Circa Resort & Casino is throwing a three-day Bitcoin party in downtown Las Vegas from 27-29 April, running alongside the Bitcoin 2026 conference. The venue’s positioned this as a cultural celebration rather than trying to compete head-on with the main event.

Circa’s built a solid reputation for cryptocurrency integration. The property accepts Bitcoin for food and drink purchases and runs Bitcoin ATMs. Digital currency gambling is still off the table, though, thanks to regulatory requirements.

Premium Package Priced at One Bitcoin

The standout offering is a weekend package available for exactly one Bitcoin. You get Circa’s 1,830 square foot ultra-luxury suite with room for 20 guests, curated dining at Barry’s Downtown Prime and Andiamo Steakhouse, VIP seating at what Circa bills as the world’s largest sportsbook, and airport transfers via luxury limousine.

At current Bitcoin values, that’s a significant premium. But for crypto enthusiasts attending the main conference, the package offers a proper immersive experience at a property that genuinely embraces digital currency culture.

Orange Everything

Circa plans to transform the entire property with Bitcoin’s signature orange branding and design elements. Programming will run across all venues. Think the Circa Block Party with Bitcoin-themed bars, Stadium Swim, the multi-tiered pool amphitheater.

The venue describes the event as “Bitcoin brought to life”. Sounds like they’re going for atmosphere and immersion rather than just slapping a few logos on existing operations.

Strategic Timing

Running parallel to Bitcoin 2026 makes commercial sense. The main conference pulls thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts, investors, and industry figures to Las Vegas. Circa’s event offers an alternative experience for attendees looking to extend their trip or wanting something different from the conference floor.

Downtown Las Vegas has worked to differentiate itself from the Strip in recent years. Hosting a major crypto event fits that positioning, particularly for a property that’s embedded digital currency into its operations more thoroughly than most competitors.

The Bitcoin Takeover represents another step in Las Vegas’s ongoing relationship with cryptocurrency culture. Regulatory hurdles still prevent crypto gambling at scale. But properties like Circa are finding creative ways to serve this growing market segment.

The UK Gambling Commission is sizing up cryptocurrency as a payment option for licensed operators, following proposals that would bring digital assets under formal regulation by October 2027.

Tim Miller addressed the topic at the Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM last week. He told the industry that growing player demand and incoming regulatory clarity mean it’s time to start mapping out how crypto could work in the regulated market.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025, tabled in Parliament last December, would hand oversight of crypto activities to the FCA. Any firm handling cryptoassets would need FCA authorization under the new regime.

For gaming operators, that creates a potential pathway. Miller said the combination of regulatory structure and clear appetite from punters means the Commission wants to explore what a practical framework might look like.

Industry Forum Consulted on Next Steps

The UKGC has already started conversations with its Industry Forum, asking members how they see crypto payment regulation developing in the licensed sector.

Miller made clear this is an early stage inquiry, not a policy announcement.

He’s not setting deadlines or promising timelines. The focus right now is understanding what would work, what wouldn’t, and how to structure it properly if it moves forward.

The demand is real. Players have been asking for crypto options for years, and other jurisdictions have already integrated digital currency payments into their regulated frameworks. Britain has lagged behind, partly because the regulatory status of cryptoassets remained unclear.

Risks Acknowledged

Miller didn’t shy away from the complications. Cryptocurrency has deep ties to the black market gambling sector, and some of the largest unlicensed sites operating in the UK rely heavily on crypto to move money and evade controls.

The Commission will need to address those risks head on. Any framework would have to include robust checks to prevent licensed crypto payments from becoming a back door for money laundering or a tool for unlicensed operators.

That’s not a trivial challenge. Crypto’s appeal to illegal sites stems from the same features that make it attractive to legitimate users: speed, low fees, reduced friction. Striking the right balance will take careful work.

What Happens Next

Nothing is imminent. The new cryptoasset regulations won’t take effect until late 2027, and the UKGC is still in consultation mode.

But the fact that Miller raised the topic publicly signals a shift in thinking.

For years, crypto was treated as too risky, too volatile, and too closely linked to the unlicensed market to warrant serious consideration. That position is softening. With proper regulatory oversight on the horizon, the Commission sees room to explore whether crypto can be brought into the fold safely.

Operators will be watching closely. Crypto payments could open up new customer segments and reduce transaction costs, but only if the compliance burden doesn’t outweigh the benefits.

