Gambling Industry Stories to Watch This Week (Jan. 19–25, 2026)

States With Limited Gambling Open New Sessions

Four traditionally restrictive states open their 2026 legislative sessions this week:

• Alaska (Jan. 20)
• New Mexico (Jan. 20)
• Utah (Jan. 20)
• Hawaii (Jan. 21)

In Utah, lawmakers prefiled two bills last week aimed at curbing illegal gambling, which could target sweepstakes casinos. Given that there were over a dozen class-action lawsuits against sweepstakes casinos in the state last year, lawmakers could put prohibition on the agenda.

While no gambling proposals are expected to advance, there could be some attempts, as seen in Hawaii in previous years. Alaska also saw a sports betting bill in 2025, but it did not move forward.

Committee Hearings on Gambling Bills This Week

A few bills already introduced could receive hearings and potentially advance this week.

In Indiana, House Bill 1052 is scheduled for hearings on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. The broad administrative bill includes a provision to classify sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling.

The proposal already received one hearing before the House Public Policy Committee, where members debated whether regulation — rather than outright prohibition — could be a possible path forward.

Representatives from the Indiana Gaming Commission testified in favor of prohibition. Still, they acknowledged that sweepstakes casinos might not currently violate Indiana law.

Florida may also come into focus. House Bill 591 is scheduled for review by the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee, while House Bill 161 is pending before the Commerce Committee.

Last week, HB 189 advanced from the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee by a 13–4 vote. While both committees meet this week, neither has included the gambling bills on the published agendas.

As the week advances, additional hearings and newly filed enforcement bills are expected to surface.

Prediction Markets Face Escalating Legal Pressure

The legal battle over sports event prediction markets continues to intensify.

Industry observers will pay attention to developments in the Polymarket–Nevada dispute. On Jan. 16, the Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a civil enforcement action in Carson City District Court against Polymarket. That marked the first enforcement action against Polymarket.

Kalshi has entered litigation with multiple states, including Nevada, so Polymarket is likely to follow a similar path.

California may soon become the next major battleground. The state recently joined litigation targeting prediction markets. At the same time, California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chair James Siva suggested in December that Attorney General Rob Bonta is preparing to file lawsuits against prediction market operators.

Any enforcement action from California — the nation’s largest potential betting market — would mark a major escalation in the national crackdown on sports-event contracts.

Match-Fixing Scandal Developments Loom

Federal prosecutors’ point-shaving case involving 39 college basketball players across 17 programs remains active, and additional court filings or plea activity could emerge this week.

The sweeping indictment — one of the largest integrity scandals in U.S. college sports — continues to fuel renewed calls for bans on individual college prop bets and tighter integrity controls across regulated sportsbooks.

What Else to Watch

With over 30 states now in session, industry observers will be watching whether additional states introduce sweepstakes-focused enforcement bills. This trend has accelerated sharply since the start of the 2026 sessions.

Lawmakers may also introduce new online casino bills, though progress in recent years suggests momentum remains limited.

With earnings season approaching for several major gaming operators later this month, early regulatory signals this week could shape how companies frame compliance risk and market expansion in upcoming investor disclosures.