Ruddock Report: Online Casino Opponents Gang Up Against Legalization
Meanwhile, an Arkansas bill on a tight timeline gives iCasino advocates a glimmer of hope
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Our monthly look at the online gambling landscape includes the current legal and regulatory landscape, prospective online casino and online poker states, and significant trends to watch.
Online casino efforts have run into a brick wall in most of the states where bills were filed, but there is a glimmer of hope in a new contender: Arkansas. The clock is ticking, however, as the Arkansas legislature is scheduled to adjourn on April 11.
LEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING ONLINE POKER-ONLY
ACTIVE LEGISLATION LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS FAILED
Trend to watch: Growing online gambling opposition
There are a select few casino operators that oppose online gambling, believing it potentially threatens their established brick-and-mortar operations.
Unfortunately for online casino advocates, the opposition has banded together, forming the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG), and is notably concentrated in states considered candidates for online casino legalization, where these companies already hold a physical presence.
The following list highlights a growing resistance to online gambling, primarily from a small but influential group of casino operators and related organizations with significant land-based interests across multiple US states.
Colorado
- Monarch Casino Resort (NAAiG member)
- City of Black Hawk (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Indiana
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Iowa
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Illinois
- Accell Entertainment (NAAiG member)
- Illinois Gaming Machine Operators Association (NAAiG member)
- Churchill Downs (Rivers Casino Des Plaines, majority owner) (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Louisiana
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- Cordish Companies (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Maine
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Maryland
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- Cordish Companies (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
- UNITE HERE Trade Union (over 100,000 members in North America)
Massachusetts
- PENN (soft opposition)
New Hampshire
- Churchill Downs — Chasers (NAAiG member)
New York
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (representing 40,000 workers in NY)
Ohio
- JACK Entertainment (NAAiG member)
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
- PENN (soft opposition)
Virginia
- Churchill Downs (NAAiG member)
Late effort emerges in Arkansas
A new bill in the Arkansas House (HB1861) would legalize online casino gambling and prohibit sweepstakes operators. Companion legislation, SB524, was also filed in the Senate but was later withdrawn.
The bill currently has 14 sponsors and co-sponsors including Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester.
Per local press, the bill will have to wait until the legislature returns from its spring break in April, and time is short, as the legislature is scheduled to adjourn on April 11.
2025 online casino bills
The Ruddock Report will revise this list as new bills are introduced.
Arkansas
- HB1861, sponsored by State Rep. Matt Duffield
Maryland
Legislation stalled in committee and online casino revenue wasn’t included in the current budget deal between the legislature and Gov. Wes Moore.
Virginia
Legislation failed to gain traction, with bill sponsors intending to reintroduce bills in 2026.
Wyoming
- HB 162, sponsored by Rep. Bob Davis
The bill failed to gain support in committee and is effectively dead.
Indiana
- HB 1432, sponsored by Rep. Ethan Manning
After running into opposition, including cannibalization concerns, the bill is all but dead.
New Hampshire
- SB 168, sponsored by state Sen. Tim Lang
Despite passing committee, Lang “tabled” the bill due to opposition. It can be brought back later in the session.
Hawaii
A mobile sports betting bill has passed the House and is progressing through the Senate, but the state’s online casino bill has been left to wither and die on the vine.
New York
- S 2614, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr.
New York’s latest online casino effort hasn’t made a ripple, let alone a wave.
Massachusetts
- HD 4084, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Cahill
- SD 2240, sponsored by Sen. Paul Feeney
- HD 2393, sponsored by Rep. David Muradian (text to come)
There are plenty of bills, but there is zero momentum in Massachusetts.
Illinois
As I wrote in my Straight to the Point newsletter, “Two online casino bills are under consideration: SB 1963, sponsored by State Sen. Cristina Castro, and HB 3080, sponsored by State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez … The problem is, (almost) no one wants it,” evidenced by nearly 1,000 witnesses testifying against online casinos at a recent hearing.
The upshot
Despite some early optimism in various regions, the momentum has fizzled, and as the year progresses, it increasingly appears that zero states will successfully legalize online casinos in 2025. There are plenty of active efforts, but the current landscape suggests a nationwide pause on this front, leaving the future of online casino gaming uncertain at the state level, despite what some stakeholders, like DraftKings’ Jason Robins, said on the company’s Q4 earnings call:
“I do think we’re going to have a little bit better year in terms of legalization. Last year was a tough year because it was the election and typically getting votes on gaming during an election year is hard. People are just distracted by campaigns and also don’t want to take up any sort of issue that they even be mildly controversial. So I think there will be a little bit more success this year, at least that’s my hope.”
