In a letter sent to a New York judge earlier this week, FanDuel lawyers say Eccles actively recruited and assisted plaintiffs in a suit against the company. As such, the company has argued that he should be required to return the money he was paid as part of a deal.

Eccles, who believes that private equity firms like Shamrock Capital Advisors and KKR conspired to squeeze out many of FanDuel’s original investors by undervaluing the company, continues to stand his ground.

As a result of his alleged breach of separation, FanDuel is seeking to reclaim around $8 million from Eccles through arbitrative measures.

“The reality, as their new documents show, is that after Lead Plaintiff Nigel Eccles mismanaged (FanDuel) into the ground, the Director Defendants were forced to step in, pursue a buy-out that Plaintiffs had facilitated, and accept the highest available offer — indeed, the only lifeline that would save FDL from collapse,” the filing reads. “As a result, Plaintiffs’ claims all fail.”

Attorneys for FanDuel have argued that Eccles’s mismanagement led to over $232 million in accumulated losses in 2017 and that the lawsuit is simply his way of trying to save his image

Eccles’ Post-FanDuel Ventures.

Since his departure, Eccles has started several businesses. Shortly after leaving FanDuel in November 2017, Eccles co-founded Flick, a video and social streaming platform. In May 2020, Eccles helped create StarStock, an online platform that allows users to buy and sell sports trading cards. The company later added NBA star Trae Young as an investor. 

Eccles has also launched two crypto-gaming ventures. He first launched a Web3 betting exchange, BetDEX, and later, with fellow FanDuel co-founder Rob Jones, launched a crypto casino and sportsbook, BetHog. 

BetHog is seeking to develop new casino formats, built for fair play on the Solana blockchain. 

In the arbitration filing, lawyers say that “Mr. Eccles slapped the hand extended to him by helping over 100 other plaintiffs bring two different lawsuits against FDI and the KKR/Shamrock Investors, that seek hundreds of millions of dollars in purported damages arising out of the very acquisition that saved FanDuel from the mess Mr. Eccles had created.”

FanDuel was acquired in 2018 by European bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair, which later rebranded as Flutter Entertainment. The deal, which came just a week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1992 law banning sports betting nationwide, saw Betfair take on 61% of the combined U.S. business.

FanDuel, together with DraftKings, is comfortably among the top two sports betting operators in the United States industry. In 2024, it generated $5.7 billion in revenue, a 38% increase over the previous year, and $507 million in adjusted EBITDA. 

The post Legal Feud Reignites Between FanDuel and Co-Founder Eccles appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Championed by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, New Zealand lawmakers have been pressing hard to introduce an iGaming framework as the country struggles against illicit offshore gambling operators.

Online betting on sports has been legal in the country since 2003, but playing online casinos and poker has never been allowed.

This absence of an iGaming policy has meant New Zealanders have been susceptible to operators that have occasionally blocked customer withdrawals, as well as failed to implement harm prevention measures.

Introducing the internet gaming legislation – which is set to take effect in early 2026 – van Velden stated, “A new Online Gambling Bill will be drafted with the purpose to regulate online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and compliant regulated online gambling market.”

In essence, the New Zealand government plans to issue a limited number of operator licenses to ensure only approved platforms can legally serve Kiwi players, a point van Velden was keen to highlight.

“Currently, New Zealanders can and do gamble on thousands of offshore gambling websites.” van Valden said.

“By introducing a regulatory system, my intention is to channel customers towards up to 15 licensed operators.”

In addition to this, the reform will provide stricter rules that will govern iGaming advertising, particularly if they are deemed to be misleading or relate to targeting minors.

Like Brazil, the new New Zealand statute will also require iGaming operators to implement responsible gambling practices and a failure to comply could result in operators being fined up to NZ$5 million ($2.5 million).

The government’s ambitious timeline is certainly achievable. The legislative framework is due later this month, and the license auction could begin as early as February 2026. If all goes well, licensed operators will be allowed to launch by April 2026, marking a new era for online gambling in New Zealand.

While the emphasis has been placed on player safety, it also makes for smart economics, as a licensed setup will automatically redirect gambling tax revenues from unregulated sites, similar to what has been witnessed in the US iGaming sector.

Addressing the issue of problem gambling, van Velden affirmed, “My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can do today.”

The New Zealand government’s pledge to enforce consumer protections in tandem with taking a slice of the economic benefits should mean van Velden’s iGaming initiative is unlikely to meet with much resistance. If approved, it will undoubtedly reinvent the online gambling landscape in the country.

