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Polymarket is on the way back to the US, but this time regulated under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In 2022, despite being based in New York, it moved to block US customers after pressure came from regulators under the Joe Biden administration.
Now, Polymarket has received an Amended Order of Designation from the CFTC. The approval means people in the US can now trade Polymarket contracts through regular Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) and traditional brokerages, just like they would on other federally regulated exchanges. In other words, it opens the door for Polymarket to potentially partner with companies like PrizePicks.
Today Polymarket US was approved by the @CFTC for intermediated trading – aka letting people trade Polymarket through their brokerages. A key milestone for permeating the US financial system.
Much props to our legal and US ops team. This process has historically taken years…… https://t.co/F7vTXngo9Y
— Shayne Coplan
(@shayne_coplan) November 25, 2025
Polymarket could now see similar growth in its business that Kalshi and Robinhood have in their prediction markets. However, unlike Kalshi, Polymarket operates using a crypto base, rather than fiat currency.
Speaking in the press release, Polymarket’s CEO and founder, Shayne Coplan, said:
“People rely on Polymarket because we provide clarity where there is confusion and accountability where there is ambiguity.
“This approval allows us to operate in a way that reflects the maturity and transparency that the U.S. regulatory framework demands.
“We’re grateful for the constructive engagement with the CFTC and look forward to continuing to demonstrate leadership as a regulated U.S. exchange.”
Polymarket makes changes to business ahead of US reopening
To fulfill needs in the US, the company has invested in “surveillance systems, market supervision policies, clearing procedures, and part-16 regulatory reporting capabilities.”
Prediction markets have become a hotbed for gambling in all fifty states in the US. As there are no regulatory bodies outside of the federal government, it allows Polymarket and others to offer all types of gambling under the guise of “contracts.” This includes sports gambling.
In March, DraftKings registered for a prediction market app, but it has yet to release it. In October, it acquired Railbird to provide it with the necessary tools to obtain approval from the CFTC.
It’s expected to launch in the US again in November, but with four days left, it could be December.
Featured image: Polymarket / Canva
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Robinhood has smelt the blood in the water and has begun to move quite rapidly to expand its prediction market offerings. Currently partnered with Kalshi, Robinhood has made quite a splash in the industry.
New reports have begun to surface as Robinhood bought up 90% of MIAX Derivatives Exchange. MIAX itself will keep 10%, but this is to allow Robinhood to grow what it can offer on the prediction market side of its business.
MIAXdx will give the business a contract market and clearinghouse, setting up Robinhood in a solid position as prediction markets become the new gambling hotspot.
Earlier in November, Robinhood reported that prediction markets now make $100 million a year for the company. It also said it wouldn’t build its own prediction market, but instead build ties with other companies to provide their services through Robinhood’s own app.
Kalshi integration with Robinhood has seen over 2.3 billion contracts traded in the September quarter. Now, it’s looking to do things itself by buying up the tools required for the industry.
Robinhood dives into prediction markets as more join the fun
Robinhood is introducing a new futures and derivatives exchange and clearinghouse, deepening our investment in Prediction Markets and better positioning us to deliver innovative products to our customers.
More in our newsroom: https://t.co/Hqv6EMXZiD pic.twitter.com/JXDkp3c2Tr
— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) November 25, 2025
Prediction markets aren’t regulated like gambling. Despite being essentially just gambling, including sports, it’s vetted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This allows Robinhood, Kalshi, and Polymarket to offer almost any type of gambling in all 50 states, regardless of state laws.
The move comes as more competitors appear in the space. Crypto.com has now begun to offer prediction markets, and Coinbase is gearing up to do the same.
Speaking in the press release on the move, Robinhood VP and General Manager of Futures and International, JB Mackenzie, said:
“Robinhood is seeing strong customer demand for prediction markets, and we're excited to build on that momentum.
“Our investment in infrastructure will position us to deliver an even better experience and more innovative products for customers.”
The company plans to launch its expanded prediction market offerings in 2026.
Featured image: Robinhood
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The UK's Office for Budget Responsibility accidentally had its full assessment of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's budget leaked online just hours before she was due to speak. The report, the Economic and Fiscal Outlook, was briefly accessible before it was taken down, even though it's normally only published after the chancellor finishes her statement in Parliament.
OBR acknowledges leak ahead of budget
Reeves started her speech by noting that the independent Office for Budget Responsibility accidentally released its budget analysis early. She told MPs: “This is deeply disappointing, and a serious error on their part.
“The Office for Budget Responsibility have already made a statement taking full responsibility for their breach.”
UK gambling tax set to be raised in budget
The leak revealed one major detail. The gambling industry is set for a significant tax increase, expected to bring in £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) by 2029–30. According to the OBR, "Several changes to gambling duties have been announced in the budget which overall are estimated to raise £1.1 billion by 2029-30."
This includes a steep rise in remote gaming duty "from 21 to 40 per cent" from April 2026, and the creation of a new 25 per cent general betting duty for online gambling from April 2027. The document confirms that "self-service betting terminals, spread betting, pool bets, and horseracing" will be exempt. Bingo duty will be abolished from its current 10 per cent rate.
