written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
23 Jul 2024
Journalist, Editorial Department
The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) in the United States is working on a universal bill aimed at legalizing iGaming across various states. This legislation is intended to serve as a foundation for regulatory frameworks in regions that choose to approve online casinos in 2025 or later.
The project has been in development for several months. Last week, the initiative was discussed at a forum in Pittsburgh, featuring regulators and other stakeholders.
Steve Geller, a former Florida state senator, presented at the event, stating that the current proposal includes a tax rate ranging from 15% to 25%. The average tax on gambling in the seven states where online casinos are already legalized stands at 19%.
According to Geller, the legislation aims to address seven key areas: revenue generation, responsible gaming, the impact on the land-based market, advertising regulations, licensing, age restrictions, and data sharing.
NCLGS President Sean Fluharty announced that the bill is expected to be presented to council members by August 1 of this year. Following that, it will be open for public comment for 30 days. Legislators will then review the feedback and revise the proposal as necessary. The final version is set to be considered at a meeting in New Orleans scheduled for December 12-15.
"We are trying to create a framework that will work in virtually any state," Fluharty remarked last week.
Currently, nearly forty states have legalized online sports betting. However, the iGaming sector is only legal in seven states: Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
For context, the total gross revenue from online casinos in these seven states reached $635 million in May 2024.
