The thought of sports betting in Hawaii seems like a pipe dream. The state’s has long been perceived as having a firm stance in opposition to all forms of gambling. But, in one of the most surprising stories in recent weeks, Legal Sports Report says that Hawaii has emerged as being among the latest US states to present a bill that would pave the way for legal sports betting. Bill H 1107, if passed into law, will see the inauguration of a dedicated body – the Hawaii Sports Wagering Corporation which will regulate the state’s sports betting industry. The bill…

Washington DC sports betting has moved a step closer after Mayor Muriel Bowser effectively signaled a two-month countdown to the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act coming into law. Bowser approved the act January 23, just over a month after the DC Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation. Following the mayors approval, the act will now undergo a 60-day Congressional review before coming into force. Jack Evans, who originally submitted the bill in September, had previously said that sports betting could be launched before the start of the Major League Baseball season in April. However, in reality, the launch…

Massachusetts sports betting bills are flying, as a trio of bills were introduced by lawmakers on Wednesday. This after Governor Charlie Baker voiced his support earlier in the week. Separate documents that proposed legalizing online and retail betting, allowing only existing casinos to offer betting and the commissioning of a gaming impact study were filed ahead of Friday’s deadline for the 2019 session. The most ambitious of Massachusetts sports betting bills is SD 903 put forward by Sen Brendan Crighton, which would legalize both retail and mobile operations in Massachusetts. The state has a population of 6.9m, and is home…

Pennsylvania gaming regulators are warning their online licensees to ensure their operations are compliant with the new US Department of Justice opinion on the 1961 Wire Act. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued a memo to its online gambling licensees – none of whom have actually been cleared to launch their local sites – giving them 30 days in which to clarify how their individual operations might be affected by the DOJ’s new view on the Wire Act. On Monday, the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel made public a new legal opinion that the 1961 Wire Act…

Governor Charlie Baker introduced a new proposal on Thursday that aims to legalize Massachusetts sports betting, and tax those bets on professional sports both online and at casinos. The law would allow other entities to be licensed to offer the modality as well. Baker detailed that he would file legislation to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) to license the three casino operators in the state to offer on-site and online sports betting. This legislation would also pave the way for other operators, such as daily fantasy sports (DFS) entities to be licensed for sports betting. “Our legislation puts forth…

Don’t look now, but another state has an eye on gambling. Tennessee sports betting has jumped onto the radar in the form of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. When the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the federal betting sports ban last year, all experts expected a torrent of state legislation to follow. Tennessee is proving them right, with a new proposed bill in the works. “Local Memphis” reports the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act will give local governments the right to decide if they want sports betting locations in their area. If approved, local communities could “then petition…