The UKGC’s challenge is designing a system that delivers both player protection and commercial viability.

Miller’s comments suggest the regulator is at least willing to try.

Bet365 has secured a significant partnership deal with the UFC, taking over from DraftKings as the mixed martial arts organization’s official sports betting partner across the United States and Canada. The agreement brings one of the world’s largest betting operators into the heart of the UFC broadcast experience.

What the Partnership Delivers

The arrangement integrates bet365 branding throughout UFC coverage with practical features that actually matter to punters. Expect to see on-screen betting tickers during fights, live fighter odds displays, same-game parlay options, and real-time updates that give bettors the information they need when it counts.

The partnership covers both digital broadcasts and live events, which means bet365 gains visibility across multiple touchpoints where fans are already engaged.

With the UFC claiming 330 million social media followers and an estimated 700 million fans worldwide, that’s substantial reach for the operator.

Strategic Timing

The deal comes at an interesting moment for UFC visibility. The organization recently signed with Paramount, which should boost broadcast reach considerably. For bet365, that means their partnership investment gains value as the UFC expands its audience.

Trip Stoddard, bet365’s head of development, called it a “defining moment” for the operator. He pointed to the UFC’s packed event calendar and highly engaged fanbase as creating ideal conditions for live betting. In practice, this is where bet365’s product depth gives them a genuine advantage.

Nicholas Smith, TKO’s senior vice president of global partnerships, emphasized that bet365 understands how modern sports fans actually experience combat sports. The integration aims to enhance viewing with better odds information and engagement opportunities throughout each fight card.

First Showing

The partnership made its debut at the Holloway vs. Oliveira card on March 7. Fans got their first look at how the integration works in practice.

It’s a substantial commitment from bet365 in a competitive US market where DraftKings and FanDuel have dominated UFC betting conversation for years.

For punters, the real question is whether bet365’s odds and offerings justify the prominent placement. The operator has a strong international reputation, granted, but the North American sports betting market has its own dynamics. This partnership gives them a powerful platform to prove their product stands up against established competition.

The UK Gambling Commission is seriously considering allowing cryptocurrency payments for licensed operators, following Parliament’s proposed new regulatory framework for digital assets. UKGC Chief Executive Tim Miller told the Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM on February 26 that the regulator has already begun consulting the industry on how crypto could work in practice.

The potential shift comes as the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025 makes its way through Parliament. If approved, the framework takes effect in October 2027 and brings all cryptoasset activity under FCA oversight. That means any firm handling crypto will need proper authorization. A big change from the current grey area.

Industry Demand Meets Regulatory Reality

Miller was frank about why the UKGC is looking at this now. Consumer demand for crypto payments is growing, and once the new regime is in place, there will be a proper regulatory structure to work within. That combination makes it worth exploring how licensed operators could offer crypto as a payment option.

The regulator has asked its Industry Forum for input as a first step. Miller wants to understand how operators think crypto payments could be integrated into the existing licensing framework. He’s not setting deadlines. That suggests the UKGC is taking a measured approach rather than rushing into anything.

The Black Market Problem

Miller didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. Cryptocurrency is heavily used by unlicensed offshore sites, precisely because it operates outside traditional banking channels. That’s a problem the UKGC will need to address head on. Any framework for crypto payments will need robust controls to prevent money laundering and make sure operators can still meet their customer due diligence obligations.

The timing is interesting. The UKGC has historically been cautious about crypto, given its association with the black market. But with a proper regulatory framework on the horizon and clear consumer interest, the calculation has changed. Look, if crypto is going to be properly regulated anyway, keeping it out of licensed gambling just pushes players toward unregulated sites that already accept it.

What This Means for Operators

For UK licensees, this is worth watching closely. Crypto payments could offer faster transactions and lower processing fees compared to traditional banking. They’re also popular with certain demographics, particularly younger players who are comfortable with digital currencies.

But there’s no guarantee the UKGC will give this the green light. Miller’s comments suggest the regulator is in listening mode, gathering information before making any decisions. The black market issue is serious. The UKGC will need convincing that licensed operators can offer crypto payments without creating new risks.

The October 2027 timeline for the broader crypto framework gives everyone plenty of time to work through these issues. Don’t expect any announcements soon, but this is a clear signal that the UKGC isn’t dismissing crypto out of hand anymore.

