Sports Betting News

A Georgia Senate Committee has voted against a proposal for a ballot initiative to legalize sports betting. Opponents continue to have concerns over the damage of problem gambling, which has led to the industry's failure to make much progress over the years.

Hawaii Sports Betting House Bill 1308 passed through the Finance Committee and is heading to the House Floor, but strong opposition remains ahead. If passed, it will head to the Senate, where a companion bill was recently deferred.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy proposed a 2026 budget that includes a tax hike for sports betting operators, though support among lawmakers appears scarce. The two largest obstacles to the proposal are the market’s long history of legal gambling and an upcoming election.

Maryland Senator Joanne Benson has introduced Senate Bill 1033 to ban sports betting. The proposal would shut down the legal market two years after it launched. The proposal comes as lawmakers grow concerned about the continued spike in problem gambling.

Alabama State Senator Greg Albritton sat down for an interview and said he would not propose sports betting legislation this session. The lawmaker found he didn’t have enough votes to pass a bill, making the effort a waste of time and money.

A pair of lawmakers have introduced a new bill to end a federal excise tax on sportsbooks established in 1951 to keep out illegal gambling operators. Supporters of the bill claim the IRS doesn’t know where the tax revenue generated is going.

A trio of Vermont State Representatives have introduced a new bill to re-enact a ban on sports betting to protect low-income bettors and their families. The bill will face an uphill battle after Vermont's impressive first year of a legal market.

Photo by Spc. Brandon C. Dyer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gov. Abbott has announced his support for House Joint Resolution 134, which would amend the Texas Constitution to allow for a legal sports betting market. The support puts the Governor at odds with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, one of the biggest opponents of sports betting.

Parent company Flutter Entertainment has reported that over 16 million wagers were placed on the NFL’s big game, setting a new record for Super Bowl Betting. The operator saw around 70,000 bets per minute at its busiest point.