The latest episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, examines a growing industry rift and a high-profile consumer protection lawsuit affecting two of the U.S. market’s biggest operators.
Host Charlie Horner is joined by Managing Editor, Jessica Welman, to unpack FanDuel and DraftKings’ decision to end their seven-year membership with the American Gaming Association (AGA). The split comes in the wake of both operators’ recent moves to pursue sports-related prediction market deals, signalling a strategic pivot away from traditional industry alliances.
As Welman notes, the decision underscores that “we’re breaking up, for real,” highlighting the companies’ willingness to ditch their trade group to advance prediction-market ambitions.
The AGA has long opposed prediction markets, viewing them as indistinguishable from illegal sports betting, and the departure reflects a broader divide between land-based operators, such as MGM and Caesars, and online-first companies. Sources suggest FanDuel and DraftKings resigned before a formal membership vote could take place.
The episode also covers Baltimore’s lawsuit against the two operators, which accuses them of violating local consumer protection rules through excessive advertising and controversial VIP practices. The case recently returned to Baltimore City Circuit Court after a federal judge’s remand, a decision widely seen as a victory for the city in its ongoing scrutiny of major operators.
The full discussion is available now on iGaming Daily.
