50 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JULY/AUGUST 2025 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MARCH/APRIL 2024 PULSE experiences. Only a handful of states have legalized real-money online casino gambling, but that number may soon grow. Several states are actively considering new legislation or revisiting previous efforts to allow online casinos. Before we dive into the up-and-coming contenders, take note of the “Magnificent Seven” states where online casinos are legal and operational: Connecticut – Legal and live since October 19, 2021 Delaware – Legal since 2012 Michigan – Legal and live since January 22, 2021 New Jersey – Sites for online Casino in NJ have been legal and regulated since November 2013, offering licensed real-money gaming online Pennsylvania – Legal since October 26, 2017, with online platforms launching in July 2019 West Virginia – Legal and live since July 15, 2020 Rhode Island – Legal as of June 2023, with the first platform launching in March 2024 These states serve as models for others considering legalization. With structured oversight, responsible gambling protocols, and secure platforms, they have helped normalize the idea that online casinos can operate in a well-regulated environment. Delaware online gaming revenue rises 115.8% YoY in May Nevada board gives initial approval to IGT-Everi megadeal Final regulatory approval is expected to be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on June 26. Apollo officials said final approval from the last regulator, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, also is scheduled June 26 and the deal is expected to close July 1. Apollo is backing the deal with the resources of $20 billion in committed funds. Apollo managing member Daniel Cohen explained details of the transaction in a 90-minute presentation. The last Nevada Gaming Control Board meeting under Chairman Kirk Hendrick’s tenure opened on Wednesday with a complex and lengthy regulatory review – and initial approval – of a corporate merger that could reshape the gaming supplier landscape. Apollo is merging IGT’s gaming business with Everi’s gaming and financial technology business. The new entity will be taken private while retaining the IGT name. IGT’s sizeable lottery business is being spun off into its own publicly traded company under a different brand. IGT, one of the most storied brands in gaming, has seen two formidable competitors emerge over the years in Aristocrat and Light & Wonder. Aristocrat, by most accounts, has long held the top spot and L&W has been on a multi-year hot streak since divesting its own lottery and sports betting divisions. IGT could be considered third among them, with a widening gap. Cohen acknowledged this on Wednesday, saying that the combined business “has a margin profile that is significantly lower than our largest peers, which, you obviously know, are Light & Wonder and Aristocrat”. He said Apollo will “look to close that gap under our ownership”. On Monday, Fitch Ratings maintained Everi’s “BB-” long-term default rating and said it expects the new entity to perform well. Additionally, the agency said that the combined slot machine base of nearly 70,000 units would already eclipse both Aristocrat and L&W. The merger, Fitch said, “should enable more cross-selling opportunities between the two entities”. FanDuel, Kalshi Reportedly Discuss Partnership America’s leading sports betting operator is exploring a dive into the world of prediction market outcomes. Kalshi is a federally regulated prediction market platform that lets users trade contracts on the outcomes of real-world events—like elections, weather, or sports—much like a financial exchange. Unlike sportsbooks, Kalshi is overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and operates nationwide, including in states where sports betting is illegal. Users buy “yes” or “no” contracts based on whether an event will occur, but the platform doesn’t offer traditional bets like point spreads or player props. Kalshi's legal status and unique structure have drawn interest from companies like FanDuel, which is exploring a potential partnership. Inspired Entertainment launches first branded hybrid dealer roulette game Delta’s Billion Dollar Bet: Airline Surveys Passengers About Bringing Sports Gambling Onboard Nevada passes bill to handcuff unauthorized gambling operators Both chambers of the Nevada legislature have now passed a bill that would equip the state with the means to further target and act against unapproved gambling operators. New Jersey bill seeks to expand casino gaming beyond Atlantic City A New Jersey state senator has introduced a bill that would allow casino gaming at two major racetracks outside of Atlantic City, Report: Japanese Gamblers Risked $45 Billion on Illegal Online Casino Sites in 2024 Gambling in Japan remains limited to the state-run lottery, the sports lottery, and parimutuel wagering on horse racing and motorsports. That will change in the coming years when MGM Resorts opens MGM Osaka, Japan’s first regulated brick-andmortar casino. Japan’s limited gambling market hasn’t prevented millions of Japanese people from gambling unlawfully. A new report from Japan’s Council of Sports Ecosystem Promotion suggests that people in Japan bet 6.45 trillion yen (US$45 billion) on illegal, unregulated gambling websites in 2024. Unlike in most legal sports betting markets where private operators run the industry, Japan’s national government possesses a monopoly on sports gambling through its sports lottery. The Sports Promotion Lottery, or “toto,” raises money for the Sports Promotion Fund. The government-run sports lottery, however, limits how much a bettor can risk and therefore win/lose. That’s caused many millions of Japanese to take their action to offshore sportsbook platforms and apps where better odds, larger bets, and more promotions are offered. Apollo’s $6.3 billion acquisition brings IGT back to Las Vegas in major gaming industry merger Eight casino bidders race to meet deadline in high-stakes New York license contest
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