Gaming Industry Leaders Denounced Prediction Markets

The American Gaming Association identified unregulated betting platforms as an existential threat to the industry.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Gambling

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American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller and major resort operators denounced unregulated prediction markets, citing unfair tax advantages and an existential threat to the industry. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should prediction markets be subject to the same tax and regulatory requirements as traditional gaming companies?

Bill Miller, CEO of the American Gaming Association, warned that unregulated prediction markets are undermining the legal gaming industry. Leaders including the CEOs of MGM Resorts, Caesars, and Wynn Resorts joined the call to address the platform's impacts.

Why it matters

The gaming industry views these platforms as an existential threat because they generate massive revenue while avoiding the state gaming taxes that regulated operators must pay. These markets often operate by rebranding gambling activities as investments to bypass state laws.

Prediction markets generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually while operating outside of established state gaming tax frameworks. These platforms have been accused of bypassing restrictive laws, such as those in Utah, by labeling bets as investments.

The players

Bill Miller

He serves as the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association.

Bill Hornbuckle

He is the CEO of MGM Resorts.

Tom Reeg

He is the CEO of Caesars.

Craig Billings

He is the CEO of Wynn Resorts.

The details

At the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, major industry figures expressed concern that these markets function as unregulated casinos. Leaders argued that the lack of oversight and taxation gives these entities an unfair advantage over traditional, licensed operators.

Timeline

  1. September 29, 2026: Bill Miller delivered the G2E keynote address.

Culture Shift

The emergence of these digital betting platforms signals a broader move away from traditional, state-sanctioned gambling toward decentralized models. This shift challenges established regulatory frameworks like the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 by redefining speculative behavior as investment.

Readers should be aware that the classification of these platforms as investments can blur the lines between financial trading and gambling for individual users. This discrepancy impacts local consumer protections and the consistency of gaming regulations across state lines.

The takeaway

Understanding the distinction between regulated gaming and unregulated speculation is essential for participants in digital markets. Consumers should verify if a platform is compliant with state regulations to ensure their funds and activities are protected.

Further reading

For more context on the evolving regulatory environment, visit Gambling.

Source note: This article includes information reported by InterGame: iGaming, Casino & Coin-Op News.

Live Poll

Should prediction markets be subject to the same tax and regulatory requirements as traditional gaming companies?