Dan Bernstein
@dan-bernstein.bsky.social
Currently: Assistant Editor, Sportico. Previously worked at Sporting News, GOAL and others. Started in a little newsroom in College Park 🐢
Lots of talk about the Dodgers' ability to shield some of its TV earnings from MLB revenue-sharing. We break down what's happening.
The Dodgers Are Racking Up Talent—and an Unprecedented Bill
The Dodgers funnel an unprecedented amount of money to small market clubs, but a unique TV deal cuts their revenue-sharing bill more than $50 million.
sportico.com
Kalshi is appealing to far-right users through an affiliate partnership
Kalshi Pays Social Account That Makes Anti-Black, Anti-Muslim Posts
The prediction market company's growth strategy includes funding sponsored posts from controversial users.
sportico.com
Oregon State women's basketball players make history as they move for unionization. Very important thing: Oregon State is a public university. That means this is a question of state law, not federal law. That's huge. I explain in a new @sportico.bsky.social article with Jacob Feldman:
Oregon State WBB Players Seek Union Status in Historic Move
Members of the Oregon State women's basketball team have petitioned a state agency to form a union in a major development in sports law.
sportico.com
Initial breaking news story on Underdog sale agreement 📝 Lots of newly revealed details about Underdog financials and user activity.
Underdog’s $1.3B Sale Agreement Reveals New Details About Company
Underdog's prediction market growth is one of the drivers of newly released user activity and revenue information.
sportico.com
Election betting gives prediction market operators reason to work with political influencers. For Kalshi, that means paying a social media account that constantly bashes Muslims and refers to Black people as "chimps."
Kalshi Pays Social Account That Makes Anti-Black, Anti-Muslim Posts
The prediction market company's growth strategy includes funding sponsored posts from controversial users.
sportico.com
The prediction market joint-venture between FanDuel and CME Group started off with normal pleasantries. But the vibes have changed dramatically, and without explanation, since then.
What’s Going on Between FanDuel and CME Group?
CME Group CEO Terry Duffy continues to criticize sports prediction markets, even though his company actively offers them in its FanDuel partnership.
sportico.com
May ➡️ July Prediction market exchange trends through the World Cup. Full feature story here: www.sportico.com/business/spo...
Sports betting with borrowed funds? Perpetual futures might be an entry point to higher-risk markets.
Perp Talk: Sports Betting With Borrowed Funds, Infinite Timelines
So-called "perps" involve betting with borrowed funds. Right now, federal regulators only allow them for crypto-related markets.
sportico.com
Fun fact about Blaze Alexander: He was born in Merrillville, Indiana, and he doesn't know why his Baseball Reference and MLB page and every ballpark says he was born in Cape Coral, Florida
BIG UPDATE: The NFL is not comfortable with these Kalshi markets, according to a league source. Kalshi's CFTC filing specifically mentions the NFL, but the company hasn't yet offered bets on NFL weather delays, given their rollout is happening in the NFL offseason.
Dan Bernstein@dan-bernstein.bsky.social · 4w agoThe CFTC labeled prediction market bets on the "judgment calls, discretionary decisions, or rulings" of game officials likely against public interest. Refs and umpires often decide rain delays. Kalshi facilitates weather delay bets. The CFTC has not contested them.
The CFTC labeled prediction market bets on the "judgment calls, discretionary decisions, or rulings" of game officials likely against public interest. Refs and umpires often decide rain delays. Kalshi facilitates weather delay bets. The CFTC has not contested them.
Kalshi’s Weather Delay Bets Raise Regulatory Questions
Want to wager on an MLB team starting its game a few minutes late? Kalshi has set the groundwork for that to happen.
sportico.com
DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and Bet365 are bankrolling political ads about immigration, gun violence and women's rights in state elections. Most voters don't know gaming interests are behind the material, raising ethical concerns.
Sportsbooks Hide Intent of Super PAC Election Ads Around U.S.
DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and Bet365 are supporting local political ads that don’t disclose their ties to gambling.
sportico.com
Novig, a prediction market exchange, joined the group of companies adding staff aligned with President Donald Trump. Its new chief regulatory and legal affairs officer is also an avid LinkedIn poster.
Novig Hires Ex-DOGE Worker as Industry Keeps Up Trump-Era Trend
The prediction market exchange hired Elie Mishory as its new chief regulatory and legal affairs officer.
sportico.com
The Local Girl Media Group has thrived on hyper-local news, and the logistical confusion around the World Cup has created an opportunity to deliver even more to its already-robust audience. My story at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/med...
World Cup Bumps Relevance of Local NJ Media Company
Local Girl Media Group has thrived on hyper-local news, and the logistical confusion around the World Cup has created an opportunity to deliver.
sportico.com
Netflix is cautiously optimistic about the launch of its new soccer game—FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition—banking on how much its players will enjoy the gameplay as opposed to its visuals. My story, with @danbernstein.bsky.social, at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tec...
