Online Casino Bill Tracker 2024

What we’re watching

• Ohio’s legislative session runs through the end of the year and an outgoing senator has filed an online casino bill, the first in the state. The bill, SB312, is not likely to advance, but there is a state legislative task force examining how gambling should grow in the state, and online casinos have been part of the discussion.
• The Illinois legislative session ended on May 24 with neither the House nor Senate taking up online casino bills, HB2239 or SB1656.  The legislation didn’t get a gaming committee hearing this year, but Rep. Edgar Gonzalez told PlayUSA that online casinos were discussed when the need to find more revenue was raised.
• The Maine legislature pushed an online casino bill to the House floor, but it ended there. Maine’s LD1777 ultimately fell short by five votes in the House late on April 16, despite getting an endorsement from the Maine Senate.
• The Maryland budget conference committee, as expected, left online casinos out of the state budget. HB 1319 was heard in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 26. Sources told PlayUSA that unless online casino was included in the budget, it won’t get another hearing before the session ends April 8.
• New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo said the Senate would not include online casino and iLottery in its one-house budget, ending the chances of online casinos being legalized in 2024. Despite the setback, Addabbo says he will continue to look for ways to legalize NY online casinos.
• Iowa has an online casino bill in 2024  that served the function of acting as a placeholder while support remains minimal across the state.

2024 legislative calendar

Latest developments toward casino legislation

Online casino legalization map

States with active proposals

Ohio

This year’s legislative calendar in Columbus featured hearings on further gambling expansion, including real-money online casinos. A bill to legalize online casino, SB 312,  was filed in early September by outgoing state Sen. Niraj Antani. The legislation allows Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos each to offer one online casino app.

A task force of Ohio legislators has been studying how gambling should grow in the state, including online casino. The hearings throughout 2024 were meant to set up Ohio’s legislature to consider the matter in 2025. Seeing neighboring Michigan and Pennsylvania rake in millions of dollars in tax revenue from the gaming vertical is a strong motivator.

Learn more about: Ohio online casinos

Illinois

Illinois has a two-year legislative session that begins in odd-numbered years, which made 2024 the back half of the current term. In 2023, Illinois Sen. Cristina Castro joined Illinois Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. in introducing amendments to the state’s Internet Gaming Act that would legalize and regulate online casino play.

Both of their bills, HB2239 and SB1656, did not get committee hearings this past session. Illinois Rep. Dan Didech, who chairs the Illinois House Gaming Committee, said he did not  expect movement on Illinois online casino this session and he was right. Illinois’ legislative session ended May 24. The sponsors will probably have to draft new legislation in 2025.

There is significant resistance from the state’s video gaming terminal industry due to a fear of lost revenue from competition industry veterans believe online casinos would present. Additionally, debates in the legislature over the tax structure for online casinos will likely be an obstacle.

Learn more about: Illinois online casinos

Iowa

Like in Indiana, there has been a bill in Des Moines on the topic of online casino regulation every year since 2021. However, those bills have gotten minimal attention each year.

The state’s brick-and-mortar casino licensees are not unified in their support of the gambling expansion. Until that occurs, their lobbying power is likely sufficient to keep such bills unnoticed in committees.

Several more years may pass before Iowa seriously considers this expansion, but it seems certain that a bill will be filed each year regardless.

Learn more about: Iowa online casinos

Maine

Maine launched its legal online sportsbooks in November 2023, but a further expansion of legal online gambling was strongly considered in 2024. Maine’s LD1777  fell short, 75-70, in the House on April 16. The Maine Senate had passed it earlier in the day with an amendment that called for a referendum in November.

LD1777 would have created a regulated system for iGaming play similar to what exists in the state for online sports betting. Among other things, that framework would give control of the gambling vertical to federally recognized tribal communities that live within Maine’s borders.

That was likely the point that sunk the proposal, at least in 2024. Maine Gov. Janet Mills has resisted earlier attempts to expand tribal authority in the state and could take that stance again if this bill reaches her desk.

Learn more about: Maine online casinos

Maryland

Maryland’s constitution reserves the authority to expand legal gambling in the state for the people, so any expansion has to undergo a statewide referendum. That process must be initiated in the state legislature, however.

House Ways and Means chairwoman Rep. Vanessa Atterbeary’s amended Maryland online casino bill, HB 1319, was passed by the House on March 16 and moved to the Senate, where it had a hearing before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 26.  Senate bills filed by Sen. Ron Watson, SB 603 and SB565, were not being considered, he told Bonus.com.

