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Negative coverage of sportsbooks and prediction markets may not slow demand, but it could help drive the next wave of regulation.
That is the central takeaway from Covers.com industry reporter Geoff Zochodne, who argued Monday that "today’s press is tomorrow’s proposed legislation." His report points to a growing gap between strong consumer activity and a tougher political and regulatory backdrop in the U.S. and Canada.
Heavy betting volume continues across sportsbooks and prediction markets
The underlying demand remains clear in the latest figures cited by Covers. Prediction markets topped more than $4 billion in volume on Saturday and more than $4.2 billion in notional volume on Sunday. The article also cited more than $764.5 million in Saturday taker volume and $787.5 million on Sunday.
On the sportsbook side, the New York State Gaming Commission reported approximately $594.6 million in mobile sports wagering handle for the week ended Sept. 13. That was up from $533.8 million for the comparable week ended Sept. 14, 2025.
Covers also noted that weekly operator performance can be difficult to judge in isolation. As Citizens analysts put it, "Diversification of markets and the evolution of bet types make it nearly impossible to figure out how companies are performing on a weekly basis."
Lawmakers and regulators are already taking action
The report argues that negative headlines about gambling companies and event-contract platforms can later be used to justify hearings, legislation, or regulatory changes.
That possibility is not just theoretical. Covers pointed to Indiana considering a ban on college player props and to Missouri moving against sports event contracts offered by prediction markets. The article also said Texas lawmakers began discussing prediction markets last week.
At the federal level, the report suggested a new Democrat-controlled Congress in January could revisit prediction markets. It also referenced the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as part of the broader regulatory picture.
What players should watch
For players, the immediate story is less about access changing overnight and more about the policy climate around betting products. Strong handle and trading volume show these products remain popular, but the debate around how they are marketed and regulated is clearly intensifying.
The next signals to watch are whether state proposals such as Indiana’s college player prop discussion advance further, whether Missouri expands its push against sports event contracts, and whether lawmakers in Washington take a closer look at prediction markets in 2027.
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Source: As reported by Geoff Zochodne.
