Legalization of Gambling in the US; Newest updates

The Latest Updates on Gambling Regulations in US States, May 2019

Having in mind that an increased number of states in the US accepts gambling, numerous regulations take place almost on a daily basis. Some states go through the whole procedure with a minimal number or almost no obstacles at all…

…while others encounter certain obstacles. We introduce you a brief recapitulation of the latest changes regarding legislation in May.

Tennessee’s Reluctant Governor

After the approval of HB0001, which authorizes interactive sports betting in the state in March, the Bill was actually replaced with SB0016 and approved by the Tennessee Senate. It will be sent back to the House for consideration before it can move forward to Governor, Bill Lee…

…for signature. However, Lee seems to be hesitating to sign it and declares that he would allow the bill to without requiring his signature. The proposal aims to permit wagering online and via betting kiosk. The tax rate was also reduced, to 20% of gross win from 22.5% previously.

Louisiana’s Step Closer to Opening Doors

In April this year, Senator, Danny Martiny, introduced SB153 which would permit existing licensed gambling facilities to offer retail and on-site mobile sports wagering. If ed, the bill’s provisions would require approval in each parish by a public referendum in order to take effect. The proposal…

…was ed this month by the Louisiana Senate. Following this, it will be ed to the State House for further examination. However, the tax rate wasn’t finalized within the proposal.

Rhode Island Seeks Public Approval

The Republican Party is expected to introduce a legal challenge against the Twin River and Tiverton casinos to offer online and mobile sports wagering to players within the state. However, this month…

…the Republicans, Brandon Bell and Joseph Larisa, filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of sports betting in the state, saying it should be put to a public vote. As far as the suit claimed, “the General Assembly has refused to follow our State Constitution by seeking voter approval before expanding gambling in the form of sports gambling, and now online sports gambling.” Both the Rhode Island Division of Lotteries and Department of istration were listed as defendants in the complaint.

Colorado Waits for the Signature

The legislators in this state put forward HB19-1327, a bill that would certify in-person, online and mobile sports betting in the state. The tax rate would be at 10% of net revenues and establish a new Gaming Control Commission to regulate the market. The proposal was voted through by Colorado’s House of Representatives and transferred to the Senate, where it ed that chamber’s Finance and Appropriations Committees. The Senate approved HB19-1327 on May 3rd, with only Governor, Jared Polis’, signature now required for the bill to come into law.

One Bill ed, One Vetoed in Montana

The Bill SB330 would allow sports betting to take place in regulated premises, via terminals, on web and mobile was ed by the Senate. As for HB725, it was also ed by the Senate and re-submitted to the House for consideration of amendments. Both were sent to Governor, Steve Bullock. The state of Montana officially legalized sports wagering…

…after the Governor signed HB725 on May 3rd, known as the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2019, into law. SB330, the other proposal which would have opened up the market to private operators, was currently vetoed. The approved Bill made the Montana Lottery the sole operator of sports wagering services in the state across online, mobile and land-based channels.

New Jersey’s Lawsuit against the Department of Justice

This month New Jersey filed a lawsuit against the US DoJ after it failed to respond to a demand for further information related to its revised interpretation of the Wire Act in January. The DoJ revised its ruling on the Wire Act and said it banned all forms of gambling and not just sports betting. This led New Jersey Attorney General, Gurbir Grewal, and his Pennsylvania counterpart, Josh Shapiro, to demand guarantees that existing state-regulated gaming would not be impacted. In addition to this…

…Grewal also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, seeking documents that would prove or disprove reports that the decision was taken. These struggles are followed by Sheldon Adelson’s intensive lobbying efforts. Just to remind, he’s the owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and long-time critic of the expansion of online gaming in the US.

Connecticut Waits for 2020 Legislative Session

With the 2019 legislative session due to finish on June 5th State Governor, Lamont, expressed the opinion that the Bill to certify sports wagering and iGaming, SB17, was now unlikely to in the current session. As far as he said, it is certain to progress in the 2020 legislative session. Initially, there had been discussion around the State Lottery being permitted to offer these services. However, the concern has been expressed amongst tribal leaders as their understanding had been that the existing compacts would provide them with exclusive rights.

Tribes to Permit Sports Wagering

Several amendments have been made by legislators regarding the existing sports wagering bills live in the 2019 legislative session. A06113 and SB17 were amended to clarify that tribes would be permitted to offer this form of gambling as well as to include a 12% gross win tax on the mobile activity. The initial licensing fee is expected to be $12m. Moreover, the New York Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee voted to advance a proposal…

…which aims to legalize in-person and mobile sports betting in the state. SB17 was introduced in January by Senator, Joseph Addabbo, and ed the Committee by a vote of 6-0. The Bill will now progress forward to the Senate Finance Committee for further debate. If it came into law, the bill would have two different tax rates: 8.5% on gross revenue for in-person bets placed on casino premises and 12% for bets placed on mobile. However, Governor, Andrew Cuomo, continuously opposes to the proposal.

AGA Sets Code of Conduct

The American Gaming Association (AGA) issued a Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering that its pledged to follow in relation to the marketing of sports betting. The AGA’s code of conduct sets out a series of strict measures aimed at restricting underage gambling. In addition to this…

… it should promote responsible gaming and make sure both digital and traditional marketing was appropriate for the audiences being targeted. The guidelines appeared to also cover s as the AGA stated that the code applied to any entities operating in alignment with or as agents of in carrying out advertising and marketing of sports betting.

Source:

“H2 Gambling Capital”, May 2019