“The Government has also announced a freeze in casino gaming duty bands in 2026-27 with the usual RPI [retail price index – inflation] uprating thereafter.”
The news hit gambling stocks almost immediately. By 12:45 GMT, Ladbrokes owner Entain had slipped 2.9% to 725.60p, while evoke plc, formerly 888 Holdings, had tumbled 12.4% to 32.75p.
Constraints with the data
The foreword stresses that while officials engaged constructively, there were constraints, stating: "Policy costings information on the direct fiscal effects of some measures was received late and without sufficient detail."
More broadly, the OBR says the economic outlook has become "more challenging and uncertain," with real GDP growth now expected to reach only 1 per cent this year and inflation projected to hit a peak of 3.7 per cent in mid-2025. Debt is set to stay close to 96 per cent of GDP throughout the forecast period, and the tax burden is on track to climb to a record 37.7 per cent of GDP by 2027–28.
Even with the leak, the report confirms that the government is still meeting its fiscal rules, but only just. The OBR points out that the buffer against the fiscal mandate is only £9.9 billion in 2029–30, calling this "one-third of the average" that chancellors have kept in reserve since 2010.
Featured image: Canva
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The UK Gambling Commission has posted the results for April 2024 through March 2025 ahead of the Autumn Budget, revealing that the UK’s gambling industry has grown massively. The Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) was £16.8 billion ($22.1 billion), a 7.3% growth.
This has been attributed to the rise of remote gambling, despite the government proposing a single tax. With multiple companies releasing various apps, it’s never been easier to simply gamble on the go. As such, the UKGC reports that the remote sector of the industry now makes up 46% of the total market. For comparison, bookies and “land-based” gambling sits at 29%, making £4.8 billion ($6.3 billion).
Meanwhile, the lottery is still sitting pretty at 25%, earning £4.2 billion ($5.5 billion) overall between April and March.
However, while the gambling industry is thriving in the UK, a 2.9% loss of physical locations appears to be just the very tip of the iceberg. A reported 1.1% decrease in “licensed gambling premises” and 1.8% decrease in the number of “betting shops” is a slight indication of where the industry is heading.
This is also reflected in the number of operators and activities licensed in the UK. 2024 to 2025 saw a 3.7% decrease to 2179 gambling operators, while activities dropped by 2.3% to 3086.
Online gambling leads the way in the UK
While “land-based” gambling made £4.8 billion, gaming machines made £2.6 billion ($3.4 billion). In the UK, these aren’t just in betting shops, but can be found in pubs and other venues.
It’s not all just profit, as the report includes contributions to charities and “good causes.” The National Lottery donated £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion), a 4.5% increase from the prior year. £484.6 million was also donated by society lotteries. Again, a 4.8% increase year-on-year.
All said, the star attraction is that remote gambling boom. The UKGC reports that online casino gaming made £5 billion ($6.6 billion), of which £4.2 billion was made solely from slots. Football (soccer) led the sports betting way, with £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) made of the total £2.6 billion ($3.4 billion) accrued. Horse racing followed, totalling £766.7 million (around $1 billion). Remote bingo contributed £165.6 million ($218 million).
Featured image: UK Gambling Commission, Wikicommons
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Brazilian police have enforced the next phase of a regional gambling crackdown and arrested a former Congressman, Roberto Razuk and members of his family.
The news comes from the Ministerio Público of Mato Grosso do Sul, and outlines the decision to enforce 20 arrest warrants for individuals of interest in ongoing illegal gambling cases.
This also included 27 search-and-seizure warrants for entry into locations hosting information or paraphernalia related to illegal gambling.
The effort resulted in the arrest of multiple members of the alleged crime family, R$300,000 (US$60,000), seizure of firearms and multiple "Máquinas de apostas" gambling machines related to unlicensed betting, reported newspaper Premier Pagina.
Police enforce gambling inquest
According to the press release, the official title for the gambling inquest is Operation Successione, which involves the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Mato Grosso do Sul (MPMS) and the Special Action Group for Combating Organized Crime (GAECO).
Mato Grosso do Sul sits to the East of Bolivia and Paraguay, near the Brazilian border. The region will be looking to keep the pressure on illegal gambling in the Campo Grande, Corumbá, Dourados, Maracaju and Ponta Porã areas.
The police have deployed large-scale numbers to the new operation, including named units such as the Shock Battalion, Special Operations Battalion (BOPE), Internal Affairs Department and Tactical Force (Batalhão de Choque, BOPE, Corregedoria and Força Tática).
Brazilian former Congressman arrested
Roberto Razuk was a businessman and former state deputy from 1980 to 1980. He, alongside his sons, had a chequered past that reached a boiling point when his business empire sought to take over an illegal lottery named “jogo do bicho."
In the previous Operation Omerta, the Italian word for "code of silence", the family were under immense pressure from the GAECO for their part in numerous business activities that the police found suspicious.
As part of the most recent action, the former politician, his sons Rafael and Jorge, and the family’s legal counsel were all arrested according to local news outlet Mediamax.
Featured image: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Mato Grosso do Sul
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