USA Regulation Update: New Report Forecasts Online Gambling Growth for 2015

GamblingCompliance (GC) specialises in providing analytical services to the online gambling industry, and the company is currently in the headlines following the release of its latest report, entitled ‘US Internet Gambling in Focus: 2014 and 2015. Amidst detailed analysis, the crux of the report is that GC believes more states will think about legalising online gambling in 2015, while efforts for a federal ban are doomed to fail.

Three Gambling Outcomes Identified

In attempting to determine the future of the US online gambling market in 2015, GC came up with three possible outcomes. Starting with the worst-case scenario, this would result in no states passing online gambling legislation this year.

The second of the outcomes is more positive than the first, and it would see online gambling legalised in one location from California, Pennsylvania, or the US Virgin Island. California would not excite operators, though, as the state appears to favour legalisation for online poker but not online casinos.

Outcome number three is much brighter than the second, but once again features the two states and sole US jurisdiction listed above. However, this outcome would see two of those locations legalise online gambling in 2015.

The report took the time to point out that states considering legalisation should not go with a poker-only market. GC pointed to New Jersey statistics that showed online revenues have been declining for poker since legalisation, whereas they have risen for casino games.

Online Lottery Legalisation Expected

A more palatable prospect for US politicians would see online lottery sales expanded. GC foresees this as a distinct possibility, with 12 states having already adjusted legislation to permit online sales for lottery games. Consequently, the forecast for online lottery sales is decidedly bolder. GC believes that at least eight states will present bills, but the maximum could be as many as 11.