South Korea’s state-run sports betting platform Sports Toto is facing scrutiny after reports emerged that teenagers are accessing the system despite age verification measures. The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, which operates the country’s only legal sports betting service, insists its controls are robust. Investigative journalism has revealed gaps in enforcement, though.

South Korean broadcaster MBC documented cases of underage users placing wagers through Sports Toto’s online platforms, raising questions about how well the foundation’s age verification systems actually work. Under current rules, only residents aged 19 and over can legally bet on the platform.

How the System Works

Sports Toto operates as a pools-style betting system, similar to traditional British football pools, covering domestic and international fixtures across football, baseball, volleyball, and basketball. The platform allows minimum stakes of just 100 won (roughly seven pence), making it accessible to a broad market. Most punters place bets through convenience stores or dedicated Sports Toto offices. Online access via portals like Betman has grown increasingly popular, mind you.

The foundation implemented stricter age verification controls in early 2025, specifically targeting concerns about the platform’s accessibility to younger users. The MBC investigation revealed that determined teenagers are circumventing these measures by using borrowed or stolen adult identification documents.

Student Testimonies Paint Clear Picture

The broadcaster interviewed several high school students who described the workarounds in straightforward terms. One student, identified only as Lee, explained the process: “You can use your parents’ phones to place a bet, or borrow an ID card from an older friend. It’s easy.”

Another student, Park, admitted to spending at least five hours daily on the platform. He described winning 2 million won (approximately £1,350) from a 50,000 won stake, calling it a “thrilling experience.” Sports Toto caps daily betting at 100,000 won per verified account, but access to multiple IDs effectively removes these safeguards.

Industry Response and Market Context

Cho Ho-yeon, who heads the Gambling-Free Schools initiative, noted an ironic twist in the situation. Private sector gambling sites, he explained, often present higher barriers to underage access. This makes the government-operated platform paradoxically more vulnerable. “It is becoming a playground for teenagers,” Cho told MBC.

The issue comes as Sports Toto continues to generate substantial revenues, pulling in approximately 6 trillion won (roughly £4 billion) annually. The platform’s success has even attracted attention from e-sports advocates pushing for video gaming competitions to be added to the betting menu.

Korea Sports Leisure, meanwhile, has launched a separate initiative targeting illegal betting operations. The company announced rewards of up to 200 million won (over £134,000) for whistleblowers providing actionable intelligence on match-fixing, unlicensed streaming services, and illegal sportsbook operators through its Illegal Sports Toto Reporting Center.

The foundation faces a tricky balancing act: maintaining a successful, legal betting operation while tightening controls that determined users have already proven capable of bypassing. With billions in annual turnover at stake, the pressure to find effective solutions without alienating legitimate adult customers will only get more intense.

South Korea’s state-run Sports Toto betting system is grappling with a serious enforcement problem as teenagers find ways around age verification to place wagers on the country’s only legal sports betting platform.

The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, which oversees Sports Toto, maintains strict policies limiting access to residents aged 19 and above. Investigative reporting by South Korean broadcaster MBC has revealed, though, that underage users are successfully accessing the platform through borrowed or stolen adult identification documents.

How the System Works

Sports Toto operates similarly to traditional British football pools. Punters can place wagers from as little as 100 won (about seven pence) on outcomes across domestic and international fixtures in football, baseball, volleyball, and basketball. The platform generates approximately 6 trillion won ($4 billion) in annual revenues.

Most customers use physical betting slips at convenience stores or dedicated Sports Toto offices, though online platforms like Betman have grown increasingly popular.

This digital accessibility has become part of the problem.

The Enforcement Gap

MBC journalists confirmed that teenagers are placing bets despite the foundation implementing stricter age blocks in early 2025. The workaround, according to students who spoke to the broadcaster, proves remarkably simple.

One high school student, identified only as Lee, explained the process matter-of-factly: “You can use your parents’ phones to place a bet, or borrow an ID card from an older friend. It’s easy.”

Another student, Park, described spending at least five hours daily on the platform after recently developing what he termed an addiction. He recounted turning a 50,000 won ($34) stake into 2 million won ($1,350). Called it a “thrilling experience.”

Sports Toto limits each ID-verified account to 100,000 won ($67) in daily betting. These safeguards lose effectiveness, though, when users can access multiple adult identities.

Industry Response

Cho Ho-yeon, who heads the Gambling-Free Schools initiative, noted an unexpected consequence of South Korea’s strict gambling laws. Private sector betting sites face tougher restrictions and enforcement, making the government-run platform paradoxically more accessible to underage users.

