Online Gambling Bill Tracker

The US online gambling industry is dynamic and growing, though the legal picture has begun to stabilize since 2022. Most new forms of gambling require legislation at the state level to become legal, and several such efforts are already underway in 2025.

The repeal of the federal prohibition on sports betting in 2018 kick-started a wave of gambling expansion. From then until  2021, numerous states passed laws legalizing online casinos and sports betting. Since then, the pace of expansion has slowed, especially for online casinos, though iLottery has become a popular alternative. This page concerns itself only with online casino legislation, also known as iGaming.

Unfortunately, 2024 was a dud for such legislation. Maryland came the closest to success, passing a bill in its House of Delegates, which sadly came up short of the necessary number of votes in the Senate. Had it passed, it still would have required a voter referendum to take effect.

Maryland is among the states making another attempt in 2025. However, even if it succeeds this time around, the ballot question won’t go to voters until 2026.

Virginia had also emerged as a new contender, making its first attempt this year. However, the bill has since been tabled until at least next year.

Other states trying to pass a bill this year—or likely to introduce one—include Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Wyoming, and New York. 

iGaming Legislation – Quick Links

Last updated: Feb 18, 2025

• 2025 gambling expansion summary
• Active bills by state
• Gambling expansion and the US legislative process
• Timeline of US gambling expansion
• Gambling legislation FAQ

2025 Online Gambling Expansion Summary

The rapid expansion of US starting in 2018 and booming online casino revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic led to hopes that iGaming expansion was poised to sweep the nation. So far, that hasn’t materialized, with only Connecticut and Rhode Island having joined the ranks of online casino states since 2021. Neither is an open-licensing market, with Connecticut allowing room for only two operators, while Rhode Island is a monopoly. The latter’s performance has been disappointing so far.

There are several perennial contenders for online casino legalization, like New York and Illinois.

The field thinned out a bit last year but might be growing again. Indiana suffered a political scandal that made gambling expansion a non-starter in 2024 but it’s unclear whether the de facto moratorium will extend into 2025. Meanwhile, New Hampshire sat 2024 out after a promising attempt in 2023 but is back in play after a one-year hiatus and with a key opponent no longer in office.

Virginia had also filed its first online casino bill, so that made one new face in the crowd. However, the bill’s sponsor then asked her peers to put the bill on hold until at least next year while they do further study into potential impacts. Ohio saw a conversation-starter bill appear in 2024, and that could mean another this year, but the original sponsor is no longer in office, so iGaming would need to find a new champion.

One cause for optimism is the new Model iGaming Legislation crafted last year by the National Council of Legislators for Gaming States. That will mean less effort for the lawmakers drafting bills this year and in future years, as they have an off-the-shelf template to start from, based on best practices established by early-adopter states.

Active Online Gambling Bills By State

Legislative sessions have begun, and efforts to legalize online casinos and poker are underway.

We’ve given every state here a momentum rating. These represent our mostly subjective assessment of the state’s chances to pass the current bills under consideration, or something substantially similar, within the current legislative session. The ratings are as follows:

• O – Success! The bill has already passed.
• A – Bet on it! Support is widespread, all major problems have been addressed, and the bill should pass easily.
• B – Favorable momentum. The effort has mainstream support, but some hurdles remain.
• C – Uncertain prospects. The effort may be complicated, or simply new. Too early to call.
• D – Headwinds. The effort has encountered substantial challenges that make it unlikely to succeed.
• X – Dead in the water. Either the bill is officially dead, or key stakeholders have indicated they see no way to proceed.

Illinois

Bill Numbers: HB3080 and SB 1963
Momentum Rating: C
Status: Introduced

In 2022, Illinois was considered the odds-on favorite to become the next big state to legalize online casinos. However, fierce opposition from unions and the video gaming terminal lobby threw ice water on those prospects. Since then, various versions of the Internet Gaming Act have appeared, but usually without much sign of movement.

Because of that history, it’s hard to get too hyped up about Illinois’ chances in 2025. However, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has rekindled hopes by expressing his belief that online casinos would be one way to fill a $3 billion hole in the state budget.

On Feb. 6, Sen. Cristina Castro and Rep. Edgar González, Jr. introduced Senate Bill 1963 and House Bill 3080 companion bills to legalize online casino gambling. Notably, the proposed gaming act tackles the cannibalization concerns of retail casino operators by stipulating renewals be disallowed if the applicant has reduced its workforce by 25% or more.

Will the Governor’s express support and the nod to the unions be enough to overcome politically powerful VGT opposition? We will soon find out.

