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Sports Betting Industry News Week in Review: Latest State News and Reported Handles

Perry Sandra

Updated as of March 9, 2026 at 6:49 AM EST with a 4 minute and 19 second read. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: Dalvin Cook #33 and Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings and NFC celebrate Cook’s fourth-quarter touchdown against the AFC during the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-35. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

While the NBA was on its All-Star break and the NFL was quiet, the sports betting industry still had a lot to talk about in the past week. The focus was on underscoring and potential legal betting states making headlines.

Let’s dive into the top legal sports betting news stories of the week and wrap up with the Bettor Best Awards, stories chosen by the sports betting community.

TwinSpires Getting out of the Underscoreg scene 

On Thursday, it was announced that TwinSpires, a prominent name in the U.S. gambling industry, will be exiting the sportsbook market to concentrate on their primary focus of horse racing.

The future of TwinSpires sportsbooks in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee is uncertain, but experts predict that the company will likely close its mobile betting operations in those states.

In 2021, the sportsbook division of the business reported a loss of $31.9 million, but there was a noticeable increase in revenue from the horse racing wing, prompting the company to prioritize this area in the future.

Read more here: 

In Other Underscoreg news: 

This week, Rush Street Interactive (RSI) announced plans to expand into Ohio, Maryland, and Missouri. Through a partnership with Penn National Gaming, RSI’s BetRivers brand will enter these markets pending approval from licensing and regulatory authorities.

Caesars Entertainment has joined the ranks of sportsbooks aiming to reduce their advertising expenses. Despite seeing growth in Q4 revenue and a strong performance in their share price (which increased by 8% to $83 on Wednesday following the announcement), the company is looking to cut back on advertising.

Read more here: 

FanDuel solidified its presence in New York by partnering with the Buffalo Sabres, granting them promotional opportunities, branding options, and signage in and around the Sabres’ home arena. In return, the Sabres will benefit from increased fan engagement.

Read more here: 

On Thursday, Caesars Entertainment revealed a new multi-year partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making them the NBA team’s official casino partner. This deal allows Caesars to establish their brand in the upcoming Ohio market, while the Cavs benefit from having another premium sportsbook to enhance their fan engagement efforts.

Read more here: 

During a Q4 earnings call transcript last Thursday, Bally’s announced their plans to enter the competitive New York legal mobile sports wagering market in the first half of this year. This launch will closely coincide with their critical launch in Ontario.

Read more here:

In prospective state news:

Last week, Arkansas received exciting news as the state’s Administrative Rule Review Subcommittee approved regulations that will allow for the launch of mobile sports betting apps, with hopes of them being available in time for March Madness.

Read more here: 

Missouri is actively working towards legalizing sports betting within their jurisdiction, with the state House Special Committee on Public Policy reviewing two proposed Bills during a meeting on Tuesday. These Bills are supported by professional sports teams in the state, casinos, and potential sportsbook operators.

Affinity Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Penn National Gaming, and Bally’s Corp. are all involved in the proposals, along with the state’s six professional sports franchises. They are all aiming to become successful legal sports betting destinations like neighboring states Illinois, Tennessee, Iowa, and Arkansas.

Read more here: 

Lawmakers in Oklahoma approved a sports betting bill on Monday, allowing bettors in the state to place in-person wagers. The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on General Government voted 6-4 in favor of the platform.

Read more here:

Monitor the developments in Maine as Governor Janet Mills has at last endorsed a legal sports betting bill after previously opposing the idea for several years.

Stay tuned for the ongoing battle in Maine over Bill L.D. 585, which would allow native tribes to operate retail and mobile sports betting. Commercial casinos, as well as existing operators and off-track betting facilities, have already expressed opposition to the proposal.

Minnesota is on the verge of becoming a legal sports betting jurisdiction as Sen. Roger Chamberlain recently introduced a Bill to bring wagering to the state. If passed, tribal casinos and racetracks would be the first to benefit, with potential mobile providers required to partner with one of the state’s native tribes.

Legal sports betting in Minnesota has received widespread support from lawmakers, the state’s professional sports teams, betting providers, and tribes.

We, like others on the list of potential states joining the U.S. legal sports betting family, are eagerly anticipating more news.

ALSO CONSIDER: Minnesota Drafting Legislation for Legalizing Sports Betting

States that reported their January handles this past week  

Pennsylvania, a top sports betting jurisdiction, had a strong start to 2026 with a record-breaking $793.7 million in sports betting revenue. Tennessee also saw a record handle of $386.1 million in January, driven by Super Bowl wagering. Mississippi reported an increase in sports betting activity, while Louisiana introduced mobile operators to its legal sports betting scene, resulting in $89.8 million in bets in January. All eyes will be on Louisiana in February for their first full month of sports betting.

The Bettor Best Awards 

The Award for Transforming Something into a Vast Quantity

Although the Super Bowl is over, new stories are surfacing about the gambling triumphs of certain individuals. One man, for example, turned a Free Bet with DraftKings into a whopping $1.5 million. It’s these kinds of tales that keep us hooked and coming back for more!

Read more here: 

The Beautiful Prize Parlay Award

This gambler gazed into their crystal ball and turned a $25 bet into $32,639.51. As a result, user Tisikk gained some followers.

Be sure to stay updated on our Live Odds page all week for the most favorable lines and join the SBR community on our popular sports betting forum.

Written By:
Perry Sandra
Perry Sandra and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by “odds”. Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn’t found a sport yet that can’t contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.