USA
January 2026 opened with record-setting online casino wins, expanded federal investigations into sports betting scandals, and renewed regulatory focus on player protection. Operators rolled out responsible gaming initiatives, while lawmakers and governors pushed tighter controls on credit card payments and underage gambling.
TL;DR: A Bite-sized Overview
- Caesars pays record online jackpot: Caesars Palace Online Casino awards a $1.24 million jackpot in New Jersey, the largest ever across its online brands.
- FanDuel rolls out a new responsible gaming campaign, “Play with a Plan,” which promotes proactive spending management across all products.
- NBA betting probe widens: Federal prosecutors expand investigation into alleged player-linked manipulation involving prop bets.
- Historic college basketball scandal: 20 players charged in the largest point-shaving case in 75 years, spanning nearly 30 games.
- Ohio governor criticizes sports betting law: Gov. Mike DeWine calls legalization his “biggest mistake,” citing addiction and integrity risks.
- New York fights underage gambling: Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes facial recognition and limits on AI-driven betting promotions.
- States target credit card betting: Virginia and Maine advance bills banning credit card use for online sports wagering.
Caesars Palace Online Casino Pays Record $1.24M Jackpot in New Jersey
Caesars Palace Online Casino awarded a record $1.24 million online jackpot in New Jersey last month. The lucky player hit the top prize on IGT PlayDigital’s MegaJackpots from a $30 wager. Caesars said it was the largest jackpot ever paid across its online casino brands.
The win continues a strong run for the progressive jackpot slot, which has produced multiple seven-figure and six-figure jackpots on Caesars platforms in recent months, including more than $1.1 million paid across two New Jersey wins in September last year.
FanDuel Launches “Play with a Plan” Responsible Gaming Initiative
FanDuel has launched a new responsible gaming campaign titled “Play with a Plan,” aimed at encouraging customers to proactively manage their gambling activity through planning and self-awareness rather than reactive messaging.
The initiative builds on FanDuel’s existing responsible gaming programme. The campaign highlights tools such as My Spend, Loss Limits, Deposit Alerts, and Real-Time Check-In, which uses machine learning to help customers track and manage spending across sportsbook and casino products.
Federal Prosecutors Expand NBA Betting Investigation
US federal prosecutors have broadened their investigation into alleged NBA game manipulation, examining additional contests beyond the seven games cited in an October indictment tied to an illegal sports betting ring, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The case centers on claims that players shared non-public information or altered in-game participation to enable prop betting. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has been accused of tipping off bettors ahead of a March 2023 game, while former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 to exiting games early and was permanently banned by the NBA.
One bettor linked to both cases was sentenced to two years in federal prison in January, with prosecutors indicating other incidents remain under review. The NBA confirmed its cooperation with authorities and reiterated its push for tighter limits on player prop betting.
Feds Charge 20 Players in Largest College Basketball Point-Shaving Case in Decades
US federal prosecutors have charged 20 current and former college basketball players in what authorities called the largest point-shaving scandal in 75 years, alleging a betting conspiracy that manipulated nearly 30 games across 17 NCAA Division I programs.
According to the indictment, players were paid to underperform so their teams would fail to cover point spreads, with alleged ringleaders placing millions in wagers on fixed games. The scheme, which prosecutors say began overseas before expanding into US college basketball, involved bribery, wire fraud, and illegal sports betting.
The NCAA confirmed it has opened integrity investigations into roughly 40 athletes over the past year and renewed calls to eliminate collegiate prop bets, citing heightened risks of manipulation. Federal officials described the case as historic in scope and warned that similar investigations are ongoing.
Ohio Governor Calls Legalizing Sports Betting His “Biggest Mistake”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he considers signing the state’s sports betting law the biggest mistake of his tenure, citing rising addiction concerns, aggressive advertising, and growing threats to the integrity of professional sports.
Ohio legalized sports betting in 2021, with wagering launching in 2023. Since then, residents have wagered more than $16 billion, a surge DeWine said was driven by easy mobile access and constant marketing. The state has since spent millions addressing gambling-related harm, particularly among younger men.
DeWine also pointed to threats against athletes and recent federal gambling investigations as evidence that betting risks extend beyond consumers to the games themselves. While Ohio has adopted league-backed limits on certain prop bets, DeWine said he would still support a full ban on proposition wagering if lawmakers advance legislation, adding to the list of voices advocating for restrictions.
New York Weighs Biometric Age Checks for Online Sports Betting
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she plans to pursue stricter safeguards in the state’s online sports betting market, including biometric age verification, to curb underage gambling and reduce addiction risks.
As part of her State of the State agenda, Hochul will ask the New York State Gaming Commission to explore tools such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to prevent minors from accessing sportsbook accounts, often through family or shared devices. She also signaled interest in limiting how online sportsbooks use AI-driven personalized promotions.
The proposals would apply to licensed operators and be paired with expanded treatment initiatives for gambling disorders. New York, the largest US online sports betting market, recorded roughly $26.3 billion in wagers in 2025.
States Move to Ban Credit Cards for Online Sports Betting
Lawmakers in Virginia and Maine advanced legislation in January that would ban the use of credit cards in online sports betting sites, citing consumer protection and concerns about gambling-related debt.
In Virginia, the House of Delegates passed HB 515 by a 94–3 vote, prohibiting sportsbooks regulated by the Virginia Lottery from accepting credit card deposits or withdrawals. Supporters said the measure would discourage betting with borrowed money and align sports wagering rules with existing lottery restrictions. The bill now heads to the Senate.
In Maine, Rep. Marc Malon introduced legislation to similarly block credit card funding for online sports bets, arguing that mobile wagering increases the risk of addiction by removing natural spending limits. The proposal comes as Maine expands regulated gambling and would apply to both sports betting and newly launched iGaming platforms.
Several states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Tennessee, already prohibit credit card use for sports betting, as lawmakers increasingly push for tighter player protections.