2025: What's on the Horizon and the Latest Updates

The PoliciPro Perspective

The Gaming Industry's Government Affairs Source

2024 commercial gaming revenues totaled over $71 billion, 7.5% more than in 2023, in the U.S. The gaming industry has seen consistent growth post-COVID, with states expanding brick-and-mortar, sportsbooks, and virtual gaming operations.

With the 2025 legislative session off to a start, state lawmakers already seem eager to expand and, more importantly, tax the gaming industry.

Here is what’s on the horizon for gaming in 2025:

Sports Betting

• Missouri voters approved Amendment 2, the Sports Betting Initiative, in November, which legalized sports betting in the state. Sports wagering will be established in the state no later than December 1, 2025.

  
  

• Federal lawmakers introduced the SAFE Bet Act in September of last year, which seeks to address the public health impacts of gambling. Senators revisited the Act during a December Senate Committee hearing on sports betting.

  
  

• South Carolina legislators pre-filed HB 3625 for the 2025 session, which would legalize sports betting in the state.

  
  

• New Hampshire lawmakers introduced HB 83-FN, which would increase the minimum age for sports betting from 18 to 21.

  
  

• Bill SD 1657 was introduced in the Massachusetts legislature to overhaul the state's sports betting regulations. New regulations include banning live betting, prop betting, sports betting ads during televised sporting events, and other restrictions on the industry.

Land-Based Gaming

• Lawmakers in Kentucky introduced HB 33 on January 7th, which would allow for land-based and riverboat casinos in the Bluegrass State. The bill calls for a 21% tax on casino revenues and patrons would be required to pay $3 to enter casinos.

  
  

Online Gaming

• Maryland lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 340 last month to legalize internet casino gaming(iGaming). This bill, the third attempt by state lawmakers to legalize iGaming, would allow the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control to issue up to five online licenses.

  
  

• Virginia lawmakers filed SB 827 in December 2024, which would allow brick-and-mortar gaming operators in the state to have up to three online skins. This would give the state up to 15 iGaming sites, as current state law allows for casino operators.

  
  

• HB 1432 was introduced in Indiana and would legalize iGaming in the Hoosier State. A provision in this bill would almost double the sports betting tax rate from 9.5% to 20%.

  
  

• Lawmakers in Hawaii have introduced several bills: SB 1507, HB 1434, SB 1569, and HB 1308, which would legalize and regulate iGaming and mobile sports betting.