igaming legislation: Unpacking the NCLGS proposed model in the US

At that time, former Florida state senator Steve Geller led the conversation. He laid out seven pillars that model legislation should include:

• Revenue generation
• Responsible gaming
• The cannibalisation question
• Advertising guidelines
• Licensing
• Age limits
• Data sharing

The current proposed model igaming legislation touches on all seven themes. It also calls for lawmakers to keep tax rates between 15%-25% of gross gaming revenue. Regulators are given critical powers – including setting application and renewal fees – that in many legal betting states are determined by the legislature. The draft model is open for public comment until 31 December, at which point a NCLGS committee will refine it and share it with lawmakers.

Legalising igaming isn’t easy

No US state legalised igaming in 2024. Lawmakers in Maryland held discussions, hearings and votes, but could not get the issue to the governor’s desk. A legal igaming bill was filed in Ohio in September and lawmakers in several other states say they will tackle the issue. Igaming is legal in seven US states – Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are the only three of the 10 biggest legal sports betting states to offer it.

The NCLGS proposed model igaming legislation wasn’t easy to come by. Council president Shawn Fluharty had hoped to have it ready by the start of August. But sources say coordinating state lawmakers across the country and trying to gain consensus on certain issues was tougher than expected.