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Progress is the name of the game when it comes to legalizing online casinos in 2025.
No states legalized online casinos in 2024. And the flood gates to the next wave of iGaming legislation aren’t likely to open this year.
However, with states beginning to face budget difficulties coming off federal funding from the pandemic, one or two states could knock the lid off the basket in 2025.
More than likely, it will be a smaller state. But a few major states have a realistic chance. Seven states currently offer legal and regulated online casinos.
Here are the 14 states expected to consider US online casino legislation in 2025 in order of their odds to pass a bill.
New Hampshire
What happened in 2024: Nothing. Sen. Tim Lang got his online casino bill passed through the House in 2023, but got an edict from leadership not to pursue a bill last year. He believes he has support from most charitable casinos to pass iCasino this year, but not all.
Prospects for 2025: Lang believes he has support from most charitable casinos to pass iCasino this time. However, Cordish’s $160 million plan to open a charitable casino in New Hampshire presents a challenge that didn’t exist in 2023. Cordish has been one of the biggest opponents of online casino in states in which it operates casinos. Yet, Lang says he believes there’s a better chance to pass legislation this year than in his last attempt.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 50%
Illinois
What happened in 2024: Sen. Christina Castro and Rep. Edgar Gonzalez each filed online casino bills but they couldn’t get a hearing. Lawmakers instead filled a budget hole by raising taxes on sportsbooks and video gaming terminals.
Prospects for 2025: Illinois faces another large budget deficit for fiscal year 2026, this time totaling $3.2 billion. Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently told the Chicago Sun-Times that iGaming was worthy of consideration to address that shortfall. Lawmakers can’t turn to tax increases on gaming again, so untapped online casino revenue provides an appealing alternative to tax increases. Convincing Illinois’ large VGT industry to drop its opposition remains key. Chances include the possibility of dropping slots and focusing on table games and live dealers as an incremental step.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 25%
Maryland
What happened in 2024: Despite opposition from two of the state’s six casinos, unions and casino workers afraid of cannibalization, the Maryland House passed online casino legislation. The House wanted iGaming revenue to serve as a sustainable revenue source for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education fund. However, the Senate balanced the budget without iGaming revenue and never gave it serious consideration.
Prospects for 2025: Following last session, Sen. Ron Watson said he wouldn’t file an iCasino bill in 2025. He thought his colleagues needed a year off. And, since the attorney general said iGaming required a voter referendum, it couldn’t go in front of voters until November 2026. However, with the state facing a $2.7 billion deficit, Watson and Rep. Vanessa Atterbeary are putting online casino back out there as an alternative to raising taxes. For the revenue to make a difference in the 2026 fiscal year, someone needs to convince the AG that putting casino games online is a different distribution method, not an expansion.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 25%
Wyoming
What happened in 2024: Rep. Robert Davis filed the first online casino bill in Wyoming. However, in a shortened budget year, the House votes on which bills to consider in committee. Online casino didn’t get the two-thirds vote needed to get a hearing. However, Spectrum Gaming produced a study for the Wyoming Gaming Commission projecting up to $40 million in state tax revenue from iGaming with no expectation of cannibalizing existing gaming in the state.
Prospects for 2025: Davis said he would refile his online casino bill in 2025. And with the study painting a favorable picture, Davis thinks he can convince more of his colleagues that the state should capture this revenue while providing consumer protections. With 25 votes for iCasino in 2024, he needs just six more votes to pass a bill. And he has a full two-month session to get them. One obstacle could be getting Wyoming Indian tribes on board. WGC Commissioner Jenni Wildcat said her tribe did a study on iGaming that warned of the potential for a negative impact on the tribal casino.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 25%
Maine
What happened in 2024: Maine came closer than any state to passing online casino legislation. The Senate passed a bill that gave iGaming exclusivity to Maine Indian tribes, locking out two commercial racinos. The House narrowly voted down the bill twice.
Prospects for 2025: One of the reasons the Maine online casino legislation failed to pass at the end of last session was indication that Gov. Janet Mills would veto the bill. However, the state is looking for sustainable revenue solutions for a highway fund shortfall. Online casino could fit the bill. Passage likely depends on how hard Maine tribes want to push for iCasino.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 25%
New York
What happened in 2024: Sen. Joe Addabbo and Asm. Gary Pretlow filed online casino bills for the third year in a row, this time adding a $25 million fund for casino union workers. However, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC) still opposed the bill and representatives of the governor expressed the desire to wait on the issue while the long process to approve downstate casino licenses continues.
Prospects for 2025: A budgetary need for revenue and the overwhelming success of online sports betting in New York serve as motivation for the state to pass iCasino legislation. And surrounding states already offer online casinos in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. Pretlow is moving from the Racing and Wagering Committee to chair the Ways and Means Committee, where he won’t be an everyday champion for online casino legalization but could serve as a valuable ally down the line with more seniority.
