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Younger patrons are increasingly familiar with crypto, but the lack of regulatory adoption in the regulated space can push bettors to offshore or unlicensed platforms, most of which do accept it. At the ICE Barcelona conference in 2025, a panel of international sports betting CEOs lamented the fact that they were barred from adopting crypto, while their black-market competitors were not.
A report released in June by payment provider Paysafe said the percentage of online sports bettors who dabble in crypto is 64%, more than double the US average of 30%. Crypto deposits are only legal in two states, Wyoming and Colorado, but crypto withdrawals are not legal anywhere – 85% of respondents said they would welcome withdrawals as an option, Paysafe said.
“When permitted, crypto would become a top-three payment option for funding deposits (after digital wallets and debit cards), and a top-two payment preference in New York and Illinois,” the report said.
What is Fengshen?
This clash between two teams who were embroiled in one of the most controversial games in football will be very interesting now that it’s in the Premier League.
If you’ve forgotten, Leeds and Villa played out a sensational match a couple of years ago in the Championship as Leeds scored by illegitimate means then were supposed to be letting Aston Villa score in response until Pontus Janssen didn’t read the memo.
Both sides are in decent form in general in the Premier League having returned in consecutive years. Aston Villa stayed up by the skin of their teeth in the 2019/20 season, but have kicked on under Dean Smith and in Grealish, Watkins and Traore, have some of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League.
What is Fengshen?
Further bets flagged by operators involved other politically sensitive individuals, including Metropolitan Police officers and political advisers. The Commission charged 15 people total in April 2025. Four have now pleaded guilty.
The offences relate to special betting markets that let customers wager on the exact date of the general election.
The then-prime minister, Rishi Sunak, announced 4 July 2024 as the election date on 22 May 2024. However, internal planning for that date had already begun at 10 Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters before the announcement.