HB 1319, discussed for just 18 minutes in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee hearing, was left out of the state budget, and the legislation did not advance this session. Maryland voters would have had the chance to decide the legality of online casino play at the polls in November 2024. The session ended April 8.

Learn more about: Maryland online casinos

New York

While New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo filed SB8185, the bill did not move in 2024. Addabbo said he wouldn’t push for the bill’s passage unless New York Gov. Kathy Hochul supports it, but Hochul did not include revenue from the gaming expansion in her budget. It was not included in the one-house budget.

Addabbo didn’t push for this gaming expansion in 2024 and the effort had few other vocal champions in New York. However, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow introduced his companion bill, A9198, on Feb. 14. He agreed with Addabbo that chances for 2024 passage were unlikely without the governor’s support. Still, both bills helped keep the discussion alive.

The ongoing licensing process for brick-and-mortar casinos in downstate NY had been the focus of the Hochul administration regarding gambling.

After that process is complete, more attention might turn toward legalizing online casinos in New York. At this point, 2025 or 2026 seems more realistic than 2024.

Learn more about:

• New York online casinos
• New York state gambling laws

Legalized States

Connecticut

The implementation of legal online casinos in Connecticut began in May 2021 when the Connecticut legislature approved amendments to the gaming compacts with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe Nation and the Mohegan Tribe. Both of those authorities already operated brick-and-mortar casinos within Connecticut’s borders.

In October 2021, DraftKings Casino and a FanDuel-powered but Mohegan-branded online casino both went live in Connecticut. DraftKings has an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot providing its Connecticut access.

Those are the only two legal online casino apps in Connecticut. The two tribal authorities are paying Connecticut 18% of their gross gaming revenue from this activity through 2026, at which point that cut will increase to 20%.

Learn more about: Connecticut online casinos

Delaware

Delaware’s online casino landscape has some interesting technicalities to it but for players, it’s actually quite simple; there is really only one legal online casino option in the state. Rush Street Interactive has a contract with the Delaware Lottery to provide its BetRivers Casino for players in the state.

Technically, players access one of three different sites all operating the same product which are tied to the state’s three brick-and-mortar casinos. However, for players, that’s mostly neither here nor there which of the three sites they are playing on.

Delaware legalized online casino play all the way back in 2012 and the games launched the following year. As such, Delaware residents have had access to this type of legal gambling as long as those in any other state.

Learn more about: Delaware online casinos

Michigan

Michiganders enjoy access to one of the most competitive regulated online casino markets in the United States. A 2019 set of laws allowed both commercial and tribal casino operators in the state to contract with online gambling companies or offer their own products in this way.

The first apps began accepting wagers in January 2021. Since then, most of the licensed operators have expanded upon their live dealer and digital gaming options.

Due to the expansive framework, Michigan residents have a choice of 15 apps including national favorites like BetMGM Casino, Caesars Palace online casino, and Hollywood online casino.

Learn more about:

• Michigan online casinos
• Michigan online gambling laws

Nevada

Nevada is unique in that online casino play is legal in theory and some eligible parties have licenses to offer it but none of them have actually begun doing so outside of making online poker games available.

The reasons why none of the state’s gaming licensees have acted on the opportunity that a 2013 provided them to date are multifold. First off, most of the gamblers in Nevada do not live in Nevada but are tourists instead and even if they did sign up for licensed apps in Nevada, would likely not be able to continue that play in their home states.

Secondly, the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos are such an integral part of its economy that there is simply little motivation to provide tourists with an alternative to visiting them. For these reasons, it’s unlikely that online casinos will find a place in Nevada’s gambling landscape anytime soon.

Learn more about: Nevada online casinos

New Jersey

If you’re looking for perhaps the most competitive state when it comes to legal online casino play, New Jersey is perhaps the strongest contender for that title. There are 30 licensed options for players in the state.

Additionally, New Jersey boasts some choices that US players will not find anywhere else like Wheel of Fortune Casino. New Jersey legalized this form of online gambling in February 2013 and the first licensees launched their platforms the following November.

Like in Michigan, New Jersey’s online casino apps are tethered to physical casinos and racetracks in the state. New Jersey may be small in land mass but it’s one of the biggest states for online gambling.

Learn more about:

• New Jersey online casinos
• New Jersey online gambling laws

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania got into the online casino business after New Jersey but has since surpassed its neighbor in terms of monthly revenue from this gaming type. Pennsylvania has established itself as the most lucrative market for licensees since the first apps went live in 2019.

Since the law enabling this type of gambling was passed in 201, the market in Pennsylvania has expanded to include 21 different licensed apps. Like in many other states, those apps are all partnered with a physical casino or racetrack in Pennsylvania.

