❌

Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

Kalshi, Robinhood, Crypto.com Hit With Connecticut Stop Order for Gambling Violations

✇Cryptonews
By: Shalini Nagarajan

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection on Wednesday ordered Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com to halt what it calls unlicensed online gambling in the state, targeting sports-style “prediction” products that regulators say are really illegal wagers.

The agency’s Gaming Division issued cease-and-desist letters to KalshiEX LLC, Robinhood Derivatives LLC and Crypto.com, accusing all three of offering sports wagers in Connecticut without a license and in violation of state gaming law.

The order covers so-called “sports event contracts” and any other form of online gambling the platforms make available to residents.

Officials Argue Prediction Markets Are Being Marketed As Investments

“Only licensed entities may offer sports wagering in the state of Connecticut,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said.

None of the three firms hold such a license in the state, he added, and even if they did, the contracts they offer would still run afoul of rules that ban wagers for anyone under 21.

📢 Today, DCP's Gaming Division issued Cease and Desist orders to three platforms conducting unlicensed sports wagering.

Learn why Prediction Market Platforms offering "Sports Events" Contracts are illegal:https://t.co/LXLK1tRR0w

— Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (@CTDCP) December 3, 2025

Gaming Director Kris Gilman said the firms are “deceptively advertising that their services are legal,” arguing that they operate outside the state’s regulatory perimeter and pose “a serious risk to consumers” who may not realise they have no formal protections.

“A prediction market wager is not an investment,” she said, drawing a line between trading and betting.

State Warns That Unvetted House Rules Can Lead To Unfair Payout Practices

Regulators say the products raise a series of integrity and consumer protection issues. Because the platforms are not licensed, they are not required to meet Connecticut’s technical standards for wagering systems, leaving financial and personal data more exposed in the event of failures or abuse.

The state also says there are no mandated integrity controls, such as systems to block insiders from betting on events where they have advance knowledge or influence over outcomes. By contrast, licensed operators must use controls to bar known insiders and monitor and report suspicious betting patterns.

Any regulator does not vet house rules that govern how wagers pay out, the department warned, which means customers may have little recourse if bets are settled in unexpected ways or winnings are withheld. If disputes arise, the agency says it has no clear path to recover funds for users of these unlicensed platforms.

State Says Platforms Listed Events Vulnerable To Insider Knowledge

Connecticut officials also object to the types of events the platforms list. They say some wagers cover outcomes known to or heavily influenced by a relatively small group of insiders, such as award shows, professional team trades and similar events. State law prohibits betting on events where the outcome is known in advance because it is inherently unfair to ordinary bettors.

The department alleges the firms advertised and offered wagers to people on the state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion List and to individuals under 21, and even promoted services on college campuses, all of which it says are illegal under Connecticut law.

Under the cease-and-desist orders, Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com must immediately stop advertising, offering, promoting or otherwise making sports event contracts or any other unlicensed online gambling products to Connecticut residents. They must also allow residents to withdraw any funds currently held on their platforms.

Failure to comply could trigger civil penalties under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and potential criminal action for breaches of the state’s gaming statutes.

For now, the state reminded residents that only three operators are authorised to take sports bets, namely DraftKings through Foxwoods, FanDuel through Mohegan Sun and Fanatics through the Connecticut Lottery, with a minimum age of 21 for sports wagering and 18 for fantasy contests.

The post Kalshi, Robinhood, Crypto.com Hit With Connecticut Stop Order for Gambling Violations appeared first on Cryptonews.

U.S. Marines test rapid response in urban combat drill

✇Defence Blog
By: Colton Jones
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed its Realistic Urban Training (RUT) exercise across Arizona and Southern California from November 3 to 13, 2025, marking its first major full-scale deployment as a composited Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). According to the U.S. Marine Corps, the exercise involved approximately 1,200 Marines from the MEU’s ground, aviation, […]

UCLA faculty gets big win in suit against Trump’s university attacks

✇Ars Technica
By: John Timmer

On Friday, a US District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the United States government from halting federal funding at UCLA or any other school in the University of California system. The ruling came in response to a suit filed by groups representing the faculty at these schools challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to force UCLA into a deal that would substantially revise instruction and policy.

The court’s decision lays out how the Trump administration’s attacks on universities follow a standard plan: use accusations of antisemitism to justify an immediate cut to funding, then use the loss of money to compel an agreement that would result in revisions to how the university is run. The court finds that this plan was deficient on multiple grounds, from violating legal procedures for cutting funding to an illegal attempt at suppressing the First Amendment rights of faculty.

The result is a reprieve for the entire University of California system, as well as a clear pathway for any universities to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on research and education.

Read full article

Comments

© Myung J. Chun

The twin probes just launched toward Mars have an Easter egg on board

✇Ars Technica
By: Robert Pearlman

The first multi-spacecraft science mission to launch to Mars is now on its way, and catching a ride on the twin probes are the first kiwis to fly to the red planet.

NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission lifted off on a 22-month trip to Mars on Thursday aboard a New Glenn rocket. Once there, the identical satellites will enter Martian orbit to study in real time how space weather affects the planet’s hybrid magnetosphere and how the interaction drove Mars to lose its once-dense atmosphere.

