Malik Beasley Seeks Plea Deal in Betting Scandal, Teen Gambling Rises — Week of October 26–November 2, 2026

This week, the gambling world was shaken by several significant events. Former NBA player Malik Beasley is seeking a plea deal in a federal betting and bribery case, where he is accused of manipulating his performance in games to benefit third-party bettors. This scandal has brought renewed attention to the issue of sports betting integrity.

Teen Gambling on the Rise

A new study from Rutgers University revealed that nearly 43% of teens reported gambling in the past year. This alarming trend highlights the growing risks of problem gambling among young people.

Legal Troubles for Kalshi

Utah's Attorney General has filed felony charges against prediction market platform Kalshi and its founders, citing violations of the state's gambling laws. Kalshi plans to contest the charges, as it did in Arizona.

Poker Highlights

In the world of poker, Sergei Kislinskii secured his first PGT title by winning PGT Sprint Event No. 4, earning $91,200 and 240 Card Player Player of the Year points. Jesse Lonis made an impressive run at the 2026 PGT Sprint, securing his third consecutive final table finish and winning $101,000, pushing his career earnings past $35.2 million.

Mayukh Chakraborty won the WSOP Super Circuit Montreal Main Event, earning C$1,500,000. The inaugural event generated C$24.5 million in prize money, with the Main Event alone attracting 2,844 entries and producing C$12,689,928 in prize money.

In other news, a woman from Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, won a staggering $1,939,727 jackpot playing the PowerMax Cash digital instant game. The odds of winning were 1 in 150 million.