Amid its robust market, Pennsylvania also has one of the highest tax rates for online casino revenue, raking in over a third of the adjusted revenue that licensees collect from players. Suffice to say, online casinos have been a win for the state’s coffers.

Learn more about:

• Pennsylvania online casinos
• Pennsylvania online gambling laws

Rhode Island

The latest state with online casino play will also offer one of the least competitive markets for such gaming in the US. Like with its brick-and-mortar casinos, Bally’s will be the only legal option for Rhode Islanders.

Rhode Island legalized Bally’s online casino in 2023, had a soft launch on March 1 and a full launch on March 5.

Learn more about: Rhode Island online casinos

West Virginia

West Virginia residents got access to legal online casinos in July 2020 after the state enacted the gambling expansion in March 2019. Since then, seven licensees have taken their apps live in the state including BetMGM Casino and DraftKings Casino.

Despite the state’s rural and sparse population, these licensees have fared well in terms of revenue. Online gambling of this type has also brought new revenue to the state’s casinos and racetracks, as they have partnerships with the seven online casino brands.

Learn more about: West Virginia online casinos

States working toward legalization

Colorado

There have been rumblings that discussions are ongoing between legislators and gambling industry officials about legal online casinos in Colorado. To date, that has not yet produced any actual legislation.

Like with Maryland, all the legislature can do is draft up a proposal for the state’s voters to decide upon. 2024 would be an ideal time to do so but time may be too short to get everyone on board with one framework at this point.

Learn more about: Colorado online casinos

Indiana

Legislators in Indianapolis have filed bills to legalize online casinos every since 2021 but 2024 broke that streak. The reason for that disruption has almost nothing to do with whether online casinos would be good for the state, however.

In 2023, investigators revealed that a former member of the Indiana legislature accepted a bribe from a company that used to operate a brick-and-mortar casino in the state. The illicit payment occurred just before Indiana’s last round of gambling expansion in 2019.

For that reason, the attitude around further gambling expansion has soured. It could be several years before there is enough momentum to push an online casino bill over the threshold.

Learn more about: Indiana online casinos

Louisiana

Some industry veterans expected an online casino bill in Baton Rouge in 2024. Perhaps most importantly, the state’s brick-and-mortar casino licensees seem to be supportive of the idea.

The fact that 2024 is a national election year acted as an obstacle to such proposals, though. There is a significant part of the state that opposes legal gambling, which made this year less than ideal to take on the issue. 2025 could be a different story.

Learn more about: Louisiana online casinos

New Hampshire

In 2023, the New Hampshire Senate passed a bill that aimed to legalize online table games like blackjack and roulette. That proposal excluded online slots out of consideration for the concerns of charitable casino operators in the state.

However, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted down the bill, and did so quite thoroughly. Due to the legislature’s rules, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tim Lang, cannot file the bill again unless he makes substantial changes to it.

Thus, 2025 is likely the earliest that the New Hampshire legislature will consider this issue again.

Learn more about: New Hampshire online casinos

North Carolina

In 2023, there were numerous proposals in Raleigh taking advantage of the moment right after the state had legalized online sports betting. Among them was a proposal to also legalize online casino apps.

Legislators did not put forward similar proposals in 2024. Due to it being a national election year, many legislators strayed from taking on topics that some voters view as controversial.

Learn more about: North Carolina online casinos

Wyoming

An iGaming bill, HB 120, introduced by Rep. Robert Davis, failed to get the votes in the House on Feb. 15 to be taken up this session.

HB 120 would have appointed the Wyoming Gaming Commission as regulator and issued no fewer than five interactive gaming operator permits. The bill did not place a limit on the number of online casino apps and the minimum age to participate in online casino play is 18.

When Wyoming passed the bill approving sports betting, lawmakers first introduced it in the 2020 short budget session and passed the bill in 2021.

Learn more about: Wyoming online casinos

Jurisdictions not likely to legalize

Alabama

Opposition to legal gambling in Alabama remains robust although there have been recent attempts to establish a state lottery and physical casinos.

Learn more about: Alabama online casinos

Alaska

There doesn’t seem to be much appetite for legal online gambling in Alaska whatsoever as the legislature in Juneau has been devoid of activity on that front for years.

Learn more about: Alaska online casinos

Arizona

Lawmakers and industry stakeholders like tribal casino operators seem content with the current status quo, which includes online sports betting.

Learn more about: Arizona online casinos

Arkansas

The state’s energy as far as gambling goes seems focused on working out the licensing situation for a fourth brick-and-mortar casino. That process has been fraught with litigation so far.

