The new yr brings new legislative periods for quite a few states across the nation. For just a few, that has meant the submitting of gambling-related payments. In some states, that would presumably embrace on-line on line casino gaming and poker.
Maryland and Virginia have each seen on-line gaming payments filed and different stats are contemplating on line casino enlargement and including sports activities betting. Here’s a fast have a look at the payments in every state.
Maryland
The Old Line State has flirted with on-line gaming legalization up to now. In 2024, a invoice was handed by the home however died within the senate with no vote. Legislators look like reviving the difficulty this yr.
State Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D) has already filed a invoice to legalize on-line gaming. The proposal would legalize iGaming, together with poker. When introducing the invoice, Atterbeary pointed to further tax income the state might obtain in addition to employment alternatives for the state.
“We’ve seen other states significantly boost their economies with online gaming,” she mentioned. “This legislation will bring Maryland into the future while providing critical funding for education and other essential services.”
The invoice would enable the state’s casinos and their on-line companions to use for licenses and would tax the business at 15% of gross gaming income. Maryland has a inhabitants of about 6.2 million, which might be a pleasant addition to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which gives for a shared liquidity on-line poker. Pennsylvania is predicted to hitch the MSIGA within the coming months as properly.
Virginia
State Sen. Mamie Locke (D) has already filed a invoice forward of the legislative session, which kicks off on Jan. 8. Each of the state’s 4 stay casinos could be allowed to associate with on-line operators and supply as much as three on-line skins.
Casinos and their companions would pay a $1 million license payment with income taxed at 15%. The state already permits for on-line sports activities betting, which was legalized in 2020. Virginia has a inhabitants of 8.7 million and could be a pleasant enhance to the MSIGA for poker.
Illinois
Facing a $3 billion funds shortfall, Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has famous that on-line gaming would possibly assist offset a few of that monetary affect. He could get help within the state legislature within the coming weeks.
State Sen. Cristina Castro (D) has launched on-line gaming payments up to now, however these by no means got here to fruition. She could also be trying again this year.
“In a tough budget year, you’re looking at ways to increase revenue,” she lately advised the Chicago Sun-Times. “This is one tool for that. And it’s something that could be more palatable to constituents.”
Backers of a invoice estimate the state might acquire $450 million per yr in taxes and that would transfer to as excessive as $800 million yearly. Pritzker has known as iGaming “worthy of consideration” and if poker is included, that would add a state with a inhabitants of 12.6 million to the MSIGA, slightly below Pennsylvania.
Louisiana
Legislators have begun contemplating on-line gaming and hosted the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States’s winter convention in New Orleans in December.
The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee additionally held a listening to to debate the difficulty. Lawmakers famous the state’s misplaced income to on-line gaming at unregulated websites and the state senate handed a invoice in 2024 to review the difficulty. It’s nonetheless unknown if a invoice will likely be launched this yr. Louisiana has a inhabitants of 4.6 million.
Kentucky
Already identified for a strong horse racing business, the Bluegrass State could also be contemplating including stay casinos and likewise legalizing fantasy sports activities. State Rep. Thomas Huff® has filed a invoice to permit Kentucky voters to resolve the difficulty.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation could be in command of regulating riverboat and land-based casinos in addition to fantasy sports activities. A on line casino would solely be allowed in counties with greater than 30,000 residents and would require a petition of 25% of voters within the county.
Counties already with horse tracks might add slot machines no matter county inhabitants to these services with no petition, however voters would nonetheless get to resolve the difficulty.
Counties with smaller populations could be allowed to associate with neighboring counties. Under the proposed laws, on line casino income could be taxed at 21% and properties could be required to cost $3 for every particular person admitted.
Minnesota
Every state surrounding Minnesota has legalized sports activities betting, and legislators proceed contemplating the difficulty. Efforts to go a invoice over the previous couple of years have failed, however legislators could also be as soon as once more taking over the difficulty.
Last yr, backers of a invoice believed they’d a plan that happy the state’s tribal casinos, horse tracks, and charitable gaming organizations, however that got here collectively too late within the legislative session. They could also be giving it one other shot this yr.
There are some bipartisan obstacles, nevertheless. A Senate Finance Committee listening to was held this week trying on the potential downfalls that may come from playing dependancy. But Sen. Matt Klein (D) believes his invoice can go this yr whereas additionally addressing downside playing.
“My bill has significant guardrails,” he mentioned. “I could name more than 12 of them.”
The invoice would tax income at 22% and Klein believes the invoice has a 50/50 probability of getting accredited.
Texas
The Texas state legislature meets each two years, and it appears like sports activities betting could also be put ahead once more. The home accredited a invoice within the final session, which then died within the senate. The political winds could have shifted, nevertheless.
The Texas Sports Betting alliance has been lobbying to get the difficulty accredited with backing from main gaming pursuits and lots of the state’s skilled sports activities betting groups are also in favor of legalization.
Former Texas Secretary of State John Scott® has been serving because the spokesman for the group and has additionally served as Gov. Greg Abbott’s® deputy legal professional common. He believes this yr {that a} invoice might overcome opposition from Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick®, who units the agenda within the state senate.
“He’s always made it clear that if there is a groundswell within the Senate from their constituents that they want this, then he’s open to it,” Scott mentioned. “I feel final time his largest opposition was that he actually hadn’t heard from his members, and the Senate hadn’t heard from constituents that they wished on-line playing.”
Sen. Carol Alvarado (D) has already launched a invoice and the legislative session begins on Jan. 14. She believes there’s extra help this yr amongst legislators and Texans.
“Go to (casino parking lots in) Louisiana and Oklahoma and a lot of the license plates are from Texas,” Alvarado mentioned lately. “So, we know that it’s something that Texans enjoy and spend money on. And I think we ought to take that robust passion that Texans have, and do it here and benefit our economy.”
