Gambling Industry Stories to Watch This Week (Jan. 12–18, 2026)

Legislative Sessions Begin Across 20 States

A major cluster of state legislatures convenes this week, which could pave the way for new gambling bills and committee agendas. Last week saw the introduction of online casino bills in Virginia and New York, as well as various proposals to amend gambling statutes. This week could see similar action.

States Beginning Their 2026 Sessions This Week

• Jan. 12: Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Washington
• Jan. 13: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin
• Jan. 14: Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia

While no gambling bills are likely to move in the first days, the opening week is when lawmakers begin introducing legislation and committees start posting their hearing calendars.

Where Gambling Bills Could Surface

Several states already have gambling-related momentum heading into the session:

• Virginia has already seen an online casino (iGaming) bill pre-filed, which includes a provision to ban sweepstakes casinos. Additionally, there are multiple pre-filed bills aimed at establishing a Gaming Commission.
• Georgia will likely see a sports betting bill in 2026, marking the eighth consecutive legislative session with a proposal. Notably, late last year, the Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism recommended legalizing mobile sports betting as a revenue source.
• In 2025, Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a bill that would allow tribes to control sports betting. In November, lawmakers pulled it from the Assembly floor before the vote, despite its expected passage. Still, Assembly Majority Leader and the bill’s co-sponsor, Tyler August, recently suggested that the bill will be reintroduced.
• Illinois continues to face budget pressure. Lawmakers already filed iGaming bills in 2025, which will carry over into 2026. In addition, the Illinois Gaming Board recently stated that sweepstakes casinos are “not welcome”, so a ban bill could emerge.
• In Iowa, a bill is pending that would give the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission expanded authority to issue cease-and-desist orders and seek court injunctions against illegal operators.
• Alabama came close to expanding gambling in 2024, falling just one vote short in the Senate. The efforts were not restarted last year, and being an election year could again be difficult to secure the necessary votes. Still, some lawmakers have spoken in favor of letting voters decide on the matter.
• Maryland’s Senate passed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos in 2025. However, that effort died in the House. This year could see another proposal, especially since six states banned the platforms in 2025. In addition, an iGaming bill could resurface, but its chances are slim.

Sweepstakes Showdown

Sweepstakes casinos remain one of the most contentious issues in U.S. gaming policy, with some states already targeting the unregulated platforms.

Maine: LD 2007 Hearing on Jan. 14

In Maine, which will become the eighth state to legalize iGaming, lawmakers will hold the first hearing on LD 2007, which aims to ban sweepstakes casinos on Jan. 14.

Given the surprise decision by Gov. Mills to allow an iGaming bill to become law, lawmakers could see sweepstakes casinos as a threat to the future regulated market. They could also make calls to regulate the gray-area platforms, similar to what recently happened in Indiana.

Florida, Mississippi, Virginia: Do the New Bills Get Traction?

Florida’s legislative session begins Jan. 13, and two gambling-related bills are already in play. Both include provisions dealing with internet gambling and online wagering activity — language that could be used to challenge sweepstakes casinos.

Lawmakers in Mississippi introduced a bill prohibiting sweepstakes casinos, which is currently sitting in a Senate committee. Given that the Senate passed a ban bill unanimously last year, we will watch to see whether the committee adds a hearing.

The Virginia iGaming bill includes a provision to ban sweepstakes casinos. However, lawmakers might introduce a standalone prohibition bill, given the surge of interest in the matter nationwide.

Illinois Pricing Shift: Will Others Follow BetRivers?

BetRivers quietly changed the economics of Illinois sports betting by raising its minimum wager from $1 to $5. That is the second change after lawmakers introduced a per-bet tax last year. The new minimum could also be a response to the proposed city tax on sports bets in Chicago.

This week, the industry will be watching closely to see if other Illinois sportsbooks adopt similar tactics. With NFL playoff betting ramping up, January is when operators feel the impact of per-bet costs most acutely.

Tennessee vs. Prediction Markets: Will Lawsuits Follow?

Tennessee regulators have ordered Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com to stop offering sports-related prediction contracts to Tennessee residents, with shutdowns and refunds required by the end of the month.

This week’s key question is whether the platforms respond by going to court. Prediction market operators argue that their products are federally regulated derivatives, not state-licensed gambling.

With prediction market operators already litigating against multiple states, Tennessee could become the next jurisdiction to be involved in a court battle.