Learn more about: Arkansas online casinos

California

Powerful tribal casino operators have been resistant to any expansion of gambling in California that they do not control. Thus, it’s unlikely that there will be any movement toward online casino regulation in the near future.

Learn more about:

• California online casinos
• California online gambling laws

Florida

Florida is still defending its compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida regarding online sports betting, putting online casinos far down its priority list.

Learn more about:

• Florida online casinos
• Florida online gambling laws

Georgia

While there have been many recent attempts to expand gambling in Georgia, none of them to date have included online casinos.

Learn more about: Georgia online casinos

Hawaii

Hawaii’s legislature has been among the most obstinate in the country when it comes to legal gambling of any kind.

Learn more about: Hawaii online casinos

Idaho

Outside of Hawaii and maybe Utah, Idaho’s legislature has been the most unwelcoming place for gambling interests.

Learn more about: Idaho online casinos

Kansas

Further expanding gambling in Kansas to include online casino play has not been a topic of discussion in Topeka and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

Learn more about: Kansas online casinos

Kentucky

Kentucky just rolled out its online sports betting system in 2023, likely making 2024 or 2025 too soon to take on further gambling expansion.

Learn more about: Kentucky online casinos

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts legislature was extremely deliberate in its process of legalizing online sports betting, likely signaling that any further expansion of legal online gambling will likewise take years to accomplish if at all.

Learn more about: Massachusetts online casinos

Minnesota

At this time, all efforts toward legal online gambling expansion are laser-focused on sports betting only. Additionally, support for online casino play among tribal casino operators in the state is uncertain.

Learn more about: Minnesota online casinos

Mississippi

Physical casino operators in the state have voiced opposition to making online sports betting legal across the state. That means their opposition to online casino games would probably be more vociferous.

Learn more about: Mississippi online casinos

Missouri

Several attempts to legalize online sports betting in Missouri have been futile. Regardless, that alone commands all the attention of gambling expansion advocates right now.

Learn more about: Missouri online casinos

Montana

Like in many other states, industry players and legislators seem agnostic to the idea of online casino legalization. There’s simply no activity on the front.

Learn more about: Montana online casinos

Nebraska

A previous attempt to legalize online sports betting failed and it’s likely that supporters would have to walk with that before they run with online casinos.

Learn more about: Nebraska online casinos

New Mexico

Tribal casino operators control gambling in New Mexico and would have to demonstrate an appetite for online casino play. To date, they have not done so.

Learn more about: New Mexico online casinos

North Dakota

Further gambling expansion in North Dakota seems to be a non-starter issue for lawmakers. It’s difficult to see what could change that, too.

Learn more about: North Dakota online casinos

Oklahoma

Animosity between Gov. Kevin Stitt and tribal casino operators has put all talk of gambling expansion on the back burner.

Learn more about: Oklahoma online casinos

Oregon

Count this among the number of states with legal online sports betting in which there is simply no great push for further expansion.

Learn more about: Oregon online casinos

South Carolina

Political will to legalize many forms of gambling seems to be lacking in this state, making online casino legalization the longest of shots.

Learn more about: South Carolina online casinos

South Dakota

The state rejected legal online sports betting, making any notions of regulating online casino play far-fetched.

Learn more about: South Dakota online casinos

Tennessee

This state’s legislature is still tinkering with its online sports betting system and the fact that there are no physical casinos there poses an obstacle as well.

Learn more about: Tennessee online casinos

Texas

In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill toward legalizing online sports betting. That’s been the biggest victory for gambling interests there in quite some time and makes any further expansion extremely unlikely.

Learn more about: Texas online casinos

Utah

Outside of Hawaii, Utah might be the most hostile state toward gambling interests in the US.

Learn more about: Utah online casinos

Vermont

Vermont has just launched its online sports betting landscape in January 2024, meaning that further expansion will probably have to wait a few years at least.

Learn more about: Vermont online casinos

Virginia

Virginia also qualifies for the group of states with legal online sports betting in which there have simply not been any conversations about further online gambling expansion.

Learn more about: Virginia online casinos

Washington

Like in many other states, any expansion of gambling would have to go through tribal casino operators. At this time, there doesn’t seem to be any interest in online casinos.

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Washington, DC

The regulation of online sports betting in the United States capital has been rocky and that probably limits any further expansion of online gambling for the foreseeable future.

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Wisconsin

Tribal casino operators hold a powerful sway over gaming matters in this state. Until they push for legal online casinos, the topic is likely to remain absent from conversations.

Learn more about: Wisconsin online casinos