Hello and welcome to our weekly iGaming news! 2026 is finally here, and it seems like a lot is happening right now. As always, we at Nostrabet have analyzed the latest news, and it’s time to learn more about the most interesting events of the last week.
Mississippi to Ban New Sweepstakes Casinos & Revive Mobile Betting
Sweepstakes casinos are one of the most popular websites in the USA and they are available all over the country. However, some states seem to be against them, and after California, Mississippi can become the second state to ban these sites.
Based on the information we have, the so-called Senatae Bill 2104 was filed on January 9, meaning local Senators will try to ban these casinos. According to our information, the bill seeks to amend certain sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972. If the changes become a reality, operating an online platform that offers illegal wagering will be a felony. If someone is convicted, they will face a fine of up to $100k and 10 years in prison.
It should be noted that Mississippi is not the only state that is looking to make the move. Based on our analysis, Florida, Maine, Iowa, and Virginia are also considering taking action against these sites. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2026, and legislative changes will take place.
In addition to the potential sweepstakes ban, Mississippi authorities will seek to legalize mobile sports betting. There are also changes related to the taxes of some operators. Sites that earn less than $50k per month will be subjected to a 4% tax, earning between $50k and $134k will result in a 6% tax and getting over $134k will result in an 8% tax.
It’s worth noting that the Magnolia State has 23 licensed sportsbooks, so it will be interesting to see what’s going to happen. Currently, 39 states have legalized sports betting. Out of them, a total of 30 states (and Puerto Rico and Washington DC) have legalized mobile sports betting.
A Suspended Sheriff Linked to Illegal Gambling was Busted in Florida
Following several anonymous complaints, the law enforcement in Lake County seized a total of 231 illegal gambling machines and close to $158k in cash. This happened following the raid on three locations – The Hub, Hot Seats, and the House of Umatilla.
What’s interesting is that this was just another move from the local police against illegal gambling. According to the stats from 2025. Locals seized around $14M and over 6725 illegal slot machines during their actions against illegal gambling in Florida.
What’s different about this specific police raid is that Hot Seats is linked to a suspended Sheriff. According to the information, he offered his protection over these businesses in return for a cut of the profits. The initial analysis reveals that the Sheriff got close to $700,000 because the illegal gambling locations secured more than $21.6M in profits.
Polymarket to Launch Real Estate Prediction Markets
Polymarket is one of the most popular sites right now because of its unique approach. The site offers people the chance to bet on different options that aren’t available elsewhere. One of the latest additions to the platform is a real estate prediction market and it is available because of the partnership deal with Parcl.
Betting on home-price movement is new, and players can do so in some of the major US cities. We are confident that other sports betting websites will follow what happens with this option. If it is successful, we would not be surprised if we see even these prediction markets on even more betting platforms.
Utah and Oklahoma to Take Actions Against Sweepstakes Casinos
It seems like 2026 will be the year when many US states will take action against sweepstakes casinos. Utah and Oklahoma are known to be two of the most restrictive states when it comes to gambling. Therefore, most people are probably not surprised that they will try to target sweepstakes operators.
Without going into too much detail, it is evident that there is a growing national trend regarding these kinds of sites. A lot of people believe that sweepstakes casinos are using the legal loopholes regarding gambling. It all started in 2020 and the sweepstakes casino industry has been booming ever since.
15 College Basketball Players Accused of Participating in a Point-Shaving Scheme
College basketball is one of the most common options for online bettors in North America. Sadly, it comes with its risks, and the most recent events prove it. Authorities have accused bettors of wagering millions and also bribing 39 different players on 17 teams with the sole purpose of manipulating the outcomes of different games.
Several players were also charged for their action of point shaving. The authorities even gave a specific example – a match between Robert Morris and Northern Kentucky in February 2024. The prosecutors found that the two players mentioned above tried to find someone else so that they could ensure Northern Kentucky would cover the 1.5-point spread for the first half. People have wagered more than $255k on that specific game and they have most likely given a portion of that money to the players.
It’s worth knowing that this is not the first time officials have accused professionals or college athletes of fixing matches. More than 40 people were investigated in 2025 alone, and more than 11 people were accused of betting on themselves.
Alberta, Canada, to Launch its iGaming Framework
Before many US states decided to open their doors to sports betting, Canada was one of the hottest new markets. Nowadays, Ontario remains a solid pick for many world-class betting operators, but it seems like the same will happen to Alberta.
The local government in Alberta finally introduced the regulatory framework that will open the Alberta iGaming market. There have been discussions about this move since 2024, but it seems like we’ll finally see it in 2026.
According to locals, the unregulated iGaming market in the province accounts for around 78% of the total market. Once sports betting starts welcoming new brands, however, things will change.
Companies wishing to participate in the action must register with the AGLC. The entire process consists of three parts, which means that the model will be similar to the one in Ontario.
The legal framework in the province will have a special self-exclusion system. People will also have access to a special system that will prevent ads from targeting high-risk individuals and minors.
Alberta has always been an interesting destination for some of the top iGaming companies. Based on the stats, it has the youngest adult population in Canada and the highest per-capita GDP. Currently, there is only one legal operator in the country (PlayAlberta) and it generated more than $275m in 2025. This is really impressive, considering experts think that the site only accounts for around 23% of the market.
Paraguay’s Gambling Market Generated More than $32.6M in 2025
Paraguay became one of the several South American countries that experienced legislative changes in its gambling market. This happened in 2025, and now that the year is over, the stats show that the market generated $32.6M. These stats are really impressive because they reveal a 22.9% increase since 2024.
A part of the changes that took place in 2025 reveal that the country’s gaming commission is now under the National Directorate of Tax Revenue. The idea here was to increase the regulator’s powers and boost tax collection from gambling.
Overall, Paraguay remains an interesting market in Latin America that we expect to see more of in 2026. The numbers may not be as impressive as those in Brazil, but we would not be surprised if things change soon.
1xBet is Looking to Expand its Business
1xBet is among the most well-known names in the online betting industry and has an impressive portfolio of gambling licenses. With that said, the company is looking to step into even more countries, so it will try to expand its gambling permits.
Alongside the potentially new licenses, 1xBet also seems to “bet” a lot on securing a strong partnership. The company is working alongside Paris Saint-Germain, FIBA, and different esports teams and organizations.
The current stats show that 1xBet operates in more than 35 markets worldwide. What’s more, the site already secured two new licenses – in Serbia and Guatemala. Aside from the new licenses, the brand is also looking to focus on sustainable growth and brand image. This is interesting because it’s important to remember that 1xBet was a part of tons of scandals over the years.
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