“That makes government-run Sports Toto more appealing to this demographic,” Cho told MBC. “It is becoming a playground for teenagers.”

Korea Sports Leisure has launched a big crackdown on illegal sports betting operations. The company now offers whistleblower rewards reaching 200 million won (over $134,000) through its Illegal Sports Toto Reporting Center for information on match-fixing, illicit streaming sites, and unlicensed sportsbook operators.

The situation highlights the persistent challenge facing regulated gambling markets: creating accessible platforms for adult customers while maintaining effective age verification in an increasingly digital world. No easy answers here.

Three people who ran an illegal poker club in the Russian city of Smolensk have walked away with suspended sentences rather than prison time, despite operating what authorities called a highly secretive gambling operation for nearly two years.

A district court handed down suspended jail terms ranging from 20 to 22 months to the unnamed operators, along with two years’ probation and fines of 100,000 rubles each—roughly $1,270. The Rabochy Put news outlet reported the verdicts this week.

According to prosecutors, the trio launched their poker club in January 2023 and kept it running until September 2024, when a major multi-agency raid brought operations to an abrupt halt. The takedown involved the Investigative Committee, Russian National Guard, Federal Security Service, and Ministry of Internal Affairs working together. Which tells you something about how seriously Russian authorities take underground gambling.

High Security Operation

The operators weren’t amateurs. Natalya Zueva, spokesperson for the Investigative Committee’s Smolensk branch, explained they maintained tight security protocols and made all strategic decisions about tournament scheduling and formats themselves. Officers seized gambling equipment, cash, and documentation from multiple locations during the raids.

The club used premises belonging to both a cafe and a hotel complex in Smolensk’s Industrial District. When officers moved in, they caught players mid-game at the tables. One bloke tried to leg it from the scene and got himself arrested.

Growing Problem in Smolensk

This prosecution fits a broader pattern in Smolensk, a city about 360 kilometres west of Moscow that’s seen illegal gambling establishments multiply over the past couple of years. Last year alone saw another betting club busted in the same Industrial District, this one screening overseas poker games alongside card-based gambling.

That operation ran from November 2023 to May 2024 out of a shopping centre unit and apparently attracted a well-heeled clientele—local business figures and media personalities included. The 47-year-old woman running that show cut a deal with prosecutors, receiving a two-year suspended sentence and a fine exceeding $2,500.

Harsher Penalties Elsewhere

The Smolensk defendants got off relatively lightly compared to casino operators in other Russian cities. Just last month, the Traktorozavodsky District Court in Volgograd sent eight people down for running an illegal casino network, with sentences ranging from three to 18 years in actual prison.

The disparity in sentencing likely reflects differences in scale and organisation. Running a poker club that meets periodically is one thing. Operating a full casino network is quite another in the eyes of Russian courts, particularly when you consider the country’s strict approach to gambling regulation outside designated zones.

Russia permits legal gambling only in four specially designated zones. Operators elsewhere face serious criminal consequences if they try to circumvent the law. The suspended sentences in Smolensk suggest the court viewed these operators as small-time rather than serious organised crime, but the message from authorities remains clear enough: stay within the legal framework or face the consequences.

Three operators behind an illegal poker club in western Russia have walked free with suspended sentences, despite running what prosecutors called a highly secretive gambling operation for nearly two years.

The district court in Smolensk handed down suspended jail terms of 20 to 22 months to the unnamed trio, who must now serve two years’ probation and pay fines of 100,000 rubles each, roughly $1,270. It’s a relatively light touch from the Russian courts. Particularly when you compare it to recent cases elsewhere in the country where casino operators have been sent down for years.

Multi-Agency Raid Shuts Down Operation

The operation ran from January 2023 until September 2024, when a joint task force including the Investigative Committee, Russian National Guard, Federal Security Service, and Ministry of Internal Affairs swooped on multiple addresses. Officers caught patrons mid-game at the tables. One punter tried to leg it from the scene, got arrested anyway.

According to court testimony, the club operated out of two locations in Smolensk’s Industrial District, using facilities at a cafe and a hotel complex. Natalya Zueva from the Investigative Committee’s local branch said the operators maintained tight security and controlled every aspect of the tournaments, from scheduling to format decisions. The raids netted gambling equipment, cash, and incriminating documents.

