthorized online gambling, and that posture extends to casino-style sweepstakes operators. Brown has argued that companies cannot evade Washington gambling laws simply by using new technology or different business models. While the Washington AG hasn't specifically mentioned any sweepstakes operators by name, one we know sits high on his list. In February of this year, Brown sued Playtika, Aristocrat, and related companies, alleging they operated unlicensed gambling apps that had collected more than $225 million from Washington residents since 2020. According to the complaint, more than 150,000 Washingtonians used the apps each month. In March 2026, Brown also sued Kalshi, arguing that its event contracts amounted to illegal gambling under Washington law. Judge John McHale of the King County Superior Court granted Washington's motion for a preliminary injunction against Kalshi this week, ruling that the prediction markets platform likely violated the state's gambling laws.
Top Trending
Top Engagements Last 24 Hours
Wednesday July 22, 2026 (9:02 pm EDT)
"Prediction Markets Still Have Republicans Winning Florida Governor's Race Despite Latest Polls Showing Dems Gaining Ground" received a nice steady flow of readers throughout the day Wednesday. The article received 6,240 impressions. This story has gone viral and readership is mostly coming in from our social media and referring partners across the Net. As such, the story has barely made any impact via the search engines. The engagement at Gambling911.com from what little search queries were entered was actually decent. Our betting coverage for where LeBron James ends up next has topped the engagement rankings here for the past three days.
Top Trending
Brazil Continues to Dominate Search Wednesday Evening as Serie A Matches Get Underway
Wednesday July 22, 2026 (7:11 pm EDT)
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
