iGaming Weekly Recap (January 20–26, 2025): Does Anyone Else Have a Bill to Propose?

Last week, Kalshi made headlines with the launch of nationwide sports event contracts. These contracts, regulated as financial instruments by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), let users buy and sell predictions on sports outcomes. Want to bet on which team will win the Super Bowl? Now you can, with a twist that feels more like trading than traditional betting. The timing of this launch doesn’t feel random. It comes right after Donald Trump’s inauguration, a presidency platforms like Kalshi seem to view with high hopes. Even more telling, Kalshi recently named Donald Trump Jr. as a strategic advisor earlier this year.

Adding to the intrigue, a key court hearing took place just a week earlier in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case pitted the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) against Kalshi, focusing on the legality of the platform’s contracts tied to Congressional election outcomes. As we mentioned in last week’s Weekly Recap, election betting, sports event contracts, and the expansion of crypto-based platforms are shaping up to be some of the hottest topics in the industry this year.

ESPN Bet has officially launched in Washington, D.C., bringing its operations to 20 U.S. jurisdictions. Through a partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, ESPN Bet will gain prominent exposure at local sports venues and during broadcasts of Washington teams’ games. The operator continues to push for a larger share of the U.S. sports betting market, leveraging ESPN’s strong brand recognition and PENN Entertainment’s operational expertise. While ESPN Bet held just 2.8% of the market at the end of 2024, several moves in December and January signal a more aggressive strategy for growth.

This might be the week’s most exciting partnership. BetMGM has signed a multi-year deal with Fremantle, the production company behind The Price is Right and Family Feud. Together, they’ll create casino games inspired by these beloved formats. The agreement includes developing slot machines and table games based on The Price is Right, as well as interactive games themed around Family Feud. BetMGM will also sponsor select episodes of both shows, blending gaming with classic entertainment in a whole new way.

Another standout partnership this week is the multi-year collaboration between the Philadelphia Eagles and BetRivers. The deal brings exclusive perks to fans in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Highlights include access to a VIP lounge at Lincoln Financial Field, Eagles-themed casino games, and game-related promotions. Both Eagles and BetRivers representatives emphasized their commitment to delivering unique experiences and exclusive events for fans, making this partnership a win for sports enthusiasts and bettors alike.

Bonus: New Year Legislative Whirlwind

Is there an official record for the number of sports betting and online casino bills introduced in a single week? Last week would certainly be a strong contender, as legislation flooded state legislatures like Hogwarts letters pouring into the Dursley’s house in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Mississippi (HB 682), Nebraska (LB 421), and even Hawaii (HB 1308, SB 1569, SB 1572, SB 1507) have recently made moves to legalize online sports betting. Interestingly, bills in Mississippi and Hawaii also include provisions for fantasy sports. For all three states, this isn’t their first attempt to tackle sports betting legislation. Each has faced previous setbacks in trying to move the needle. Will lawmakers’ past experiences be enough to finally overcome resistance and make progress this time?

A new bill has been introduced in Minnesota, a state seen as one of the most likely to make progress on sports betting legalization. Senator Jeremy Miller has unveiled the comprehensive Sports Betting Act 3.0. The bill gives Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations exclusive rights to operate sportsbooks and sets a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue. However, considering earlier discussions this year that portrayed sports betting as inherently harmful and suggested steep tax rates, it’s hard to predict if this version will advance further than Senator Miller’s last year’s attempt.

Hopes for progress in North Dakota have already fizzled out. Bill HCR 3002, which aimed to put the legalization of sports betting to a 2026 referendum, failed to gain traction. The bill has been shelved for now, and it’s unlikely we’ll see any movement on legal sports betting in North Dakota this year. Similarly, Virginia’s SB 827, which sought to legalize online casinos, has also failed to move forward.

Massachusetts has delivered a bombshell with its latest proposed gambling legislation. When a tax hike from 20% to 51% isn’t the most controversial part of a bill, you know its chances of success are slim. Bill SD 1657 includes a complete ban on in-play betting and prop bets, mandatory affordability checks, and a monthly betting cap of $10,000. Senator John F. Keenan of Norfolk and Plymouth has taken one of the harshest stances on sports betting seen in recent memory—no small feat, considering the competition.

Massachusetts has also seen new proposals, HD 4084 and SD 2240, aiming to legalize online casinos in the state. These bills suggest a 20% tax rate on gaming revenue, but whether that rate will be acceptable to lawmakers? Concerns about the bills’ chances of success seem rather well-founded.

Senator Joseph Addabbo is making another push to legalize online casinos in New York. His proposed bill, SB 2614, sets a 30.5% gross gaming revenue tax and includes several player safeguards. It would permit online poker, table games, slots, and lottery ticket sales, but operators would be limited to one branded platform or “skin.” While the proposal seems well-reasoned, resistance to online casinos in the Empire State remains strong. Both representatives of land-based casinos and a significant portion of residents continue to oppose the idea.

Maryland (SB 340) and Indiana (HB 1432) are cautiously exploring the possibility of legalizing iGaming. While both states are taking tentative steps, progress could pave the way for a broader expansion of online gaming in the future. Meanwhile, New Jersey is targeting the gray market of sweepstakes casinos. Bill A5196 aims to legalize sweepstakes in the state and establish a licensing process for operators, providing clearer regulations and oversight.

We keep you informed about legislative developments on US iGaming Hub. Follow our platform to stay up-to-date with the latest news, and don’t miss our Weekly Recap, where we bring you the most important highlights from the past week.