Growing Problem in Smolensk

This case marks the second major illegal gambling bust in Smolensk’s Industrial District in recent months. Last year, authorities arrested three people running a separate betting club that organized card games and streamed overseas poker matches to punters. That venue attracted a notably upmarket clientele, including local business figures and media personalities, before police shut it down in May 2024. Six-month run, then done.

The female ringleader in that earlier case, a 47-year-old woman, struck a pre-trial deal with prosecutors. She received a two-year prison sentence, also suspended for two years, along with a fine exceeding $2,500.

Harsher Sentences Elsewhere

The suspended sentences in Smolensk stand in sharp contrast to recent rulings in other Russian cities. Just last month, the Traktorozavodsky District Court in Volgograd sent eight people down for running a network of illegal casinos, with sentences ranging from three to 18 years behind bars. That case clearly attracted a much sterner response from the bench.

Smolensk sits about 360 kilometers west of Moscow, and local authorities say illegal gambling is becoming a real concern in the city. The relatively lenient sentences in these recent cases might not send the strongest deterrent message to other would-be operators in the region, frankly.

Japanese authorities have raided offices belonging to the Inagawa-kai, one of the country’s three largest yakuza syndicates, as part of an escalating crackdown on underground gambling operations linked to organized crime.

The coordinated operation saw heavily armed officers from Aichi and Kanagawa prefectures storm the gang’s Yokohama headquarters following the April bust of an illegal slots parlor called Royal in Nagoya’s Sakae district. Three individuals were arrested at the original raid site, including suspected ringleader Masato Hori, 39, who police believe ran a network of at least five unlicensed gambling venues across Aichi Prefecture.

Multi-Million Yen Operation

Investigators estimate the operation generated a minimum of 28 million yen, roughly £140,000. Strong evidence suggests proceeds helped fund the Inagawa-kai’s broader criminal activities. The gang, founded in 1949 and boasting approximately 1,600 members concentrated around Tokyo and Yokohama, has long been associated with gambling, extortion, blackmail and narcotics trafficking.

According to FNN, the three suspects face charges related to encouraging habitual gambling. Authorities indicate their investigation remains active and could lead to additional arrests. Police have declined to discuss statements made by those detained, citing concerns about compromising ongoing enquiries.

Wider Enforcement Push

The slots network bust forms part of a broader law enforcement offensive against Inagawa-kai operations. Just days after the Yokohama office raid, officers arrested two gang members, aged 44 and 33, for allegedly dealing stimulants in a hardware store car park in Tsurumi Ward. Police say the men had been using the location for drug transactions since December, selling banned substances to a 45-year-old Filipino national when apprehended.

Both Kanagawa and Aichi police forces have publicly committed to intensifying their pursuit of the syndicate’s criminal enterprises across multiple prefectures. And they’re clearly not messing about.

Timing and Context

The timing proves particularly significant for Aichi Prefecture, which is currently preparing a proposal to develop one of Japan’s authorized integrated resort casinos. The national government has approved plans for three legal IR projects nationwide, with only MGM Osaka receiving the green light so far. That resort is scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2030.

For Aichi’s bid to stand any chance, regional authorities know they need to demonstrate firm control over illegal gambling operations. Cracking down on yakuza-run slots parlors sends a clear message that the prefecture can manage the regulatory challenges that come with hosting a legitimate casino resort.

The contrast between Japan’s emerging legal gambling sector and its persistent underground market highlights the complexities facing policymakers. Integrated resorts promise tourism revenue and economic development, granted. But shutting down established criminal networks remains an ongoing battle for law enforcement across the country.

Police in Aichi Prefecture have struck at the operational heart of what they believe was a sophisticated underground gambling network run by Inagawa-kai, one of Japan’s most powerful organised crime syndicates. The raid on offices in Yokohama marks a significant escalation in efforts to dismantle the gang’s illegal slots empire across central Japan.

Major Yakuza Syndicate Under Pressure

Inagawa-kai isn’t some minor outfit. With an estimated 1,600 members and roots stretching back to 1949, it’s one of Japan’s three dominant yakuza organisations, primarily operating across the Tokyo-Yokohama corridor. Their traditional activities span gambling operations, drug trafficking, extortion, and blackmail, making them a priority target for law enforcement.

The heavily armed police operation targeted offices investigators believe served as the command centre for multiple illegal slot machine parlours. The trigger for the raid was the bust of a gambling venue called Royal in Sakae, Nagoya’s entertainment district, back in April. That initial operation netted three arrests, including 39-year-old Masato Hori, identified as the group’s ringleader.