Appeasing the HTC is key to the effort in 2025. Addabbo and industry stakeholders are working on a solution to bring HTC to the table. If online casino gets done in New York, it likely will be through the budgetary process. Gaming revenue in New York typically goes to education. Addabbo stresses that, as a new product, iGaming revenue also could be a sustainable source of funding for healthcare, transportation or any other need. If Gov. Kathy Hochul includes iCasino revenue in her executive budget next month, these chances increase dramatically. But if the union comes on board anytime before the one-house budget proposals in March, game on.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 15%
Florida
What happened in 2024: The US Supreme Court opted not to consider an appeal of the DC Circuit’s affirmation of the Seminole Tribe’s compact including online sports betting under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Prospects for 2025: With the road clear for a tribe to compact with a state for online gaming, Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen said the tribe would begin pushing for iCasino in 2025. However, it’s unclear if the legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis are ready to cooperate. Typically, states don’t pass online casino agreements the first year of consideration. However, the Seminoles wield a lot of influence as a great partner of the state.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 15%
Indiana
What happened in 2024: Legislative leaders decided not to consider any gaming bills in 2024 after it was discovered a former Indiana lawmaker accepted a bribe from a previous Indiana casino company related to the last major gaming bill passed in 2019.
Prospects for 2025: Indiana faces fiscal issues regarding Medicaid, education and transportation infrastructure. Online casino revenue could be part of the solution if lawmakers are ready to move past the moratorium and reopen discussions on a larger gaming expansion bill. Indiana has considered iGaming legislation since 2021, but Senate leadership has always been a roadblock.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 10%
Louisiana
What happened in 2024: Sen. Kirk Talbot got a resolution passed for the Senate to hold a study committee on online casinos. The committee met in December and the results were mixed. While Louisiana casino owners Caesars Entertainment and Boyd Gaming and a tribal casino representative testified in support of iGaming, Cordish, owner of the soon-to-open Louisiana Live! Casino, VGT operators and charitable gaming organizations argued against the effort.
Prospects for 2025: The Senate study committee was expected to meet several times. However, following the thorough but opponent-filled first meeting, it might not meet again. The Senate Judiciary B and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committees will report iGaming findings to the Louisiana Senate by March 1. Louisiana likely needs more time before seriously considering online casino.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 5%
Ohio
What happened in 2024: Ohio legislators formed a study commission on the future of gaming in Ohio led by Rep. Jay Edwards and Sen. Nathan Manning. Three House Republicans, led by Edwards, recommended the state look into legalizing online casino. Sen. Niraj Antani filed the first Ohio online casino bill ahead of the lame-duck session. The bill did not get a hearing.
Prospects for 2025: Antani and Edwards both are terming out of office. It’s unclear who in the Ohio legislature wants to take up the mantel for online casino legalization. Some Ohio legislators believe the state won’t legalize iCasino until after Gov. Mike DeWine terms out at the end of 2026. But with neighboring Michigan and Pennyvlania among the state leaders in iGaming revenue, Ohio figures to follow its neighbors in the near future.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 5%
Colorado
What happened in 2024: Not a thing related to online casino.
Prospects for 2025: Cloudy. As with sports betting, passing online casino in Ohio requires an initiative to amend the constitutional amendment. Industry members could file that initiative at any time. However, it’s unclear whether enough Colorado voters support online casino to reach the 55% threshold to amend the constitution. Members of the Colorado Gaming Association are split on iGaming.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 5%
Virginia
What happened in 2024: Virginia has not previously considered iGaming legislation.
Prospects for 2025: Sen. Mamie Locke filed the first Virginia online casino bill entering the new year. SB827 would tie iCasino to the state’s five physical casino licenses. Virginia has a nascent casino industry which was only approved five years ago. Only three of five planned casinos in the state have opened, and one in the works comes from staunch iGaming opponent Cordish. So it’s likely that Virginia iGaming consideration takes more time.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 5%
Iowa
What happened in 2024: An online casino bill carried over from 2023 but, with member of the Iowa Gaming Association split on iGaming, no action was taken.
Prospects for 2025: The Iowa Gaming Association remains split on iGaming and focused on re-establishing a moratorium on new casino licenses. IGA President Wes Ehrecke said casinos won’t discuss iGaming legislation again until after the moratorium is back in place. Prior iCasino bill sponsor Rep. Bobby Kaufmann said he won’t file the legislation in 2025. But another Iowa legislator may.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 1%
North Carolina
What happened in 2024: Nothing on iGaming.
Prospects for 2025: A legislator may file the first North Carolina iCasino bill in 2025. However, there is a complicated existing gaming industry in the state with tribal casinos, VGTs and sports betting operators. And Gov. Josh Stein isn’t believed to be enthusiastic about doing another gaming expansion right now.
Chance to pass iCasino legislation: 1%
