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December 2025 wrapped the year with Missouri's long-awaited sports betting debut, fresh tax relief for jackpot winners, and President Trump's tease of no federal tax on gambling earnings. Meanwhile, the NBA tightened integrity rules amid scandals, and operators like Caesars and Hard Rock Bet rolled out new product features to enhance player experiences.
TL;DR: A Bite-sized Overview:
- Missouri launches sports betting: Eight operators go live December 1 with massive promo packages and new pro team partnerships.
- Slot jackpot winning threshold increased: $1,200 threshold jumps to $2,000 for 2026 winnings under new federal law.
- Tax rumors: Trump considers no federal tax on gambling winnings, building on tips/overtime exemptions.
- NBA improves integrity: NBA strengthens injury reports and pushes prop bet curbs to fight manipulation risks.
- Caesars adds omni-channel Rewards Shop: Players can now redeem store credits for items and Bonus Spins on slots across Caesars locations.
- Hard Rock Bet debuts “For You” hub: Several new features introduced to create more personalized sports betting experiences.
Missouri Launches Statewide Sports Betting
Missouri officially launched legal sports betting statewide on December 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. CT, becoming the 39th US state to regulate sports betting after years of debate and a 2024 voter amendment.
Six major sportsbook operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, Caesars, and bet365) went live on mobile simultaneously, with Circa Sports and theScore Be joining, setting the stage for a highly competitive market. Promo packages exceeded $5,500 in value, including DraftKings' up to $1,200, BetMGM's $1,500 insurance, FanDuel's Bet $5 Get $300, bet365's Bet $10 Get $365, Fanatics' $2,000 FanCash, and Caesars' Bet $5 Get $150 plus Super Bowl VIP sweepstakes.
Caesars premiered its Universal Digital Wallet statewide, with retail books at Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis featuring ceremonial first bets by NFL legends Trent Green and Christian Okoye. PENN Entertainment transitioned users to theScore Bet overnight, preserving balances and tools, while opening on-property books at Hollywood Casino St. Louis, River City Casino, and Argosy Riverside, expanding theScore Bet to 21 jurisdictions with integrated media features.
Pro team partnerships in Missouri include:
- Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) has BetMGM as its official sports betting partner.
- St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) has Bet365 as its official sports betting partner.
- St. Louis Blues (NHL) has DraftKings as its official sports betting partner.
- St. Louis CITY SC (MLS) has FanDuel as its official sports betting partner.
Slot Jackpot Reporting Threshold Rises to $2,000 Starting 2026
The IRS confirmed that casinos will raise the slot jackpot reporting threshold from $1,200 to $2,000 for winnings paid on or after January 1, 2026, per changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in July 2025.
The update, reflected in a draft Form W-2G, amends Internal Revenue Code Sections 6041 and 6041A to ease information-reporting burdens. Jackpots paid in 2025 will stick to the old $1,200 rule.
Trump Floats Ending Federal Taxes on Gambling Winnings
The other day, while on board Air Force One, President Donald Trump said he may consider eliminating
federal income taxes on gambling winnings. It was mentioned alongside his "no tax" agenda, tips, Social Security benefits, and overtime pay.
"We have no tax on tips, we have no tax on Social Security, and we have no tax on overtime," Trump told reporters. "No tax on gambling winnings, I don't know. I'm gonna have to think about that."
Current IRS rules mandate W-2G reporting for winnings over $600 (withholding at $5,000+, up to 24%-31% depending on SSN provision). All gambling income is taxable on Form 1040 and offsettable only by losses up to the winnings amount. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed earlier in 2025, already axed taxes on tips and overtime.
With nearly 60% of U.S. adults gambling yearly (30% at casinos, 21% on sports, per AGA data), any repeal would ease burdens for recreational bettors but complicate operator reporting and current state revenue-sharing schemes, as those available, for example, in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
NBA Tightens Injury Reporting and Renews Push for Prop Bet Limits
The NBA issued a memo on December 19, announcing stricter injury-reporting rules and a renewed call for restrictions on player prop bets to curb the risks of manipulation and harassment amid ongoing betting scandals.
Teams must now resubmit game-day injury reports: 8-10 a.m. for early tips (before 5 p.m.), 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for later games (except second nights of back-to-backs).
Caesars Launches Rewards Shop for Online Casino Players
Caesars Entertainment rolled out the Caesars Rewards Shop on December 15, across Caesars Palace Online Casino in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, letting players redeem Reward Credits for Bonus Spins on eligible slots alongside existing Casino Bonus Cash options.
The feature deepens integration with the broader Caesars Rewards omni-channel ecosystem, where credits earned anywhere (retail casinos, hotels, dining, or online) now unlock spins on over a dozen popular slot titles.
Access is seamless via the Rewards Center in the app, with consistent value across all 50+ Caesars destinations in the United States.
Hard Rock Bet Launches “For You” Personalization Hub in Sportsbook App
Hard Rock rolled out its new “For You” personalization hub, accessible directly from the sportsbook home screen, tailoring the betting experience to individual preferences and wagering history.
The feature curates content on favored leagues, teams, and players, consolidating upcoming games into a single view to reduce search time. Highlights include “Mood Bets” grouped by Chill, Skill, or Thrill risk levels, suggested parlays from favorites, and a swipe-based “Parlay or Pass” builder for quick leg selection.
Additional sections offer “Because You Bet” recommendations from past activity, “Bets by Fans” showing popular picks among similar users, and “Your Trends” summarizing betting patterns by teams, leagues, and players.
“‘For You’ represents an exciting milestone in Hard Rock Bet’s continued investment in personalization and player-focused innovation, leveraging the power of data to tailor every player’s journey,” said Mike Primeaux, Executive Managing Director and COO at Hard Rock Digital.