Sports Betting and Online Casino Legislation Update: March 22
The Closing Line will aggregate efforts to legalize sports betting and online casinos (and other gambling bills) in this space on Fridays, as long as the legislative season is still active.
Congress
Rep. Paul Tonko announced he would introduce the SAFE Bet Act later this year. The bill would do a number of things, but primarily it seeks to restrict advertising of sports betting. It would also force states to get approval from the Department of Justice to continue offering sports betting if they already legalized it, with states getting one year to come into compliance. While anything is possible, traction on a bill like this in an election year seems unlikely.
Maryland
After a victory in the House for online casino legalization, chances for passage in the Senate seem dim. The current plan seems to be a pivot to passing a referendum that goes to voters in November and work out the details next legislative session should it pass.
Minnesota
Negotiations in Minnesota seem to have improved the odds of sports betting legalization. The sponsor says he has eliminated some of the opposition to the bill but hurdles still remain. An effort to add legalization and regulation of fantasy sports is also connected to the sports betting bill.
Closing Line Consulting
Need help with gambling content, communications/PR, or research and analysis? I’m starting a consultancy to help companies in the gaming industry and beyond. Reach out if you want to have a conversation. Learn more about CLC here.
Georgia
A sports betting bill is still alive in the Senate, but there is just a week left in the legislative session. It’s not clear sports betting is a priority for the Senate as it tries to settle other issues before wrapping up business for the year.
Other gambling law updates
A New Jersey lawmaker wants to look at raising the tax rates on sports betting and online casino revenue.
Hopes continue that a Missouri ballot measure will get the approval of voters. More optimism here from a state senator.
A gambling expansion in Alabama is alive but progress has slowed. Sports betting was stripped from the package earlier.
Discussion in Indiana now centers on gambling reform more than expansion. The gambling industry had hoped that Indiana would be one of the next states to legalize online casinos.
The Closing Line is a publication of +More Media.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact me or email scott@andmore.media.