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A Ticket to Win: Are Travel Points a Thing of Value?
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August 21, 2026
A Ticket to Win: Are Travel Points a Thing of Value?
By: Abbey Block
With the end of summer drawing near, many American families may be hoping to book a last-minute getaway. Some of those travelers may be hoping to take advantage of credit card points to book their trips on the cheap. Credit card points have become a ubiquitous part of American capitalism – particularly those offered by airlines, often referred to as “travel points.” According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer’s travel season was “powered” by more than “$38 billion” worth of credit card-powered travel points. Given the increasing popularity with which folks are accumulating and using these travel points, gaming companies may be wondering if there’s a way for them to get in on the action and asking whether their…
Advertising Prediction Markets? The CFTC Just Sent a Clear Message to Affiliates.
August 17, 2026
Advertising Prediction Markets? The CFTC Just Sent a Clear Message to Affiliates.
By: Kyra Pulliam
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently issued guidance directed to designated contract markets (DCMs) concerning the marketing and offering of event contracts. The guidance was addressed to DCMs because no swap execution facilities (SEFs) currently list event contracts. However, the CFTC’s analysis is equally applicable to futures commission merchants (FCMs) and introducing brokers (IBs), as well as the advertising affiliates and marketing partners that…
CFTC Sends Message to Prediction Markets: You Are Not a Sportsbook
August 11, 2026
CFTC Sends Message to Prediction Markets: You Are Not a Sportsbook
By: John Mikuta
In recent guidance, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) has made clear that event contracts offered by regulated prediction-market entities must not be marketed in a format commonly used by casino gambling bookmakers. The CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and Market Participants Division issued a notice to all CFTC-regulated entities and affiliates regarding their obligations to refrain from engaging in misleading or deceptive practices when…
Lawmakers Pass Online Gambling Bill in Michigan: What this Means for The Great Lakes State
December 21, 2018
Lawmakers Pass Online Gambling Bill in Michigan: What this Means for The Great Lakes State
By: Ifrah Law
The Michigan legislature has passed a trio of bills that would legalize and regulate online gaming. If these bills are signed into law, Michigan’s three commercial casinos and 24 tribal casinos will soon offer players sports betting, online poker, and online casino games. In addition, these bills will pave the way for sports betting in 2019. With this triumvirate in place, Michigan is guaranteed…
NBA Announces Deals to Provide Exclusive League Data to Sports Betting Operators
November 29, 2018
NBA Announces Deals to Provide Exclusive League Data to Sports Betting Operators
By: Ifrah Law
Once adamantly opposed to the idea of legal sports betting, professional sports leagues are now hurrying to play catch-up in order to profit from the burgeoning sports betting market. On Wednesday, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) issued a release announcing its “first betting data partnerships in the U.S.” with sports data companies Sportradar and Genius Sports to distribute NBA sports betting data to United States…
Ruling in Daniels v. FanDuel Highlights the Value of Sports Data and Contemporary Culture
October 29, 2018
Ruling in Daniels v. FanDuel Highlights the Value of Sports Data and Contemporary Culture
By: Nicole Kardell
More good news for sports betting operators exploring U.S. markets: the Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the “newsworthy value” of sports player stats. The ruling will make it harder for leagues and players to exercise control over (or to extract rents from) the distribution of player data. The case, Daniels v. FanDuel, was brought by several college athletes against DraftKings, Inc. and FanDuel, Inc. Plaintiff…
But today I am still just a Bill
October 22, 2018
But today I am still just a Bill
By: James Trusty
By all accounts, a bill for legalized sports betting in D.C. (“The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018”) was well-received last week by the City Council, but the byzantine process by which it might become a law leaves plenty of opportunities for mischief. On Wednesday, Councilman Jack Evans introduced legislation with the support of Mayor Bowser and co-sponsorship of five other councilmembers, and with…
Is the Daily Fantasy Sports Showdown in Texas Just for Show?
September 17, 2018
Is the Daily Fantasy Sports Showdown in Texas Just for Show?
By: Ifrah Law
It’s a showdown in Texas over the legality of daily fantasy sports (“DFS”) contests under Texas law. But it’s a showdown only for show, it seems. The drama over the legality of DFS in Texas began on January 19, 2016, when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton unilaterally issued an opinion letter declaring fantasy sports illegal within the state. The fallout from this opinion was swift….
