GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades

About GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades

Rashid received a 17‑month sentence following a hearing in U.S. District Court, where he admitted to a series of breaches that prosecutors said showed he had not reformed.

In 2021, Judge Gloria Navarro sentenced Rashid to 33 months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Ore., followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of using an interstate facility in aid of unlawful activity—specifically, a prostitution service.

According to the FBI, which raided his Las Vegas house on human trafficking warrants in 2014, Rashid “persuaded, induced, enticed and caused hundreds of victims to prostitute themselves for his benefit” beginning in 2002.

About GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades

The 62-minute hearing featuring Kalshi and a prominent lobbyist from the American Gaming Association provided a blueprint for the state’s evaluation of prediction markets next year. Before the calendar turns to 2027, though, stakeholders will monitor races for governor, attorney general and the US Senate on election night. The results in all three Texas races will likely have a major impact on the future of prediction markets inside the state.

Convened by Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes, the hearing in the Senate Committee on State Affairs examined the relationship between federally regulated derivatives markets and state-prohibited gambling. Research from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming in April found that 43% of activity from sports event contracts came from two states, Texas and California. A separate breakout of Texas activity alone is not publicly available.

At Tuesday’s hearing, AGA Vice President Tres York testified before the committee alongside Robert DeNault, head of enforcement and legal counsel at Kalshi. The AGA, one of the nation’s most strident critics of prediction markets, argued that an event contract on the Cowboys to beat the Giants does not differ fundamentally from the same wager placed at a sportsbook.

What is GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades?

It is said to mark a “significant step forward” in addressing gambling-related harm across the continent, facilitating relationships between representatives from a number of countries both inside and outside Africa.

The ARGN’s work will focus on four key strategic priorities:

Lebo Seoheng, advocacy and communications manager at the South African Responsible Gaming Foundation, has been appointed as the ARGN’s president.