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The plaintiffs, Julian Bargo, Lamar Prater and Rebecca Pratt, claim that both companies used targeted advertising driven by search algorithms to drive users to sweepstakes casinos, whose operations tend to fall into a legal gray area. Furthermore, they allege that Apple and Google actively promoted this activity by distributing its content via their apps.

Notably, this case is a re-filing of two prior federal cases that had been dismissed without prejudice. The main difference is this time, instead of targeting the sweepstakes casino operators themselves, the plaintiffs are setting their sights on the companies that they believe put everything into motion.

The suit reads: “This case is about patently illegal gambling software being distributed to the cell phones, desktop computers and other personal electronic devices of individuals throughout New Jersey, New York and beyond, by an unlawful enterprise that includes two of the most successful companies in the world.

“The Defendants promote, distribute, facilitate and materially participate in an interstate gambling enterprise using software developed by a dozen or so Sweepstakes Casinos.”

Sweepstakes gaming allows users to play online slots, table games and more using free coins, which in turn, can be purchased using real money. While play has grown in popularity, lawmakers in several U.S. states have sought to crack down on their operations.

The New York Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, which oversees the country’s largest sports betting market, is pushing a bill that would ban online sweepstakes gaming, specifically targeting those that simulate casino-style entertainment, including poker, slots, and sports betting.

The proposal calls for harsh penalties, including fines up to $100,000 and loss of licensing.

Maryland is seeking to take similar action against online sweepstakes gaming. Bills have also been filed in Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, and New Jersey.

Plaintiffs in the suit against Apple and Google are seeking “to recover money lost to illegal gambling, for injunctive relief, and for other appropriate relief,” including on games such as Wow Vegas, CrownCoins Casino, McLuck, and Chumba Casino.

Also mentioned in the suit is High5Games, whose license was recently suspended in Connecticut. An investigation by the state’s Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division found that High5Games had deceived over 1,000 Connecticut customers into playing unlicensed online casino games.

The post Apple & Google Face Anti-Sweepstakes Casino Lawsuit appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA), in a letter sent last week, notified Virtual Gaming Worlds that it is “offering and conducting online gaming activities in Maryland without legal authority to do so.”

Virtual Gaming Worlds has until 5 p.m. ET on March 27 to respond to the letter. If the operator confirms it is indeed offering any of the aforementioned activities, it must provide a series of documents including a detailed description of each casino game, detailed descriptions of sports wager offerings and fantasy competition offerings, and legal analysis of its eligibility.

In addition, the MLGCA is requesting that Virtual Gaming Works acknowledges it will “cease offering any sports wagering, casino game, or fantasy competition in Maryland, and a date within 10 days from the date of this letter in which you intend to cease such operations.”

The MLGCA warned that failure to adhere to its guidelines “may jeopardize the ability of VGW to ever be issued a license for sports wagering or gaming, registration as a fantasy competition operator, or any other license, registration, or certification from the Commission in the future.”

Legal iGaming in Maryland is not accessible, but the Old Line State does have retail casinos and online sports betting. Maryland saw $5.9 billion wagered on sports in 2024, a 28.7% increase over the previous year. Gross revenue spiked 23.7% to $635.7 million across sportsbooks.

The letter was sent one day after a VGW representative, Josh White, testified at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in opposition to proposed legislation seeking to ban sweepstakes casinos in Maryland. White contended that sweepstakes games should not be classified as illegal because they’re used “in the same way that McDonald’s or Microsoft does,” merely as marketing tools.

House Bill 1140 follows actions taken by other states this year to curb sweepstakes gaming. New York is considering legislation that would ban online sweepstakes games and revenue from illegal markets, specifically targeting those that simulate casino-style entertainment, including poker, slots and sports betting.

“These products evade consumer protection, responsible gaming, and anti-money laundering requirements to which gambling in New York is otherwise subject,” the bill reads.

Other states looking to take action include Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, and New Jersey.

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The bill, introduced by Sen. Joseph Addabbo, “prohibits online sweepstakes games and revenue from illegal markets,” specifically targeting those that simulate casino-style entertainment, including poker, slots, and sports betting.

Carrie Woerner, chair of the assembly’s racing, gaming, and wagering committee, introduced a companion bill that is awaiting further action.
Under Addabbo’s proposal, anyone found guilty of supporting or facilitating online sweepstakes gaming could be subject to strict penalties ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation. Additional penalties include a potential loss of licensing.

New York doesn’t have legal iGaming, but it does have retail slots and online sportsbooks. The Empire State was the country’s largest sports betting market in 2024, generating $2.08 billion in revenue.

Enforcement of online sweepstakes would be conducted by several different entities, including the New York State Gaming Commission, state police, and the Attorney General’s office.

