State legislatures advanced a wide range of gambling bills this week, including mobile sports betting in Wisconsin, sweeping regulatory changes in Kentucky, new restrictions on prediction markets, and continued efforts to ban sweepstakes casinos.
Here are the gambling bills that mattered this week.
Sports Betting: Expansion and Prop Bet Crackdown
Wisconsin Sports Betting Expansion Heads to Governor
The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill to legalize mobile sports betting, sending it to the governor’s desk. The measure will give the state’s Native American tribes control over the market, mirroring Florida’s model.
Unlike Florida, however, the bill allows tribes to partner with commercial operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings. It requires 60% of the revenue to go to the tribes, a requirement operators have argued is economically unfeasible.
Why It Matters:
If Gov. Tony Evers signs the bill, Wisconsin will become the latest state to allow mobile sports betting.
His signature is not guaranteed, as he has raised concerns about whether all tribes are aligned.
Maine Advances Credit Card Betting Ban
Maine legislators advanced a bill that would prohibit credit cards as a deposit method for sports betting.
LD 2080 passed both chambers this week and now awaits final enactment before heading to Gov. Janet Mills’ desk.
Why It Matters:
Lawmakers are increasingly targeting credit card deposits. Several states have enacted similar legislation to curb problem gambling. In addition, market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel have stopped accepting credit cards.
Maryland Advances Prop Bet and Credit Card Ban
The Maryland House unanimously passed HB 518, which would ban credit card use for sports betting deposits and prohibit prop bets on college sports. The passage comes right at the start of March Madness, but it will likely not take effect in this year’s tournament.
Why it Matters:
Maryland adds to a growing list of states targeting both college prop bets and credit card deposits, reinforcing a broader push toward integrity protections and responsible gaming controls.
Colorado Advances Prop Bet Restriction
Colorado lawmakers advanced a bill that would ban prop bets and increase player protections.
The Senate Finance Committee advanced SB 131, which would eliminate prop betting, ban credit card deposits, restrict advertising, and prohibit push notifications used to solicit bets.
Why It Matters:
Prop bets are quickly becoming a regulatory flashpoint. Multiple states have introduced legislation to prohibit or restrict these types of bets. SB 131 passed with a 5-4 vote, indicating a split among lawmakers on the issue.
Prediction Markets: Pressure Builds at State and Federal Levels
Federal “BETS OFF Act” Targets Sensitive Event Contracts
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) introduced the BETS OFF Act this week, which would prohibit prediction market platforms from offering bets on government decisions, military actions, or events where a single individual controls or knows the outcome.
Why It Matters:
The bill marks the latest effort at both the federal and state levels to prohibit certain event contracts and prevent insider trading on prediction markets.
Tennessee Advances Prediction Market Bill
In Tennessee, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee unanimously advanced HB 2079, which would explicitly prohibit prediction market platforms in the state. If enacted, violations will be classified as a Class E felony.
The bill now moves to the Judiciary Committee, with a hearing scheduled for March 23.
Why It Matters:
State-level pressure is increasing alongside federal efforts to regulate or prohibit prediction markets.
Minnesota Adds to Prediction Market Scrutiny
Minnesota became the latest state this week to introduce a bill relating to prediction markets.
SB 4511 would prohibit platforms that allow users to take financial positions on the outcome of future events.
It explicitly prohibits several categories of event contracts, such as sports events, political outcomes, death, catastrophic events, and casino-style contests.
Why It Matters:
More states are investigating prediction markets as potential illegal activity, adding pressure to the sector.
Sweepstakes & Illegal Gambling: States Move to Shut Down Dual-Currency Models
Maryland Sweepstakes Casino Ban Advances
In Maryland, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced HB 295, which would prohibit “interactive games” that use dual-currency systems and simulate casino-style gaming.
Why It Matters:
The advancement signals continued momentum among Maryland lawmakers to prohibit sweepstakes casinos. Notably, last year the Maryland Senate passed a ban bill, but it stalled in the House.
Minnesota Introduces Sweeps Ban Bill
In addition to a ban on prediction markets, Minnesota lawmakers introduced legislation targeting sweepstakes casinos.
HB 4474 prohibits “online sweepstakes games”. It defines these games as ones that use a dual-currency payment system and simulate casino-style gaming.
Why It Matters:
Minnesota reflects a broader move towards prohibiting sweepstakes casinos. Over a dozen states have introduced such legislation, with Indiana already enacting it into law this year.
Notably, in November, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison formally warned some sweepstakes casinos to cease operations, but they have not complied.
Hawaii Sweepstakes Bill Stalls
In Hawaii, a bill addressing illegal electronic gambling devices, such as sweepstakes machines and fish table games, stalled.
After passing the Senate last week, the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee recommended deferring the measure. While that does not kill the bill, it represents a significant hurdle.
Why It Matters:
While the bill does not explicitly address sweepstakes casinos, regulators could have used it to target online platforms. If it dies, the state will have less legislative power to possibly target unregulated gambling.
Kentucky: Broad Enforcement Bill Expands Gaming Oversight
The Kentucky House passed HB 904 this week. The measure covers several topics, including daily fantasy sports (DFS), prediction markets, legal wagering age, and charitable gaming.
The bill would raise the minimum age to bet on sports from 18 to 21. It would also prohibit prop bets on individual college athletes.
Notably, HB 904 would prohibit horse racing tracks, sportsbooks, and DFS operators in Kentucky from participating in prediction markets. The provisions could force national operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and others to surrender their Kentucky licenses as they operate prediction market platforms.
The measure would also establish a licensing and compliance framework for DFS, deny or suspend accounts for individuals with significant unpaid child support obligations, and clarify tax treatment, extending existing wagering tax structures to fixed-odds betting on horse racing.
Why It Matters:
The bill spans multiple verticals and carries significant implications for national operators. Rather than directly banning prediction markets, Kentucky’s approach focuses on regulating operators, a strategy that could indirectly compel compliance or market exit.
HB 904 passed the House with a significant majority, signaling support from lawmakers. It now heads to the Senate, which has about a month to advance or kill it.
Land-Based & iGaming: Expansion Efforts Stall
Fairfax Casino Bill Sparks Local Rift in Virginia
Virginia lawmakers approved legislation that could enable a casino in Tysons, but the move has drawn strong opposition from Fairfax officials and residents. Local leaders have criticized the proposal as overriding community preferences.
Why It Matters:
The significant local opposition could lead Gov. Abigail Spanberger to veto the bill.
Massachusetts iGaming Effort Stalls
After one bill died last week, Massachusetts lawmakers failed to advance another two online casino bills this week, shelving iGaming efforts for 2026.
Why It Matters:
Rep. David Muradian, the sponsor for HB 4431, said that while the bill failed, it sparked a much-needed conversation about iGaming. He plans to re-file a bill next session.
No Vote on Maryland iGaming
While the House Ways and Means Committee advanced HB 295, it did not vote on HB 1255, which would authorize a voter referendum on iGaming, and HB 1343, which establishes an iGaming framework.
Given that the crossover date for bills to pass their original chamber is March 23, the efforts are likely dead for this year.
There are also separate efforts in the Senate, but they haven’t seen any movement either.
Why It Matters:
This would mark the fourth consecutive session in which Maryland’s iGaming efforts have fallen short. The closest they got was in 2024, when the House passed a bill, but it stalled in the Senate.
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