2026 US Online Gambling Bill Tracker: State-by-State Legislative Updates

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Significant Bills: 

• SB257– A comprehensive constitutional amendment to authorize a state lottery, up to seven land-based casinos, and statewide mobile sports betting; proposal to include the amendment on the statewide ballot.

Significant Bills: 

• HB145 – This bill proposes authorizing statewide mobile sports wagering and imposing a 12% tax on revenue. It is the primary vehicle for gambling expansion in the 2026 session.

Significant Bills: 

• Governor’s Bill 5038, The Underage Wagering Prevention Act – Introduced by Gov. Lamont, seeks to ban those under 21 from participating in prediction markets (e.g., Kalshi) and to restrict aggressive advertising.
• HB6051 – Proposes authorizing sports betting as an entertainment option on flights originating or terminating in Connecticut.
• HB5551 – Seeks to establish a state-level income tax deduction for losses to offset the 2026 federal OBBBA  cap (which limits federal deductions to 90%).

Significant Bills: 

• CS / SB530 – Proposal to revise the powers and duties of the Department of the Lottery.
• SB204 – Bill requiring all operators to have their machines authorized by the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

Significant Bills: 

• HB910 – Seeks to legalize mobile sports betting under the oversight of the Georgia Lottery, bypassing the need for a constitutional amendment.
• SR131 – To provide by law for the operation and regulation of sports betting and casino gambling activities in the state of Georgia.

Significant Bills:

• SB3303 – Mobile Sports Wagering Act. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to regulate sports wagering. It proposes a minimum of six operator licenses with a 15% tax on adjusted gross receipts.
• HB2198 – Prediction Market Ban. Defines trading platforms (like Kalshi or Polymarket) that offer contracts on sports, politics, or contests as illegal gambling and seeks to ban them by July 2026.
• HB2222 – Casino Gaming Framework. Proposes the authorization of a single land-based casino in Honolulu and the establishment of a Hawaii Gaming Control Commission.
• SB893 – Aloha Stadium Casino Proposal. Explores the inclusion of a casino resort within the redevelopment of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.
• HB1434 – Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation. A carryover bill seeking to establish a state-run corporation to manage lottery games and online games of skill/chance.

Significant Bills: 

• SB1963 / HB 3080 – Internet Gaming Act. Would authorize and regulate online casino gaming with a 25% tax rate.

Significant Bills: 

• HB1052 – Sweepstakes Prohibition & Enforcement. Following the “Sweepstakes Squeeze” trend of 2026, this bill passed the House 87–11 and seeks to define and ban multi-currency online sweepstakes casinos, imposing civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation.
• SB120 – Student Athlete Protection Act. A consumer and integrity bill that prohibits licensed sportsbooks from offering proposition bets on the individual performances of collegiate athletes.

Significant Bills:

• SF2289 – Proposal to expand the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s power to bring civil enforcement acts against unlicensed gambling. 

Significant Bills:

• HB53 – Sponsored by Rep. Fontenot to categorize online sweepstakes gaming as a racketeering offense and deceptive trade practice.
• HB639 – Provides for the taxation of online sports wagering and dedicates revenues to specific state infrastructure funds.

Significant Bills:

• SB2007 – An act regarding the prohibition of online sweepstakes games, which seeks to criminalize dual-currency platforms in the state.

Significant Bills: 

• SB885 – A proposal for the state’s gaming commission to license and regulate online casino gaming and online bingo.
• SB112 – A strict ban on all sweepstakes casino models within the state.

Significant Bills:

• SB235 – Known as the “Massachusetts Internet Gaming Act,” which aims to legalize online casinos for the state’s three retail licensees.

Significant Bills: 

• SB511 – Social Betting Legalization. Decriminalizes small-scale social wagering but limits it to a participatory group of no more than 100 people with a maximum bet of $25. Contests are prohibited from being held in casinos, bars, restaurants, or commercial entertainment venues.