Better Markets, a US financial advocacy group, has fired a broadside at prediction markets, claiming they’re essentially unregulated gambling dressed up as legitimate trading. The nonprofit released a paper arguing that platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have strayed far beyond what regulators ever intended to allow.

The group’s central argument is straightforward: betting on election outcomes, sports results, or award ceremonies is gambling, regardless of what you call it. Better Markets doesn’t buy the industry’s preferred terminology of ‘event contracts’ and ‘information markets.’

If you’re putting money on future events you can’t influence, you’re gambling.

What particularly irks Better Markets is the breadth of what’s on offer. Traditional sportsbooks face restrictions on what they can accept bets on. Prediction markets, operating under CFTC oversight rather than gaming regulators, allow punters to speculate on virtually anything. Golden Globe winners. Political appointments. The lot.

Peer-to-Peer Model Called a Distraction

The industry likes to highlight that users trade against each other rather than against the house. Better Markets dismisses this distinction as meaningless. They compare it to casino poker rooms, which take a rake from peer-to-peer games and are still regulated as gambling. The fee-based model used by prediction markets works the same way, they reckon.

The watchdog’s concerns extend beyond definitions. They argue the CFTC, designed to police trillion-dollar derivatives and commodities markets, has no business regulating gaming activities. The agency lacks the expertise and the mandate for this type of oversight, plain and simple.

Insider Trading Risk Highlighted

Better Markets raised a specific concern about insider trading potential. Political prediction markets, for instance, could be exploited by campaign staffers, pollsters, or officials with non-public information. Worth knowing: the CFTC framework wasn’t built to catch or prevent this type of misconduct in betting contexts.

The paper concluded bluntly: most of what’s happening on these platforms contradicts the law’s intent. All of it exceeds what the CFTC was ever meant to handle. Better Markets argues that if Americans want nationwide gambling on current events, that decision should come from elected lawmakers, not be handed to private companies through regulatory workarounds.

The criticism adds to mounting pressure on prediction markets from multiple directions. Tribal gaming operators, state regulators, and established sportsbooks have all questioned whether these platforms are exploiting regulatory gaps. The debate will likely intensify as the sector continues its rapid expansion, and honestly, things are just getting started.

Underdog has acquired both Aristotle Exchange DCM and Aristotle Exchange DCO, giving the US sports operator its own CFTC-registered infrastructure to offer event contracts directly. The move positions Underdog to compete in the fast-growing prediction markets sector without relying on third-party platforms.

CFTC Registration Changes the Game

The acquisition brings Underdog a designated contract market (DCM) and a derivatives clearing organization (DCO), both registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That regulatory framework is crucial.

It means Underdog can offer event contracts compliantly, letting customers take positions on sports outcomes and other events within a properly regulated structure.

Underdog has been in the prediction space since September 2024, when it became the first sportsbook to offer sports predictions through its app. Until now, though, it operated as an intermediary, connecting users to other platforms. Owning the exchange infrastructure changes that dynamic completely. The company can now control the entire customer experience and expand its offerings without third-party constraints.

Sports Focus Sets Underdog Apart

Jeremy Levine, Underdog’s co-founder and CEO, made it clear the company sees sports as the natural home for prediction markets. “We’re in the early innings of what prediction markets can be, especially for sports fans,” Levine said. “We’ll use this opportunity to bring the same relentless focus on innovation and experience that we’ve always brought to our customers.”

He added that prediction markets are “primarily about sports,” positioning Underdog’s expertise as a competitive advantage. That’s not just marketing talk. Sports-focused prediction markets have different dynamics than political or financial contracts. Understanding player performance, game variables, and fan engagement matters. Underdog has built its business around exactly that knowledge.

Growing Market, Strategic Timing

The prediction markets sector has seen real growth recently, with increased regulatory clarity and consumer interest. By acquiring existing CFTC-registered entities rather than applying for new registrations, Underdog accelerates its timeline considerably.

The regulatory approval process for these designations can take years.

Lazard served as financial advisor to Aristotle in the transaction, with Willkie Farr & Gallagher handling legal matters. Financial terms were not disclosed.

For Underdog, the acquisition represents a major strategic shift from intermediary to operator. The company can now design contracts, set terms, and manage risk directly. That control should allow faster innovation and tighter integration with its existing sports offerings. Whether prediction markets can scale beyond the early adopter crowd, well, the jury’s still out, but Underdog has positioned itself to find out.