Late last week, there was a flurry of legislative activity across the US, resulting in yet another state killing hopes for online gaming. But there’s still plenty of momentum for legal sports betting from Georgia to Hawaii.
Here’s a look:
Alabama
There’s still no major gambling bill filed yet, but 1819 News is reporting that talks are going on between the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the state about an expansion. The tribe wants to maintain exclusivity for Class III gambling, and according to 1819, it seems likely that legislation similar to last year’s will be filed.
In 2024, lawmakers were pushing for a massive expansion of gambling. Alabama does not have a state lottery, but the bill that moved through the legislature initially included a lottery, digital sports betting and brick-and-mortar casinos.
The tribe offered an amendment that would have allowed it to have a casino in Birmingham. But the owners of Birmingham Racecourse and VictoryLand Casino opposed the amendment. The Poarch Creeks have since bought Birmingham Racecourse.
Hawaii
On 14 February, the house judiciary and Hawaiian affairs committee advanced HB 1308, which would allow for up to four digital sports betting platforms across the state. The committee voted 6-4 to advance the bill to the finance committee. A companion bill, SB 1569, has already gotten through one senate committee.
Despite the movement, Hawaii’s government agencies, including the district attorney’s office, have expressed concern about addiction. In addition, one of the arguments for legalisation is a new revenue stream for the state, but some lawmakers say the projected $37 million (£29.7 million/€35.7 million) in tax revenue wouldn’t move the needle in terms of making the state more affordable.
The senate bill is headed to the commerce and consumer protection/ways and means committee.
While online sports betting is moving, the idea of land-based casinos on Oahu died in committee 13 February. SB 893 would have allowed for retail casinos in the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and a convention centre. According to Hawaii News Now, developers working on the Aloha Stadium Project said that without casinos, “we would put pencils down and walk away from the project.”
Indiana
House speaker Todd Huston told the Capital Chronicle 13 February that an online gaming bill that would have allowed casinos three digital skins each won’t get a hearing in the ways and means committee. HB 1432 passed through the public policy committee in January, but Huston said there wasn’t enough consensus to continue.
“There’s all sorts of moving parts about how it impacts certain communities, what it does to the overall gaming environment in Indiana,” Huston told the media outlet. “I think all those things just make it complex to work through.”
Indiana’s legislature is at least the third this year to kill an igaming bill. Lawmakers in Virginia and Wyoming also opted not to move forward with proposals.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is among the states were online casino is moving forward. On 12 February, the senate ways and means committee, in a 3-2 vote, advanced an amended version of SB 168. The bill would allow for statewide mobile casino with a 45% tax rate.
The bill has been amended to direct 35% of commercial online gambling revenue to charitable gaming. In New Hampshire, DraftKings currently has a monopoly on digital sports betting. The state’s land-based casinos are operated by charitable organisations. DraftKings does have retail sportsbooks at some locations, but is partnered with the state lottery for digital betting.
Oklahoma
Lawmakers continue to pass disparate wagering bills, making it unlikely that any will get to the finish line.
After a house subcommittee 10 February passed a pair of bills that would send the decision to legalise to the voters, the senate business and insurance committee 13 February advanced three sports betting bills.
SB 125 would allow for digital and retail sports betting if at least four Oklahoma tribes sign model compacts. SB 164 would legalise sports betting with the Oklahoma Lottery Commission as the regulator and would allow tribes to partner with commercial entities. And SB 585 allow tribes retail and off-reservation digital betting. It would also allow for the state’s only professional sports team, the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder, to obtain a digital betting licence.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/online-casino/online-gaming-legislative-update-indiana-hawaii/