Profitable Network Across Aichi

This wasn’t a one-shop operation. Police evidence suggests Hori and his associates ran illegal slot parlours in at least four other locations across Aichi Prefecture, generating minimum profits of 28 million yen, over $177,000. That’s likely conservative. Authorities reckon the actual take was considerably higher.

The three arrested face gambling-related charges, potentially including encouraging habitual gambling, a serious offence under Japanese law. More to the point, investigators believe a portion of those proceeds fed directly into funding Inagawa-kai’s broader criminal operations. This is more than just an illegal gambling case.

Coordinated Crackdown Intensifies

Police forces in both Kanagawa and Aichi are ramping up pressure on the syndicate. In a separate but related operation, Yokohama officers arrested two gang members, aged 44 and 33, for allegedly dealing banned stimulants in the Tsurumi Ward. The men were caught red-handed selling drugs to a 45-year-old customer in a hardware store car park, a location they’d reportedly been using as a dealing spot since December.

Authorities are keeping details close to the chest, refusing to disclose what the suspects have told investigators to avoid jeopardising ongoing operations. That suggests this is part of a larger, coordinated effort rather than isolated incidents.

Timing and the Legal Casino Push

The timing of this crackdown isn’t coincidental. Aichi Prefecture is preparing a bid to build one of Japan’s integrated casino resorts, part of the government’s ambitious plan to establish three legal IR developments nationwide. Tokyo has already greenlit MGM Osaka, scheduled to open in 2030, but only two additional licences remain available.

For Aichi’s bid to succeed, demonstrating effective control over illegal gambling is essential. No regional government wants to pitch for a major legal casino project whilst organised crime runs unregulated slots parlours down the road. This aggressive stance against Inagawa-kai sends a clear signal that Aichi is serious about cleaning house before welcoming legitimate international operators.

The investigation remains active, with police promising further action as they continue unravelling the syndicate’s operations across the region.

Police in Aichi Prefecture have shut down an illegal slots operation linked to Inagawa-kai, one of Japan’s three largest yakuza crime syndicates. The crackdown saw heavily armed officers raiding both the gang’s Yokohama headquarters and underground gambling parlors generating close to £140,000 in illicit revenue.

The investigation centres on a slots parlor called Royal, which operated in Nagoya’s Sakae district until police stormed the premises in April. Three arrests followed, including 39-year-old Masato Hori, identified as the operation’s ringleader. All three face charges related to encouraging habitual gambling.

Multi-Site Operation Uncovered

Detectives reckon Hori’s crew ran at least five separate slot machine parlors across Aichi Prefecture, pulling in revenues north of 28 million yen. The operation’s scale suggests a sophisticated network rather than a one-off venture, with police saying the investigation remains active.

What’s telling here is where that money likely ended up. According to investigators, a chunk of the slots revenue bankrolled Inagawa-kai’s broader criminal activities. The syndicate, founded in 1949 and boasting around 1,600 members concentrated in the Tokyo-Yokohama corridor, typically deals in gambling, drug trafficking, blackmail, and extortion.

Coordinated Enforcement Push

The Yokohama office raid wasn’t an isolated incident. Police forces in both Kanagawa and Aichi are openly ramping up pressure on Inagawa-kai operations. Just recently, officers in Yokohama’s Tsurumi Ward nabbed two gang members, aged 44 and 33, allegedly flogging illegal stimulants in a hardware store car park. They’d apparently been using the spot for deals since December.

Authorities are keeping tight-lipped about witness statements, citing concerns about compromising ongoing investigations. That suggests this crackdown has legs.

We’re looking at the opening phase rather than the conclusion.

Timing and the IR Question

The timing here isn’t coincidental. Aichi Prefecture is preparing to submit a bid for one of Japan’s three authorized integrated casino resorts. Tokyo has already greenlighted MGM Osaka, which operators say will welcome punters in 2030. With legitimate casino development on the horizon, local authorities have every incentive to show they can keep illegal gambling in check.

The juxtaposition is worth noting. Japan’s moving toward regulated, taxed casino gambling while simultaneously cracking down hard on underground operations that have existed in legal grey areas for decades. For Aichi’s IR ambitions, showing they can handle organized crime’s involvement in gambling becomes essential groundwork.

Whether this represents a genuine shift in enforcement priorities or pre-bid window dressing, well, the jury’s still out. Either way, Inagawa-kai’s slots business in Nagoya has been firmly shut down, and police are making it clear they’re not finished yet.