Indiana

Bill Numbers: HB1432
Momentum Rating: X
Status: Dead in the water after the Committee on Ways and Means declined to give the bill a hearing.

After sitting out in 2024 due to a political scandal, Indiana lawmakers are back to the task of trying to legalize online casinos in 2025.

Rep. Ethan Manning’s HB1432 is an omnibus bill that would legalize online casinos with a sliding-scale tax rate from 22% to 30%. At the same time, it would authorize the lottery to begin online sales and offer e-Instants, establish a program for responsible gambling and problem gambling intervention, and allow Class II gaming operators to offer electronic pull-tabs.

On Jan. 29, the bill passed Indiana’s House Committee on Public Policy but was recommitted to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3. This rule states that any bill with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $50,000 may be recommitted by the Speaker to and reported by the Committee on Ways and Means before it is eligible for second reading.

Unfortunately, last week House Speaker Todd Huston confirmed any chance of legalizing online casinos and lottery games is over for the 2025 legislative session after it failed to get a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee.

The electronic pull-tabs and other expansions to charitable gaming are also under consideration in separate, standalone bills.

Iowa

Bill Numbers: None
Momentum Rating: X
Status: No 2025 bill expected.

Iowa saw an online casino effort in 2023-2024, but the bill’s sponsor has said he will not try again in 2025.

Maine

Bill Number: None
Momentum Rating: D
Status: Uncertain prospects.

Maine tried and failed to legalize online casinos in 2024. So far, there’s no indication of whether we should expect a repeat attempt in 2025.

Maryland

Bill Number: HB17
Momentum Rating: C-
Status: In committee.

Maryland’s constitution forbids new forms of gambling, so adding online casinos would require an amendment. That, in turn, means putting the question to voters, which is the problem for this year’s effort. Even if it passes, the necessary referendum will have to wait until the 2026 midterms.

The 2025 effort began in the House because that’s where the 2024 effort had the most success. Del. Vanessa E. Atterbeary was following Sen. Ron Watson’s lead last year, but her bill passed in the House, while his efforts in the Senate were for naught. This year, Atterbeary is first out of the gates with HB17.

Given that it has done so once before, the House bill is likely to pass again, unless Delegates feel there’s little point in advancing it until there’s more support in the Senate. Either way, the problem will be that there’s not likely to be much urgency in the Senate that would lead to the necessary votes. Those on the fence are likely to want to postpone the decision until next year, given that there can be no referendum in 2025 anyway.

Massachusetts

Bill Numbers: HD 4084, SD 2240
Momentum Rating: C
Status: Introduced

Massachusetts lawmakers have decided the time is right to consider adding legal online casinos to the state’s gambling ecosystem. A bicameral effort is now underway to make the Bay State the latest in the US to embrace regulated iGaming.

On Jan. 17, Sen. Paul Feeny and Rep. Daniel Cahill introduced SD 2240 and HD 4084 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to issue internet gaming licenses to the state’s retail casinos and up to four out-of-state operators.

According to the bills’ shared text, Massachusetts’ three brick-and-mortar casinos would be eligible for a Category 1 online casino license, which would allow up to two separately branded platforms. Additionally, up to four untethered Category 2 licenses, which only permit one platform each, would also be up for grabs.

Both licensees will pay $5 million for their initial five-year lease, which they can renew at five-year intervals for the same cost. All operators will also pay a 20% tax on their adjusted gross internet gaming receipts, minus promotional credits. Almost half of the tax revenues would be earmarked for Massachusetts’ General Fund, with the remainder split among the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, the Gaming Local Aid Fund, the Youth Development and Achievement Fund, and the Public Health Trust Fund.

New Hampshire

Bill Number: SB168
Momentum Rating: C+
Status: Senate committee report recommends bill “ought to pass” with amendment

After a year’s hiatus, New Hampshire’s Sen. Timothy Lang is making another attempt to legalize online casinos. Lang pushed hard in 2023 but took a breather in 2024 after his first attempt failed.

Sen. Lang’s 2023 effort passed the Senate successfully but died in the House Ways and Means Committee, which was chaired by Rep. Laurie Sanborn, whose husband operated a charitable retail casino. However, Rep. Sanborn is no longer in office, and Andy Sanborn had his casino license revoked.

In 2023, securing the necessary votes required Sen. Lang to gut his 2023 bill by removing slots from its language. If it had passed, New Hampshire would have been the first US state to legalize online table games but not online slots. However, slots are back in the 2025 bill, although further compromises may be necessary to advance the legislation that would permit at least three but no more than six operators.