Netflix: FIFA World Cup Video Game Doesn’t Need ‘Super’ Graphics
The streaming service is cautiously optimistic about the launch of its new soccer game, banking on how much its players will enjoy the gameplay as opposed to its visuals.
sportico.com
These days, a few storied New York institutions—besides the basketball team—still bear the name. Among them: the Knickerbocker Club on the Upper East Side, one of the most exclusive members clubs in the world.
New York’s Other Knickerbockers Weigh In on the NBA Finals
In light of the New York Knicks' historic 2026 success, we surveyed the city's other Knickerbockers about the NBA Finals.
sportico.com
Kalshi has changed its trademark approach after previously telling the United States Patent and Trademark Office it offered “bookmaking services" and conducted "sports betting and gambling tournaments, competitions and contests.” Oops?
Kalshi Ditches ‘Gambling’ Language in New Trademark Filings
In a series of applications, including for Kalshi Power Index, the company adjusted how it describes itself to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
sportico.com
This summer, EA is “celebrating the summer of international football" with a playable 48-team competition ... that definitely isn't the FIFA World Cup! Some good corporate wording gymnastics 🤸
No FIFA License, No Problem? EA Sports Fakes It for World Cup
Electronic Arts is trying to meet consumer demand for a World Cup integration into its soccer video game without getting into trouble.
sportico.com
Gotham FC has hired the Florida Panthers’ Mark Zarthar as president, according to multiple people familiar with the details 🤝
Gotham FC to Name Florida Panthers’ CRO Zarthar as President
The NWSL club is hiring Mark Zarthar from the NHL's Florida Panthers to be its president. Gotham has won two of the last three championships.
sportico.com
Daily game GeoSports, which blends geography and sports trivia, has exploded to internet fame in less than a month. But its creator is in no rush to cash in. I spoke to Frank Michael Smith about what’s next. Story at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tec...
GeoSports Trivia Game Went From ‘Vibe Code’ to Viral Fame
The daily game that blends geography and sports trivia has exploded to internet fame in less than a month. But its creator is in no rush to cash in.
sportico.com
Dune's slogan is "let the data flow." It took datasets showing Kalshi user losses offline within 48 hours of my article about parlays, then placed them behind a $40,000 paywall. The latest on a move that's disappointed prediction market researchers.
Kalshi Partner Puts Parlay Loss Data Behind $40,000 Paywall
Dune, an official Kalshi partner, made the change following reporting that showed retail losses from Kalshi parlays.
sportico.com
Liga MX has signed a deal with EA, bringing Mexico’s top professional soccer league back to the world’s best-selling soccer video game, according to sources. The reunion will start with EA Sports FC 27. With @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/spo...
Liga MX Signs Deal to Return to EA Sports FC Video Game
After a five-year absence, the top tier of Mexican soccer will now appear in the upcoming EA Sports FC 27 title.
sportico.com
Polymarket U.S. files with the CFTC about implementing parlays (which it calls "Combinatoric Athletic Outcome Contracts")
A Sportico editor accused Sports Illustrated of plagiarism, suggesting that AI may have been used to generate the plagiarized piece. SI deleted the author and his entire archive from its website. Social media profiles associated with the author have also disappeared. futurism.com/artificial-i...
Sports Illustrated Deletes Entire Author After Accusation of AI Plagiarism
Sports Illustrated deleted an author, and his entire archive of published work, after allegations of AI plagiarism.
futurism.com
There is arguably no issue that unifies the online gambling community more than repealing a new tax rule capping gambling deductions to 90% of losses. As is the norm in politics, a non-politician might need to be the voice for change. And Dana White has Donald Trump's ear.
UFC’s Dana White Asks Trump to Nix Bet Tax Amid Political Gridlock
White petitioned Donald Trump to repeal an addition to the tax code that caps deductions on gambling losses at 90%.
sportico.com
EXCLUSIVE: Kalshi retail bettors have lost more than $100 million on parlays this year. Feature story here: www.sportico.com/business/spo...
Gotham FC is in advanced talks to relocate to the new soccer stadium that NYCFC is building in Queens 🏟️ Story here: www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
People have lost more than $116 million this year placing parlay bets on Kalshi’s retail app and website For every $100 wagered, retail bettors lost roughly $15 Research from @dan-bernstein.bsky.social for @sportico.bsky.social. Link to full story below ⬇️
Sometimes it pays to lose your job. FanDuel's departing CEO is getting severance worth far more than her base annual salary.
FanDuel to Give Exiting CEO Amy Howe $4.37M Severance
Amy Howe's exit as FanDuel CEO will come with a $4.37 million severance, more than 4x her annual base pay. She'll also receive vested stock.
sportico.com
