Card Player: The Poker Authority

1 week ago | cardplayer.com | Sean Chaffin

After several states considered increasing the sports betting tax rates, two of the bigger ones took different paths. Ohio recently dropped a plan to boost the state’s rate, while North Carolina appears to be moving forward with a hike. As part of his new budget, Gov. Mike DeWine sought to increase the industry’s tax rate from 20% to 40%, but legislators recently stripped that from an amended version of the budget. The changed version was then passed by the House.

1 week ago | cardplayer.com | Sean Chaffin

Florida legislators are considering a bill that would “decouple” the state’s two horse tracks’ gambling licenses from their races. Gulfstream Park in South Florida and Tampa Bay Downs are required to offer thoroughbred horse races to host other card games. The same requirement applied to Florida dog tracks, but voters banned dog racing through a 2018 ballot referendum. Once the races were forbidden, the tracks were still allowed to operate card rooms.

1 week ago | cardplayer.com | Sean Chaffin

Nebraska might be late to the proverbial party, but it is the latest state to consider online sports betting expansion. Voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to legalize casinos at the state’s horse racing tracks. During the subsequent legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill allowing retail sports betting at the casinos. In 2023, casinos opened brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. On the other hand, online betting needed an amendment to the state constitution.

1 week ago | cardplayer.com | Erik Fast

Coming into the final table of the 2025 U.S. Poker Open’s $25,000 series finale, there were two players remaining who could seize the USPO series championship away from Matthew Wantman with an outright victory: Shannon Shorr and Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero. If any of the other five players that made day 2 were to come out on top, Wantman’s lead heading into the last event would hold. It was the maximum sweat for Wantman, as an extended three-handed battle ensued between Shorr, Barbero and Landon Tice.

1 week ago | cardplayer.com | DJ Siddiqi

Jalen Milroe may not be drafted as high as Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, but he’ll certainly hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback is regarded by some as the third-best quarterback prospect in this year’s draft. The 22-year-old is coming off of a prolific season in which he posted 36 total touchdowns (20 rushing) during his senior year with the Crimson Tide.