Led by the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley—the two spacecraft are named “Blue” and “Gold” after the school’s colors—the ESCAPADE probes are the first Mars-bound vehicles to be designed, built, and tested by Rocket Lab, the end-to-end space company headquartered in California but founded in New Zealand.

Read full article

Comments

© UCB-SSL/Rocket Lab/collectSPACE.com

IgniteIt’s CA Market Spotlight Event Delivers High-Impact, Tangible Value

✇Cannabis Now
By: Cannabis Now

Led by former Benzinga executives, the exclusive IgniteIt cannabis conference is a new kind of cannabis networking event. At its core, IgniteIt is a media and events platform built around emerging markets for investors, executives, advocates and enthusiasts in the cannabis space.

The most recent IgniteIt conference took place earlier this month in Anaheim, California, on Oct. 8 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim Garden Grove. The Anaheim gathering is considered one of IgniteIt’s “Spotlight” events, where according to IgniteIt CEO Patrick Lane, “We have the capacity to be granularly focused on topics and partnership opportunities specific to a given market, i.e. California.”

The California Market Spotlight was IgniteIt’s third event in SoCal in the last two years, and according to Lane, it was the largest and most strategic to date. “I’ve collected feedback from many of our attendees on how hard-hitting and real our agenda topics were and how valuable the networking ended up being for deals that have already closed as a result of meetings at our conference.”

The single-day format prioritized substance over fluff, allowing attendees to focus on meaningful sessions and connections without any wasted time. Together, these elements made for an efficient, engaging and highly valuable conference experience, leaving participants with both actionable insights and new relationships to carry forward.

“By focusing primarily on bringing leaders and decisionmakers from the major players into the room, my conversations were uniquely impactful—I gained insights, strategies and connections with those who are running their businesses every day,” said Embarc CEO Lauren Carpenter, who spoke at the conference and sits on the Regional Advisory Board. “This event was the perfect size; it was diverse in bringing new voices to the table while simultaneously curated enough to ensure conversations were productive and targeted.”

Guests gathered across two main rooms: one designed for panels and presentations, the other for activations and brand showcases. The registration hall buzzed with conversation over coffee and lunch, while an outdoor patio offered a more casual space to connect. The event fostered a professional but approachable atmosphere that sparked high-value connections.

“The IgniteIt California Spotlight brought together key stakeholders across government and supply chain participants who genuinely care about the industry,” said Green Horizon’s Co-Founder and CEO Carlos “Los” Arias. “Kudos to Elliot and Patrick for putting in the work & making it happen.” 

A Dual Focus on Education and Networking

Attendees left the event with both actionable insights and new industry connections, reflecting IgniteIt’s dual focus on education and networking. PHOTO IgniteIt

Beyond meaningful handshakes, IgniteIt placed a strong emphasis on delivering education curated for its attendees. The Anaheim conference was tailored to California’s unique market, featuring sessions that addressed the state’s regulatory hurdles and offered practical guidance for navigating them. Experts also shared insights on how federal rescheduling could impact California businesses.

Angela Pih served as the moderator for a speaking panel called “Rooted and Rising: How You Can Expand Beyond California While Thriving at Home.” Pih spoke to the significance of the California cannabis market: “California remains the heartbeat of cannabis culture and brand innovation. Brands like Bloom, Jetty, Stiiizy, and MADE have shown how to thrive in California’s discerning market before expanding into new states. Their ability to translate authentic California origins into multi-state success proves that strong brand DNA travels. What starts in California often sets the tone for the rest of the U.S. market.”

Several team members from Grow Generation attended, with Jason Holland, GrowGen’s Vice President of Product Innovation & Commercial Solutions, participating in a panel discussion titled “Efficiency Equals Survival: How You Can Increase Yield and Stay Lean in a Compressed Cannabis Economy.”

“Ignite It was one of the most authentic gatherings in the industry. Being LA-focused made it even more relevant—bringing together the heart of West Coast cultivation, culture, and innovation,” said Michael Salaman, president of GrowGeneration. “It sparked real conversations around cultivation innovation and how we scale this industry the right way.”

Darren Lampert, Grow Generation’s CEO & co-founder added, “What made Ignite It stand out was the quality of operators, investors and thought leaders—all focused on execution, not hype. This conference is essential for serious cannabis businesses.”

PHOTO IgniteIt

Attendees left the event with both actionable insights and new industry connections, reflecting IgniteIt’s dual focus on education and networking. With a format that balanced expert-led sessions, interactive activations and opportunities for meaningful conversation, the conference demonstrated how a single day can deliver both knowledge and relationships that drive the California cannabis market forward.

“The IgniteIt team did a great job curating a thoughtful event targeted at providing tangible value for operators and those who work alongside them,” Carpenter from Embarc added. “The discussions were operational, not aspirational, which is exactly the type of insights we all need as we continue to weather the storms of this market together.”

The post IgniteIt’s CA Market Spotlight Event Delivers High-Impact, Tangible Value appeared first on Cannabis Now.

❌