Ep 697: California Seizes HHR Machines as Prediction Markets Face Legal Chaos

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Managing Editor Jessica Welman to break down a wave of major U.S. gambling developments from California’s dramatic seizure of historical horse racing (HHR) machines to the growing legal crackdown on prediction markets.

The duo unpack the legal dispute between Santa Anita racetrack and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, examining whether HHR machines are legitimate pari-mutuel betting products or simply slot machines in disguise. They explore why state authorities moved to seize 26 machines without a warrant, what Santa Anita is arguing in court, and how the outcome could reshape gambling law in California.

The conversation then turns to prediction markets, as Massachusetts scores a major legal win against Kalshi, Nevada escalates its case against Polymarket, and federal regulators signal a more hands-off approach. The episode closes with a look at FanDuel Predict, which has now gone live nationwide, and what its cautious rollout means for the future of regulated prediction markets in the U.S.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What historical horse racing (HHR) machines actually are
• Why California seized 26 machines from Santa Anita racetrack
• Whether HHR products are legal or “slot machines in disguise”
• Why Massachusetts just forced Kalshi out of the state
• What Nevada’s lawsuit against Polymarket means for the wider market
• How the new CFTC chair plans to regulate prediction markets
• What FanDuel Predict’s nationwide launch signals for the industry

Host: Charlie Horner
 Guest: Jessica Welman
 Producer: Luke Walters
 Editor: Luke Walters

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