Another significant change is the tax rate. Sen. Lang has specified a 45% tax on gross revenue, whereas it was left up for negotiation in the 2023 legislation. The earlier bill also allocated all such proceeds to education, while the 2025 bill spreads the money around. 

On Feb 12, the Senate Ways and Means Committee report recommended the bill “ought to pass” after it tagged on an amendment clarifying a requirement that a portion of the taxes collected go towards a revenue-share with New Hampshire charities.

New York

Bill Number: Senate Bill S2614
Momentum Rating: D
Status: Uncertain prospects.

New York’s longtime online casino champion is Sen. Joseph Addabbo. He says the state’s share of online casino revenue would exceed $1 billion annually, and he’s probably right. However, several obstacles stand in his way, and for several years, he has been unable to find a way around them.

Unfortunately, Gov. Kathy Hochul is herself one of the obstacles. Although she’s open to gambling expansion generally, she has indicated that she’s unwilling to consider online casinos so long as downstate retail casino licensing is ongoing. That bidding process is a long one, with a lot at stake. Sen. Addabbo’s efforts to pass legislation expediting it have also gone nowhere.

The other major blockers are the state’s retail casino unions, which believe online casinos would hurt employment. Sen. Addabbo has had no success getting them to negotiate a compromise and says he likely needs the Governor’s support before that can happen.

Despite this, on Jan. 22, Addabbo introduced Senate Bill S2614 to permit “interactive gaming and interactive lottery gaming in the state of New York.” The bill is now before the Senate Racing, Gaming And Wagering Standing Committee, which Addabbo chairs.

Virginia

Bill Number: SB827
Momentum Rating: X
Status: Tabled for further study

Politically and geographically, Virginia is similar to some of the other states to have legalized online casinos. However, it lacked most forms of gambling until recently, so has had some catching up to do.

Virginia lawmakers authorized local referenda for up to five retail casinos in 2020, three of which are now operating their permanent locations. At the same time, the legislature legalized sports betting, which launched in 2021.

That has set the stage for the online casino discussion to begin, which turns out to be happening this year. Sen. Mamie Locke pre-filed bill SB827 just before New Year, and formally introduced it on Jan. 8. However, Locke later elected to press pause and potentially resume the effort next year after pursuing further study of the potential impacts.

Had it progressed, Sen. Locke’s bill would have called for up to three skins per retail casino license. That would mean at least nine brands, potentially up to 15 if all five retail casinos are built. She proposed a $50,000 licensing fee and a 15% privilege tax on gross gaming revenue after promotions. Those numbers would make for a business-friendly market, most similar to that of neighboring West Virginia.

Wyoming

Bill Number: HB0162
Momentum Rating: D
Status: With the Committee on Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Natural Resources

Wyoming wasn’t on the radar for online gambling legislation until last year, but emerged as a dark horse candidate in February 2024. Just before the start of its legislative session on Feb. 12, Rep. Bob Davis told Bonus and other publications about his plans to introduce an online casino bill.

Unfortunately, the Wyoming effort ended as abruptly as it began. On Feb. 15, the bill “failed introduction,” quickly killing any hope for 2024.

However, Davis said he planned to try again this year, now with backing from a favorable report by Spectrum Gaming Group. Despite last year’s unpromising start, this year’s longer legislative session and the added credibility offered by the Spectrum report mean we can expect more momentum behind the second effort.

On Jan 14, Davis made good on his promise, introducing HB0162. It proposes a 16% tax on online gambling revenue, of which the first $300,000 each year would go to the Department of Health. It also expressly rejects the “Florida model” of online wagering, specifying that wagers take place wherever the bettor is, not where the receiving servers are, and restricts the state’s tribes to conducting online casino gaming within their own territory (unless licensed as a commercial operator). Only operators already offering iGaming in at least three other regulated states would be permitted to apply for a license.

However, on Feb. 3 the bill stalled in committee and is unlikely to emerge unless members have a sudden change of heart.

The strongest objections to the proposal came, somewhat inevitably, from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. Although the bill wouldn’t have entirely excluded them, it would have restricted them to operating within the borders of their reservations due to its rejection of the hub-and-spoke model.

Online Gambling Expansion & The US Legislative Process

Part of the reason the industry is changing so quickly is that legal online gambling in the US is a very new concept. Prior to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, the US was essentially a gray market. Afterward, five years of black market activity followed (mostly from online poker sites), prior to the 2011 crackdown known as Black Friday.

