This week has been eventful for gambling legislation across the United States, featuring significant developments in Kentucky and Virginia, along with ongoing discussions about sweepstakes and prediction market bills.
In Kentucky, lawmakers successfully overrode Governor Andy Beshear's veto of HB 904, a comprehensive gambling bill that raises the legal betting age to 21 and establishes regulations for daily fantasy sports (DFS). This legislation also prohibits licensed operators from engaging with prediction markets. The bill was passed just before the 2026 legislative session adjourned, aligning Kentucky with the majority of states that set the legal betting age at 21.
Virginia's Governor Abigail Spanberger took a different approach by vetoing two gambling expansion bills aimed at legalizing skill games and a casino referendum in Fairfax County. She cited insufficient community support and the lack of a centralized gaming regulator as her reasons. However, she did sign bills to regulate DFS, indicating a preference for establishing a regulatory framework before considering further gaming expansions, including iGaming.
In terms of sweepstakes legislation, Louisiana is making strides with bills HB 883 and HB 53 targeting dual-currency sweepstakes casinos and illegal gambling operations, respectively. HB 883 has passed the House and is set to move to the Senate. Meanwhile, Tennessee's HB 1885, which aims to ban online sweepstakes games utilizing virtual currency, is preparing for a vote on the House floor. Oklahoma's SB 1589 is also gaining traction, amending state gambling laws to include online casino offerings.
As these developments unfold, the landscape of U.S. gambling legislation continues to evolve, reflecting a growing interest in regulating unregulated gaming activities.