After a year in which no US jurisdiction expanded legal digital sports betting or igaming through the state legislature, lawmakers in Michigan and Ohio tried last-ditch efforts at changes or expansions. And lawmakers in South Carolina and Texas pre-filed betting bills ahead of the 2025 sessions.
When the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, gambling bills in Michigan and Ohio will die. And there is no clear indication that lawmakers in either state will try again in 2025.
On the flip side, lawmakers in South Carolina and Texas pre-filed legal sports betting bills. Those bills are expected to be entertained during the 2025 sessions, although they lack the backing or momentum usually associated with gambling bills that succeed.
In South Carolina, the legislature has dabbled in sports betting, but since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, there’s been no consensus or clear pathway. This time around, the legislature will have a constitu..