iGaming Potential Growth in the South During 2024?
Get the lowdown on iGaming in 2024 from the Southern states!
Who's talking about expanding online gambling in key Southern states like Tennessee and Louisiana in 2024? Not a peep from the gaming regulators yet! As of now, only a handful of states across the nation have legalized iGaming with a majority still in the shadows.
Nationwide, you can legally wager online in just six states, while sports betting is live and kicking in 37 states and Washington D.C., a clear indication that iGaming has room to grow. Though many politicians have predicted it's a challenge to approve betting measures during an election year, 2024 could still see legislatures across the country taking a stab at legalizing iGaming.
So, what's the deal in Tennessee? Mary Beth Thomas, boss lady of the state's Sports Wagering Council, says she's not in the know about any plans to legalize iGaming in the state. The legislative session kicks off in Nashville on January 9 and runs till April 25. With mobile sports betting already legal in Tennessee, and casinos MIA, Tennesseans are still waiting for iGaming action.
Cross the Gulf Coast, and Louisiana's legislative session doesn't start until later in the year. Ex-state senator Ronnie Johns, who chairs the Gaming Control Board, says he hasn't heard anything about iGaming either. Louisiana already has a thriving gambling industry, and a new governor is set to take office in January, so we might have some news by February or March.
Further down the coast, lawmakers in Mississippi have shot down legislative attempts to legalize iGaming, including off-site mobile sports betting. The state is swarming with casinos, but online betting outside the property walls is a no-go.
Neighboring Arkansas is also MIA on the iGaming front, with no public proposals put forth. Across the country, online gaming advocates like New York state Sen. Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens, claim that iGaming platforms can boost brick-and-mortar casinos and generate even more state revenue than sports betting. In Addabbo's opinion, iGaming is "inevitable" in New York at some point.
So, are you ready to roll the dice and see where the iGaming journey takes us? Stay tuned to this channel for updates and expert insights. Don't forget to sign up to keep up with the latest in gambling news and offers from across the nation!
Larry Henry, gaming legend
Sources:
- Legislative efforts in Arkansas: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- iGaming Proponents: Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. official site
- Overall iGaming legislation: American Gambling Association- Selective Use of Enrichment Data: Mentioned the general interest in iGaming in Arkansas and Illinois, along with development in other states in the Midwest and Northeast and the overall landscape of iGaming legislation in the U.S.
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- Despite expectations, the Southern states of Tennessee and Louisiana haven't revealed plans to legalize iGaming, as mentioned in the upcoming sessions in Nashville and Louisiana.
- In 2024, legislatures across the nation could attempt to legalize iGaming, taking inspiration from the challenges faced by sports betting during an election year.
- Across the nation, only six states allow online gambling, while sports betting is legal in 37 states and Washington D.C., indicating there's still room for iGaming to expand.
- In the near future, iGaming advocates might propose new measures in states like New York, believing that online gaming platforms can generate more state revenue than sports betting.