“Online real money ‘sweepstakes casinos’ have recently become widely available in New York over the internet on mobile devices and personal computers, including to minors,” the bill reads. “These products evade consumer protection, responsible gaming, and anti-money laundering requirements to which gambling in New York is otherwise subject.

“These products and operations are untaxed and unregulated. They present unfair competition to the state’s legal, highly regulated and economically important casinos.”

According to the American Gaming Association, illegal and unregulated operators took in $109 billion in wagers last year. The potential of this issue becoming a bigger problem has spurred other legislators around the country into action.

Maryland is among those seeking changes. The Old Line State unanimously passed a bill banning online sweepstakes in the Senate last week. It now awaits a hearing in the House of Representatives.

Lawmakers in Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, and New Jersey have also filed bills.

The Social and Promotional Games Association released a statement in response to the proposed bills in New York, saying they “unconditionally oppose” any restrictions on sweepstakes gaming.

“We appreciate New York lawmakers’ formal recognition that social sweepstakes are a legal form of entertainment — you don’t need to outlaw something if it is already illegal,” the statement said. “But that’s where our appreciation ends. Albany legislators have no business dictating to New Yorkers what games they can play on their phones.

“This deeply flawed legislation is an affront to personal freedoms, an insult to New York voters, and a colossal waste of government resources.”

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Total revenue reached nearly $8 billion, underscoring the increasing popularity of iGaming. Gambling operator Flutter Entertainment is leading the charge, with extraordinary revenue growth of 43% in Q4.

Growth was impressive throughout 2024, but it was the final quarter when revenues spiked; the surge fuelled by a combination of major sporting events, seasonal promotions, and holiday campaigns, encouraging greater engagement from players.

Flutter CEO Peter Jackson said: “Obviously we’re very pleased with the performance we saw in Q4. It’s worth remembering that our business, from a sports perspective, has a degree of seasonality. Q4 and Q1 are always going to be the busiest periods for us.”

According to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker, this is the industry’s fourth straight record revenue year, with Q4 setting an all-time quarter record revenue of $18.62 billion.

Las Vegas still holds the top spot as the leading market by commercial revenue. Hot on Sin City’s heels are New Jersey, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Local government coffers are feeling the benefit, with commercial gaming operators contributing $15.66 billion in gaming taxes, an increase of 8.5% on 2023.

AGA CEO Bill Miller also highlights the knock-on benefits of a booming igaming business. He says: “The sustained growth of legal gaming is a win for our industry and the consumers and communities we serve. Every dollar of gaming revenue fuels jobs, investment, and economic growth—reinforcing why the legal industry’s expansion is so important.”

Prospects for 2025 were initially optimistic. However, fears of downturn, generated by the ongoing economic rollercoaster, are casting a long shadow. Sportsbooks are now taking bets on a recession.

Polymarket, one of the leading predictors, says there is a 37% chance America will slip into a recession. Another leading forecaster – Kalshi – puts the probability at 42%.

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Soon, players who play online casinos in Canada will also have access to a number of RubyPlay’s award-winning titles, including Immortal Ways Diamonds, Diamond Explosion 7s, and Mayan Cache.

Following the announcement, Dr. Eyal Loz, RubyPlay’s Chief Product Officer, enthused, “We’re thrilled to have obtained our Ontario license and build our reach in Canada.”

Perhaps best known within the industry for its graphics and innovative features, RubyPlay’s company ethos has always centered itself on developing responsive, mobile-optimized online casino games, which makes its entry into Canada a monumental achievement.

Emphasizing the company’s determination to continue to expand its global footprint, Loz stated, “North America will be a strong growth engine for us, where building and maintaining a strong brand is key.”

RubyPlay’s move into Ontario follows hot on the heels of the firm’s recent announcements in January of its money-spinning collaboration with iGaming giants FanDuel and Rush Street Interactive for their operations in New Jersey.

Ontario’s iGaming Regulatory Break-Up

RubyPlay’s expansion into Ontario also comes in the midst of an enforced break up of the province’s two regulatory bodies later this year, with iGaming Ontario (iGO) – which also regulates the province’s online poker sector – set to separate from the AGCO and operate as an independent agency.

The split – announced last November – was orchestrated following Ontario’s Auditor General’s perception that a breakup was needed to address not only a growing conflict of interest but also as a chance to enforce a more detailed oversight over the rapidly expanding iGaming sector.

RubyPlay’s entry into Canada’s Heartland Province is likely to be a highly lucrative venture as iGaming Ontario’s data demonstrated a 31.7% year-over-year increase in gaming revenue, with total wagers soaring to $18.7 billion in Q2 2024-25.

