US Online Gambling News Round-Up: January 2017

Finally, A Light at the End of the Tunnel for Delaware

Delaware's final online gambling numbers from 2016 have been released, and the results are good. Over the course of the year, the online gambling industry brought in nearly $3 million dollars in revenue, a 62% increase from last year. December specifically was a good month, hitting a revenue high of $300,000, a 29% increase from December 2015.

This news couldn't come at a better time. In 2013, Delaware became the third state to legalize online gambling, following New Jersey and Nevada, but it did not get off to a good start. Numbers disappointed from the beginning. But 2016 has given state lawmakers a reason to hope that the industry will continue to grow and that their efforts were not for naught.

Good News from Jersey Too

Earlier this month, New Jersey published its revenue from 2016, boasting a record high of $196.7 million. And, like Delaware, a record-breaking month of December with nearly $18.4 million in revenue.

Make Way For Massachusetts

Massachusetts looks like it is gearing up to fight the good fight for online gambling this year. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr has resuscitated a bill that would legalize online gambling in the state, and a separate bill from State Senator Jennifer Flanagan seeks to legalize online lottery sales.

But it won’t be smooth sailing, with a number of opponents already announcing their opposition. Notably, Attorney General Maura Healey has come out in strong opposition to online gambling, which means that prononents of the endeavor will have their work cut out for them.

Pennsylvania Living Large

Pennsylvania is also trying to get in on the online gambling action. Both Senator Kim Ward and Senator Jay Costa are working on separate bills that would legalize online gambling. If either bill is passed this year, Pennsylvania would become the largest state to have approved online gambling in the United States.