臺北新聞熱綫

(AsiaGameHub) –   Matt Wilson, Light & Wonder’s president and chief executive officer, addressed attendees on Tuesday during the opening day of the 47th annual Gaming Conference, hosted by the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants at Circa Las Vegas. He discussed the current state of the gambling industry while emphasizing that it should take a firm stance against the fast-evolving prediction markets.

Wilson Contends Industry Remains Resilient Amid Inflation and Escalating Costs

He stated that even as inflation, surging gas and housing prices have driven up expenses, players continue to engage in gambling. He noted a “K-shaped economy” is evident in the gaming sector: middle- and upper-income groups are growing wealthier, while lower-income groups face mounting financial pressure.

Wilson observed that this trend is visible in Las Vegas, pointing out properties like Wynn Resorts, ARIA Resort & Casino, and Bellagio are reporting strong performance and record profits. Meanwhile, lower-tier establishments on the Las Vegas Strip are struggling, he argued.

Wilson also touched on Light & Wonder’s financial strategy, noting the company laid out a long-term expansion plan in 2022 aimed at boosting its EBITDA from $900 million to $1.4 billion. A key assumption of this strategy was that three major iGaming states would launch between 2022 and 2025.

However, Wilson admitted the company was completely wrong on that front—no additional state has come online. While they expected a massive wave of iGaming expansion, Wilson pointed out only seven states offer iGaming today.

Another factor that hurt Light & Wonder’s revenue last year (which Wilson did not mention) was a lawsuit with Dragon Link that ended in a costly settlement.

Wilson Weighs In on the Fast Growth of Prediction Markets

Wilson also addressed the rise of prediction markets, saying their growth has accelerated sharply over the past six months. He noted platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have reached valuations he described as more than double those of DraftKings and FanDuel. Wilson further called this development both striking and concerning, arguing spending on prediction markets is coming at the expense of other forms of gambling.

Light & Wonder’s CEO added that while his company does not directly compete in that space, it operates in the iGaming sector and sees potential long-term competitive pressure if the model expands further. He concluded the industry may need to coordinate to better understand and potentially slow the rapid expansion of prediction markets. Wilson even suggested it’s hard to argue they fall outside the scope of regulated gambling—something prediction market platforms have vehemently denied.

Interestingly, it’s not just gambling companies that want more regulation of prediction market platforms. Recently, a large coalition of agricultural organizations has urged the CFTC to review prediction markets tied to commodity prices, citing risks to traditional futures trading.