Loz was quick to pinpoint RubyPlay’s new foothold in the Ontario market as a key milestone for the firm’s long-term success strategy, explaining “Our goal at RubyPlay is to bring our expansive portfolio of unique and innovative games to as many players as possible around the world,” reinforcing the company’s ambitious commitment to further expand its reach by tapping into new and emerging iGaming territories.

As RubyPlay celebrates its entry into the Canadian marketplace after securing its Ontario licensing agreement, the dynamic games developer has set its sights on further expansion and is undoubtedly well-positioned for further growth into other parts of Canada, as well as other emerging US state markets.

The post RubyPlay’s Ambitious International Growth Secures An Ontario Casino License appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Democratic Representative Dina Titus of Nevada, and Republican Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, introduced the legislation which aims to remove a 0.25% federal excise tax on all legal wagers.

The ‘handle tax’ was first introduced in 1951, to combat illegal gambling operations, when Nevada was the only state where betting was legal.

Today, legal sports betting is operational in 38 states and Washington D.C., following the US Supreme Court decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, in 2018.

The outdated federal tax puts legal operators at a disadvantage, according to Dina Titus.

She says: “It makes no sense to give the illegal market an edge over legal sportsbooks with a tax the federal government doesn’t even track. The Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2025 repeals a tax that does nothing except penalize legal gaming operators for creating thousands of jobs in Nevada and 37 other states around the nation.

“Illegal sportsbooks do not pay the 0.25% sports handle tax and the accompanying $50-per-head tax on sportsbook employees, giving them an unfair advantage.”

The American Gaming Association also supports the repeal of this tax. AGA CEO Bill Miller stated that the tax places legal sportsbooks at a competitive disadvantage, as well as benefiting illegal offshore bookmakers.

He said: “The federal excise and head taxes levied on legal U.S. sportsbooks generate little meaningful revenue for the government. Instead, they place legitimate businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage against illicit gambling operations which skirt taxes and licensing fees.

“Though originally enacted in the 1950s as a tool to curb illegal gambling, these antiquated federal taxes now give illegal operators a leg up. Eliminating these taxes is a long overdue step to enable a legal, regulated, environment for sports betting that will better protect customers and generate much-needed revenue for state and local economies.”

This is the fourth time the two co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Gaming Caucus have introduced the legislation. Attempts in 2019, 2021, and 2023 all failed to get over the line.

The Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2025 has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for consideration, before committee review, potential amendments, and votes in both the house and the senate.

Reasons Why the ‘Handle Tax’ is Disputed

An Uneven Playing Field

The tax applies only to legal, regulated sportsbooks, handing a clear advantage to unregulated operators.

Tax on Handle: Not Profits

The tax applies to the sportsbook’s handle: the total amount of money wagered. Problematic, because sportsbooks keep only 5% to 10% of the handle, post result.
For example, a sportsbook that handles $100 million in bets, but makes only $5 million, still has to pay $250,000 in tax.

Double Taxation: State and Federal

Every state with legal sports betting, already imposes weighty taxes. The federal tax is an additional burden.

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A bill to ban couriers, which act as third-party vendors by taking orders on the customers’ behalf, received unanimous approval by the state Senate last week.

This comes after calls by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to investigate last month’s $83.5 million lottery jackpot, the fifth-largest in state history. It had been growing since June.

“This jackpot win led to investigations by the agency amid continued focus by the public and our stakeholders,” Ryan Mindell, executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, said in a statement. “Now, after information from those investigations and a review of its authority, the agency is taking direct action to stop courier activity from occurring in Texas.”

Courier services now operate in 19 states and are typically accessible online or via an app. Their usage, while convenient, has ignited concerns about irregular activities involving the lottery.

“Unregulated courier operations provide opportunities for other illegal and fraudulent activities to flourish, including money laundering, the sales of fictitious tickets, and false representations of a courier’s association with the TLC,” Mindell said. “If couriers are allowed to continue to operate, these critical safeguards will continue to be circumvented and the public will be harmed.”

State Sen. Bob Hall, the bill’s author, criticized the Lottery Commission having a hand in the controversial jackpot. The Republican legislator’s scathing rebuke of the Lottery Commission included accusations of enabling a “private-public partnership led by the state agency to engage in a criminal conspiracy to defraud Texans.”

A commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the Texas Lottery’s new proposed rules.

Jackpocket, a subsidiary of DraftKings Sportsbook and one of the largest courier services in the U.S., facilitated the sale of the $83.5 million prize at an Austin retail store. The company said it is planning to suspend operations in Texas as it continues to draw criticism from state legislators who are also due to look at legislation to legalize sports betting in the state later this year.