Significant Bills: 

• HB1581 – The Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act. This bill authorizes statewide mobile sports betting and online race books, with tax revenue earmarked for the state’s public pension system.
• SB2104 – A strict enforcement bill that expands criminal statutes to explicitly ban and criminalize online sweepstakes casinos and computerized gambling-style games.

Significant Bills:

• SCR31 – North Jersey Casino Amendment. Proposes a constitutional amendment giving the Legislature authority to establish slot machine gambling at horse racetracks; dedicates revenues derived to support State-administered defined benefit retirement systems, casinos, improvements to Atlantic City, and horse racing.
• S1500 – Sweepstakes Regulation. Instead of a ban, this bill proposes taxing and regulating sweepstakes platforms under the current iGaming framework.
• S2160 – Micro-Betting Restrictions. Proposes a ban on play-by-play “micro-bets” to reduce impulse gambling behavior.

Significant Bills: 

• S2614 / A5922 – Authorizes interactive gaming and interactive lottery gaming in the state of New York.

Significant Bills:

• H999 – Comprehensive legislation to authorize and regulate video gaming terminals (VGTs) in retail locations throughout the state.
• H424 – Modifies gaming laws to exempt certain social games in private residences or community clubhouses from gambling prohibitions.

Significant Bills:

• HB298 – Authorizes online casino gaming (iGaming) for Ohio’s 11 existing casinos and racinos with a 28% tax rate.
• SB197 –  A Senate companion bill seeking to legalize internet lottery (iLottery) alongside online casino platforms.

Significant Bills:

• SB1589 –  A Senate bill to classify dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling.

Significant Bills:

• HB7197 – Social Gaming Act. Formally legalizes low-stakes social gaming (like office pools and “squares”) in private and public clubs.

Significant Bills:

• HB1768 – Bill to move for restrictions on sports wagering on college campuses.

Significant Bills: 

• HJR137 – This proposed Texas constitutional amendment authorizes the legislature to regulate casino gaming and sports wagering, requiring operator licensing, application fees, and tax imposition on gaming revenue, subject to voter approval.
• HJR134 – Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to legalize wagering on certain sporting events.

Significant Bills:

• S318 – A bill pushing for the licensing of two new casinos in Vermont.

Significant Bills: 

• SB195 & SB558 – Virginia Gaming Commission Act. This high-priority legislation establishes a dedicated state Gaming Commission to assume regulatory oversight of casinos, sports betting, and horse racing from the Virginia Lottery.
• SB118 & HB161 – Internet Gaming Authorization. This bill proposes legalizing online casino gaming (iGaming), including digital slots, table games, and poker. Note: Recent 2026 amendments require this bill to pass in both the 2026 and 2027 sessions before taking effect.
• SB756 – Fairfax County Casino Authorization. A contentious bill that would add Fairfax County (specifically Tysons) as an eligible host for a land-based casino resort, subject to a local voter referendum.
• SB579 – Online Sweepstakes Ban. This bill explicitly categorizes unlicensed “online sweepstakes games” as illegal gambling, introducing civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
• HB145 – Fantasy Contests Act. Tightens the regulatory framework for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), imposing a 10% tax on operator revenue.

Significant Bills:

• HB4397 – iGaming Tax Increase. Proposes raising the online casino tax rate from 15% to 25%.
• HB4398 – Sportsbook Tax Increase. Proposes raising the sports betting tax rate from 10% to 25%.

Significant Bills: 

• SF0044 – Gambling Definitions-Amendments. This is the primary gambling legislation of the 2026 session. It redefines “gambling” and “bona fide social relationships” to tighten loopholes often exploited by unregulated “social” or sweepstakes-style gambling houses, effectively narrowing the scope of what is considered legal “private” gaming.
• HB0162 Although originally introduced in 2025, this legislation remains the blueprint for ongoing debates in 2026 over the legalization of online slots, blackjack, and poker. It is currently being utilized as a framework for stakeholder discussions during the budget session.