It was only at that point that efforts to legalize online gambling began, with New Jersey being the first to launch a full-featured online gambling market. Nevada and Delaware followed suit in a more limited fashion. However, it wasn’t until the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Betting Act (PASPA) in 2018 that the online gambling effort gained steam in other states. The list now includes Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

This state-by-state process is the other reason for the complexity of the US market. Aside from partial prohibitions – like the UIGEA, PASPA and the Wire Act – the federal government has little to say about gambling, leaving it to the states to decide. The result is that the picture is very different in one part of the country or another. Even states which offer the same array of products have their own policies and quirks, different tax rates and licensing structures, and so on.

The decision by a state to legalize or not is therefore not just a “yes” or “no” question. Rather, it entails a lengthy discussion about how gambling will be conducted in the state, who will have access to the market, and what the terms will be.

Timeline Of US Online Gambling Expansion

The history of US online gambling is too long and complicated to detail in full here. Instead, we have provided a simple timeline of successful legislation and launches of online casinos, online poker, and online instant lotteries.

You can click the link to any particular state’s page to get more info about how exactly the process played out.

2011

• New Jersey passes its first online casino bill, but then-Governor Chris Christie vetoes it due to concerns he wants addressed.
• The U.S. Department of Justice clarifies that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting and would not impede other forms of online gambling.

2012

• Georgia launches the first online lottery in the US.
• Delaware passes a bill to allow online casinos and poker rooms to operate in partnership with the lottery.

2013

• New Jersey passes a revised online gambling bill, and NJ online casinos and poker rooms launch later the same year.
• Nevada passes an online poker bill, and NV online poker rooms launch later the same year.
• Delaware online gambling gets underway.
• The Kentucky Lottery Board approves the idea of an online lottery. No legislation is needed.

2014

• Michigan launches its online lottery, including instant games.

2015

• Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey enter a compact for multi-state poker.

2016

• WSOP launches the first interstate poker network under the 2015 compact.
• Kentucky launches its online lottery.

2017

• New Hampshire and Pennsylvania pass online lottery bills.

2018

• New Hampshire and Pennsylvania launch their online lotteries.
• Pennsylvania passes an omnibus gambling expansion bill, covering online casinos, poker and sports betting.
• The Department of Justice attempts to reverse course on the Wire Act, sparking a legal battle.

2019

• Pennsylvania online casinos launch, followed a few months later by the state’s first online poker room.
• West Virginia and Michigan pass omnibus gambling expansion bills, covering all three major verticals.
• Rhode Island’s successful sports betting bill contains provisions that also enable the lottery to go online.

2020

• West Virginia online casinos launch, but no poker rooms appear.
• Rhode Island’s online lottery launches.
• Virginia passes an online lottery bill.
• The Washington D.C. Lottery Board quietly passes emergency rules for online instant games.

2021

• Michigan online casinos launch, followed a week later by the state’s first online poker room.
• Virginia and Washington, D.C. begin offering online instant lottery games.
• The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirms a lower court’s ruling that the Department of Justice’s revised Wire Act opinion is invalid. Interstate gambling compacts remain legal.
• Connecticut legalizes sports betting and iGaming. Its online casinos and sportsbooks launch on Oct. 19 after a fairly swift bureaucratic process.

2022

• New York online sports betting launches, and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow is quick to opine that online poker and perhaps casinos could be next.
• Sen. Joseph Addabbo introduces an online casino bill in the New York Senate. Poker is implicitly included.
• Rep. Adam Koenig resumes his push for sports betting and online poker in Kentucky, with a bill very similar to the one which failed in 2021.
• Indiana introduces an online casino bill, which quickly fails.
• North Dakota tribes ask for online gambling privileges but receive permission only to conduct such activities on their own land.
• Michigan joins the Multistate Internet Gaming Agreement and sets the stage for poker sites to begin sharing traffic as of the beginning of 2023.

2023

• Efforts in the most likely states – New York, Indiana and Illinois – all fail.
• Rhode Island legalizes online casinos, albeit as a monopoly market shared by the state lottery, Bally’s, and IGT.
• New Jersey extends its online casino law for another five years, now expiring in November 2028.

2024

• Rhode Island’s online casino market launches successfully on March 5, following a four-day test period. Contrary to expectation, live dealer games are included from the start.
• Maryland manages to pass an online casino referendum bill in the House of Representatives, but fails to make it through the Senate.
• The National Council of Legislators for Gaming States introduces its Model iGaming Legislation, providing an easy template for future efforts to follow.

Online Gambling Expansion FAQ