Pete Sullivan, senior vice president of Lottery at DraftKings, said Jackpocket has made over $550 million in sales in Texas since it began operating in 2019. It limits each customer to $600 in daily purchases.

“Despite our proven track record of compliance and commitment to responsible gaming, the Texas Lottery Commission has issued a new policy prohibiting our services, effective immediately,” Sullivan said in a statement. “As a result, we are suspending lottery courier operations in Texas.”

As more calls to investigate the Lottery Commission pour in, the bill now heads to the House.

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Wilna van Wyk

Senior executives from companies such as Churchill Downs, Monarch Casino & Resort, and The Cordish Companies have joined to launch the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG). 

The Association announced its inception by releasing a study called the “Economic Impacts of iGaming Expansion,” undertaken by The Innovation Group. 

NAAiG’s Mission: Preventing iGaming Expansion

The NAAiG’s aim is simple: to prevent further legalization of iGaming. The Association’s key advocacy priorities are:

• Strengthening regulations and oversight to enhance consumer protection.
• Preventing further legalization of iGaming to avoid job losses, addiction, and financial instability.
• Promoting visitors to brick-and-mortar venues, as they ‘support local economies’ and provide in-built safeguards. 
• Educating policymakers as to ‘the real risks’ of iGaming.

NAAiG Board Member Jason Gumer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Monarch Casino & Resort, commented: “Beyond the lack of any real upside for states, iGaming puts vulnerable individuals at greater risk of problem gambling and financial instability. NAAiG is uniting stakeholders to push back and stop the spread of these harmful trends and advocate for responsible gaming policies.”

The comprehensive study published shows limited benefits to iGaming expansion yet highlights many problems. One of the advantages of iGaming legalization is states “bolstering their gaming tax receipts.” It outlines that the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States has recommended a tax rate of between 15 and 25 percent. It suggests that higher tax rates will mean operators are less able to reinvest in areas such as compliance, player acquisition, player retention, and technological improvements that can better equip them to compete with the unregulated market. 

The Cannibalization Debate: How Online Gambling Affects Retail Casinos

The cannibalization debate has been a significant barrier to iGaming expansion across states. The Innovation Group’s report suggests brick-and-mortar casino revenue underperforms by 16.5 percent following iGaming legalization. 

This number is derived from comparing the results of iGaming states, which saw an approximate 4.3 percent decline in retail revenue, against those in non-iGaming states, which achieved 12.2 percent growth over the last five years. The report suggests this may grow as the channel shift continues and ‘digital natives’ become the gambling industry’s core customers. 

The NAAiG has highlighted that the 16 percent revenue drop would lead to “substantial job losses, hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic output, and reduced tax contributions that fund public services.” 

The study analyzes several states individually and models the potential economic impact of legalized iGaming in each. It projects that by 2029, New York will see 4,921 job cuts, and Illinois will see 4,733

Further, the report estimates that New York would see a tax revenue benefit of $140.8 million but a net impact of negative $1.2 billion from the introduction of iGaming. Ohio would generate $223.9 million in tax revenue but at an economic cost of $602 million. 

The NAAiG has stressed that gambling losses from iGaming in the United States are expected to surpass the $1 trillion mark. This suggests that this causes significant strain on local economies and public health resources. 

NAAiG Warns of Rising Gambling Addiction and Productivity Losses

The study expands on existing media reports and studies linking further legalization to gambling addiction rates and job displacement, stating that social costs to governments “could well exceed $100 million annually, plus additional downstream economic losses from a 4-5x loss in productivity.” 

The Association also highlights that 81 percent of gambling addicts “engage in online gaming” and that online gamblers are eight times more likely to report compulsive gambling. It also suggests that in areas where iGaming has been legalized, household investments have declined by 14 percent. 

“iGaming is eroding our communities,” said Shannon McCracken, Senior Director of Government Relations at Churchill Downs Incorporated and NAAIG board member. “This isn’t just about responsible gaming—it’s about protecting local family-sustaining jobs and preventing financial harm. In Maryland alone, iGaming could cost $372 million in economic output, $342.6 million in lost casino revenue and nearly $110 million in annual wages. We must act now to protect our state and local economies nationwide.”

Written By

Wilna van Wyk

Wilna van Wyk is an online casino enthusiast with over a decade of experience working with some of the world’s biggest gambling affiliates, including Thunderstruck Media and OneTwenty Group. She specializes in gambling sites and games and provides expert knowledge on the online casino industry’s essential fundamentals.

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