Gambling Insider: Sports Betting Focus H2 2025

The way of the world is changing. More precisely, how media is being consumed has already undergone immense change. Yes, television is still around (and so too print magazines like this one). But watching the latest Netflix or Peacock series is far more important today than catching the newest episode of a 40-year-old soap opera on national TV. Social media – and in particular influencer marketing – has embodied this change. It is a far more personal – and perhaps lucrative – method of engaging the audience of today. Of course, traditional methods are still paramount, no pun intended, with gambling operators funnelling huge investment into TV advertising, sports sponsorships and the like. But there is so much value to be found in Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube and more. On the US side, an influencer who works with PrizePicks takes part in our cover feature, exploring the exact appeal of this personalised marketing route. Rather than celebrities who flash across your screen with a thumbs up and a smile, influencer marketing can involve a brand ambassador actually using an operator’s site, placing their own wagers, then posting a video analysis explaining precisely why. Players can engage in discussion with that very ambassador, creating an almost-incomparable rise in engagement. In Latin America, however, influencer marketing has taken a very different, darker turn already. Perhaps it is my naivety, but as Gambling Insider Editor I was yet to come across anything as brazen as the approach of so many LatAm operators and influencers. Despite a whole national enquiry into these dealings in Brazil, there is still no clear understanding or regulation of how influencers and operators should work together responsibly. The whole influencer phenomenon is most apparent in countries like Brazil and Argentina, where the popularity of one individual – that a typical gambling CEO may never have heard of – will carry far more weight with millions of followers than a famous athlete or politician. But the dangers of that very influence going unchecked are also most apparent in South America. Indeed, there are numerous arrest warrants still active, after masses of players were duped into thinking the Fortune Tiger (“Jogo do Tigrinho”) slot possessed a glitch that would guarantee bettors lavish millionaire lifestyles, involving fast cars and even faster winnings. We zone in on both influencer marketing in Brazil and Argentina in our cover section as a result, discussing the subsequent regulatory dissonance and what can be done to combat this in future. Elsewhere in this Sports Betting Focus, we look at how US operators fare during the NFL off-season, as well as the undetermined status of daily fantasy sports’ legality in California. There is also a 20-year anniversary for DS Virtual Gaming – a landmark worth celebrating in today’s dynamic and rapidly changing industry. With panel reviews, interviews, features and company profiles completing the rest of this issue, I’ll give my final shoutout to our exclusive Betby data, assessing betting trends during this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. There may always be more pound-for-pound revenue in online casino than sports betting, but let’s not forget what unites the masses. I for one still live for sport as a spectator and, combined with the positive impact responsible gambling can have, sports and betting remain a powerful combination. TP, Editor Sports betting supplier Betby provides Gambling Insider with exclusive data from its operator network on the first FIFA Club World Cup since the tournament’s new format was announced. Delivering game accessibility through innovation. Bart Snoeks, Tech Sales Lead at Dolby OptiView, spoke at iGB Live about the future of streaming technology. As the NFL prepares to kick off on 4 September, operators such as DraftKings, PrizePicks and Fanatics share how each continues to witness positive activity in the league’s off-season period. As sportsbooks continue to partner with influencers, former athletes and celebrities, Gambling Insider speaks with multiple operators on how these collaborations help increase exposure in the US. With expert analysis from lawyers in both the crypto and gambling spaces, Gambling Insider assesses the state of influencer marketing in Argentina. Indeed, it is shaping perceptions of the market, but not necessarily for the better... Gambling Insider reports from Brazil on the country’s state of influencer marketing, best summed up by the recent, high-profile rise and fall of the CPI das Bets. Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO of Internet Vikings, the licensed in-state hosting provider for bsb888 and online sports betting, explains what it took for the company to grow 600% in just three years Innovating live gaming, esports and odds feed for tomorrow’s market Having been appointed CEO of VIP Play in June, Les Ottolenghi takes Gambling Insider through his experience in gaming – as well as his hopes for the new role. Gambling Insider spoke with Head of Business Development at DS Virtual Gaming, Araksi Sargsyan, on the supplier’s 20-year anniversary. Gambling Insider explores US gambling taxation, evaluating the potential repercussions of recurring raises across the market. ZwillGen Founder and Managing Member, Marc Zwillinger, speaks with Gambling Insider about the regulatory turbulence on the Californian DFS scene – and what this could mean for operators both in and outside the state. Sergey Tsukanov, Betby Chief Sportsbook Officer, discusses engagement in between major football seasons.