In February 2022, New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced S.B. 8412, a bill that would legalize online casino gaming (also known as “iGaming”) in New York. If passed, the Bill would give the New York State Gaming Commission (the Commission) the authority to issue iGaming “registrations” to (1) the state’s licensed commercial casinos; and (2) any New York-based American Indian Tribe that has entered into a valid tribal-state gaming compact and executed a “mobile interactive gaming wagering” agreement with the Commission. Each casino/tribal registrant would be permitted to offer up to two individually-branded iGaming platforms. Under the bill, casino/tribal registrants could either operate their own iGaming platforms or contract with third-party platform operators who could conduct iGaming operations on their behalf. As a condition of registration, each casino/tribal registrant would be required to pay a one-time fee of $2 million, and each third-party iGaming platform operator would be required to pay a one-time fee of $10 million. continue reading
Online Casino Gaming Archives
Arkansas Legalizes Online Sports Betting as State’s Joint Budget Committee Approves Amended Rules
On February 22, 2022, the Arkansas Joint Budget Committee (Committee) legalized mobile/online sports betting in the state of Arkansas by approving the proposed amendments to the state’s casino gaming rules. As we reported previously, on December 30, 2021, the Arkansas Racing Commission (Commission) voted to amend the state’s casino gaming rules to allow online/mobile sports betting throughout the state. Shortly thereafter, the Commission asked Arkansas Legislative Council to hold off on approving the amended rules. However, as shown by the Committee’s approval today, the Arkansas legislature was eager to move forward with the launch of online sports betting. continue reading
US Department of Interior Approves Connecticut’s Expanded Gaming Compacts
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior approved Connecticut’s amended state-tribal gaming compacts with the Mohegan and Mashantucket-Pequot Tribes, bringing Connecticut another step closer to an expanded gaming “launch.” As we reported previously, the amended compacts were negotiated alongside the state’s new expanded gaming law and allow the Tribes to offer sports betting and daily fantasy sports contests on tribal land. Although the expanded gaming law was enacted in May 2021, its provisions do not take effect until the Department approves the amended compacts and publishes notice of the decisions in the Federal Register.
Connecticut Enacts Emergency Sports Betting and iGaming Regulations, Awaits Federal Approval of Amended State-Tribal Gaming Compacts
On Tuesday, August 31, Connecticut’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee approved a set of emergency sports betting and iGaming regulations, which will be effective for the next 180 days while the state finalizes its permanent regulations. continue reading