With March Madness round the corner, I gave DraftKings Predictions a proper go during the Michigan State versus Michigan clash. What started as curiosity about prediction markets turned into a revealing look at how these platforms stack up against traditional sportsbooks for actual punters.

The Welcome Offer Hook

Right off the bat, DraftKings Predictions mirrors the sportsbook playbook with a £50 bonus (in Predictions Dollars) for making your first £5 trade. Familiar territory for anyone who’s signed up to a betting site in the past few years. Though nowhere near as generous as the early North Carolina sports betting launch offers, which handed out hundreds in bonus bets regardless of whether your first wager won.

The real draw wasn’t the bonus, though. Michigan State was getting 10.5 points on the spread at Predictions versus just 9.5 points at the DraftKings sportsbook. For a handicapper, that full point difference is gold dust. I backed the Spartans at 10.5 points with odds of 1.85, a straightforward value play compared to the tighter line available on the standard platform.

Why Line Shopping Still Matters

The final score came in at Michigan 90, Michigan State 80. That extra point on the spread made all the difference. Turned what would have been a losing bet at the sportsbook into a winner on Predictions. It’s textbook line shopping, the sort of basic strategy that separates casual punters from those who take it seriously.

What’s interesting here is that prediction markets aren’t just a novelty. They’re offering genuine price discrepancies that sharper players can exploit. Whether these gaps persist as the markets mature remains to be seen, but for now, there’s clear value in checking both platforms before placing your stake.

The Super App Vision

DraftKings recently announced plans for a unified super app that brings together its sportsbook, casino products, and potentially Pick6 under one roof. Ambitious play that could streamline the player experience considerably, though it also raises questions about market segmentation and whether the operator wants different pricing across platforms long term.

For context, DraftKings Pick6 operates as a daily fantasy product where you’re essentially parlaying player props across different matches. Legal in states where traditional sports betting isn’t, which makes it a handy workaround for punters in places like South Carolina. The format is familiar to anyone who’s built a same game parlay, combining multiple player performance predictions into a single ticket.

These multi leg bets carry higher margins for operators and historically represent poor value for players. Undeniably popular, though. The thrill of a six leg parlay coming down to one player hitting their points total keeps people coming back, even when the maths says you shouldn’t.

What It Means for UK Players

Prediction markets haven’t launched in the UK yet. But the American experience offers a glimpse of what might be coming. The format sits somewhere between traditional betting and financial spread betting, with pricing that can diverge meaningfully from established bookmakers.

For the UK market, where betting exchanges like Betfair have long offered price comparison opportunities, prediction markets could add another layer to the line shopping equation. Whether regulators will treat them as gambling products or investment vehicles remains an open question. The core appeal for punters is clear: another way to find better odds.

The integration of multiple betting formats into single platform offerings is already happening here. Operators like Bet365 and Sky Bet offer everything from traditional sportsbooks to casino games and bingo. Adding prediction markets to that mix would be a natural extension, assuming the regulatory framework allows it.

What’s beyond dispute is that punters benefit from competition and choice. More platforms, more pricing models, and more ways to get a bet on ultimately means better value for those willing to shop around. Whether you call it trading or betting, the fundamentals remain the same.

Right, Cheltenham week is here. We’re missing a few headliners, Constitution Hill, Sir Gino, Galopin Des Champs all sidelined, but there’s still proper quality on show. The Festival always delivers. And with 28 races across the week, there’s value to be found if you know where to look.

Last year’s punting delivered a tidy 21-point profit with winners at 16/1, 14/1, and 8/1. That’s the benchmark.

Let’s see what Tuesday’s card offers.

13:20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Talk The Talk Each-Way at 5/1

The Supreme opener looks properly competitive this year. Old Park Star is shortening but still backable around the 3/1 mark, looks a future Arkle horse to me, one to watch for next season. Mighty Park arrives with Faugheen comparisons after just one rules run, which feels generous. El Cairos and Mydaddypaddy lead the British challenge and both merit respect.

The play here is Talk The Talk for Joseph O’Brien. The form that matters came in those two Leopardstown Grade 1s, stumbled when looking a certain winner in December, then got up right on the line at the Dublin Racing Festival. There’s improvement to come, and crucially, the long run from the last fence suits his staying power.

JJ Slevin’s booking is significant.

Half-point each-way at 5/1 offers proper value in what’s essentially a lottery.

14:00 Arkle Chase: Lulamba to Win at 7/4

This shapes as a straight shootout between Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes. Kargese needs more than her 7lb allowance to threaten either, frankly.

