We have a new week’s worth of gambling news here! Starting with the newest states to legalize online gambling! Both Maine and Kansas have regulated internet sports betting, opening the web based gambling doors to all sorts of possibilities? But which state will say “Yes” to online sports betting next?
Earlier this month Maine became the 34th state to pass sports betting legislation. Then about two weeks later Kansas decided to legalize online gambling as well, becoming the 35th state with web based sports bets. So the logical question on everyone’s mind is what state will be next?
There are now just 15 states with no legal sports betting, either online or in casinos. Of those 15, we can eliminate Utah (where gambling will send you to hell) and several additional states where sports betting legislation has already dies this year. Then, there seems to be little interest (this year) in states like Texas, Idaho, and Alaska.
That leaves us with just three contenders to legalize online gambling this year. So let’s begin with Massachusetts, where everyone from legislators to the governor seems to want sports betting, but no one knows how to get all parties on the same page. Disagreements over tax dollars have most likely derailed any hopes on internet betting there this year.
Minnesota, on the other hand, came really damn close to approving sports betting legislation just a few weeks ago! However, the State House and Senate could never quite get on the same page. Time ran out, and now there will be no sports betting there for 2022.
That means only the possibility of California sports betting remains. And while two sports betting measures will be on the ballot this fall, there is no way that any form of gambling expansion happens before the end of the year… even if one of the measures is passed.
