Panelists at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States’ summer meeting discussed obstacles to igaming legalisation in the US. They cited gaps in legislators’ understanding, limited constituent pressure and competing interests among labour, digital and land-based stakeholders.
The barriers identified by panelists may shape how operators and suppliers engage with state-level igaming debates.
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National Council of Legislators from Gaming States president Shawn Fluharty told tribal leaders that prediction-market companies could lobby state lawmakers if the US Supreme Court rules against their federal case for offering sports contracts. He argued that state licensing and regulation should apply, while conference chairman Victor Rocha criticised North Carolina’s planned 6% tax on net trading-fee revenue, compared with a 23% tax on online sports betting.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said President Donald Trump is not prioritising who regulates prediction markets, according to the report. Mulvaney discussed the federal-state dispute over sports event contracts at a gaming legislators’ meeting and predicted that the US Supreme Court would ultimately decide the question.
New York state senator Joe Addabbo discussed casino expansion, prediction markets and online gambling regulation in an interview. He said full-scale casino licences create employment and revenue opportunities, while also requiring attention to problem-gambling risks; the source says Resorts World has about a three-year lead over Bally's and Hard Rock as they build their casinos.
Caesars Digital president Eric Hession said the growth of untaxed sports prediction markets could encourage US states to legalise and tax online casino gaming. He also said Caesars is waiting for legal clarity before deciding whether to enter prediction markets.
Speakers at the NCLGS Winter Meeting warned that sweepstakes casinos may conflict with state gaming laws and discussed enforcement options in the United States. Gaming attorney Daniel Wallach said attorneys general opinions can support enforcement; industry representatives said operators are pursuing legislative strategies rather than court challenges.