Industry News For The Week Of January 26, 2025

Industry News

Regulated US sportsbooks are again gearing up for the biggest event on the NFL calendar: Super Bowl Sunday. The NFL season peaks on Feb. 9 with a powerhouse Super Bowl 59 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The event is projected to generate more than $1.5 billion in legal wagers nationwide. Nevada may be overtaken as the nation’s Super Bowl betting capital for the first time, with New York likely to take the top spot this year.

Hawaii

Rep. Daniel Holt has renewed his Hawaii sports betting efforts, filing HB 1308 to legalize the industry. Sen. Kim Decoite filed the Senate companion bill, SB 1569. If the legislation passes, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism will regulate the industry. Decoite also introduced SB 1572, which would create the Hawaii State Sports Wagering Commission within the department.

Indiana 

On Tuesday, the House Public Policy Committee advanced House Bill 1432 by a 9-2 vote. Legislators discussed the online casino legalization bill for more than three hours. It now moves to the Ways and Means Committee. The movement comes after Indiana Senate leadership said before the 2024 session that it would not entertain gambling expansion legislation.

New Hampshire

A new bill to legalize online casinos in New Hampshire has appeared in the state Senate, but the same issues that sank the last effort could be a factor again this year. While the 2025 legislation is substantively different from the 2023 bill, a recent study sponsored by the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Study Commission expresses the same concerns. SB 168 proposes altering the state code to allow the New Hampshire Lottery Commission to approve licenses for online gaming to no more than six and no fewer than three online gaming wagering platforms.

Texas

A new PAC ad campaign could signal positive momentum for Texas sports betting, but a familiar foe is holding strong. According to KVUE, the Texas Destination Resort Alliance is running ads asking Lone Star State lawmakers to allow voters their say on destination resorts. The ads come as discussions for casino gambling and online Texas sports betting heat up. The PAC is eager to see destination and casino resorts in Texas.