Lulamba should be favourite and I’m backing him accordingly. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old is unbeaten this season including an open company victory last month. He was the best horse in last year’s Triumph Hurdle despite the defeat, and he’s proven that form emphatically since. Kopek Des Bordes will lead into the straight and try to burn off the Supreme winner, but that lack of match practice will tell. Just one chase start back in November. Two points to win at 7/4 is the bet.

14:40 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Three-Pronged Attack

Absolute minefield, this one.

The market has settled on Saratoga, Manlaga, and Winston Junior, but there’s value playing against them with three separate half-point punts.

Glen To Glen at 10/1 fits the Joseph O’Brien profile for this race perfectly. JJ Slevin up is a major tick, and the horse was put away after a fortunate win last time with the handicapper in mind. Nicely treated now.

Ammes at 8/1 represents the best British hope. Wouldn’t have been out of place in the Triumph but connections fancy him here. Should run a massive race.

Munsif at 8/1 scrapes in as a reserve for Charles Byrnes. If he gets the run, expect support, the flat recruit looks well handicapped with conditions ideal. Yes, I’ll be doing the tricast. It’s that kind of race.

Betting Strategy

Total outlay across the day: 5.5 points staked across five selections.

The handicap hurdle spreads the risk where the form is hardest to read. The Arkle is the confident play of the day. Talk The Talk in the Supreme offers the best each-way value on the card.

Cheltenham Festival delivers proper racing entertainment, and Tuesday’s opener sets the tone for the week. These selections target the value angles that the big money often misses in the excitement of the first day.

Best of luck to everyone having a punt.

New York’s freshly released lobbying records reveal the serious money casino operators were willing to spend for a shot at one of the city’s coveted gaming licenses. Hard Rock, Resorts World, and Bally’s, the three successful bidders, collectively dropped nearly $3.7 million trying to win over officials, according to the NYC Office of the City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau annual report.

Hard Rock led the pack with $1.68 million in lobbying spend, the second-highest figure across the entire city. That investment has paid off handsomely: the operator’s partnered with Mets owner Steve Cohen to transform a site next to Citi Field into what promises to be a proper destination venue. Beyond the gaming floor, plans include a Taste of Queens food hall, music venue, bars, restaurants, and a public park conversion for the remainder of the site.

The Winners and Their Spending

Genting came in fourth citywide with $1.14 million spent on lobbying efforts. Their Resorts World upgrade at Aqueduct Racetrack looks set to open first, potentially before the year’s out.

The development promises nearly 6,000 slots, a 1,600-room hotel, and multiple dining and drinking venues. That’s a significant step up from the existing racino operation.

Bally’s rounded out the successful trio with $830,000 in lobbying spend, landing sixth overall in the city. Their Bronx development near Ferry Point Park will feature a 500-room hotel, nightclub, spa, and 2,000-seat event center alongside the casino floor.

The Costly Miss

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Coney actually outspent both Genting and Bally’s at $1.4 million, only to see their application rejected by the community advisory committee. Local opposition proved decisive, with the committee determining the Coney Island development would harm existing businesses and clash with the area’s character. That’s a painful lesson in the reality that lobbying spend alone doesn’t guarantee success.

What It’s All Worth

Although the lobbying figures are substantial, they pale beside the projected returns. The three successful operators are forecasting annual revenues between $2 billion and $4 billion each. Combined, these developments could generate upwards of $10 billion yearly, with analysts predicting around $1 billion in additional annual tax revenue for the state.

That’s the kind of money that makes a £1.3 million lobbying investment look rather modest.

New York’s been working toward this moment since voters approved seven casino licenses back in 2013. Four went to upstate locations in the following years, leaving these final three for the lucrative New York City market.

The backdrop here is significant demand for gambling across America, with both physical venues and licensed online casinos seeing strong growth. These three new developments are positioned to capture a substantial slice of that action in one of the world’s most valuable gaming markets.

Worth knowing: it wasn’t even casino operators who spent the most on lobbying last year. That distinction went to Maddd Equities, a real estate developer that dropped $1.8 million across six lobbying firms for various high-profile projects. Airbnb and RAI Services Company also featured prominently, fighting regulations on short-term rentals and menthol products respectively.

With the casino licenses now awarded, next year’s lobbying report will likely tell a very different story. The focus shifts now from winning licenses to actually building these venues and getting them operational. Hard Rock, Resorts World, and Bally’s can start focusing on what they do best: creating entertainment destinations that’ll define New York’s casino landscape for years to come.