The state of Georgia has long been one of the top markets for offshore betting sites. It is the eighth most populated state in the US and currently has no domestic wagering options.

While prominent Georgians were hoping to pass a new bill allowing domestic sportsbooks, the state legislature has elected to forego voting for yet another legislative session.

House Bill 686 was a legislative act designed to permit retail and mobile sports wagering by extending the Georgia Lottery’s authority. The adjacent House Resolution 450 would have also put the issue before voters; however, both the Bill and the Resolution are dead.

Rep. Chuck Martin of Alpharetta told the media that the legislation came in late, and lawmakers weren’t there yet. He also stated, “We’ll keep working with people and trying to do what’s in the state’s best interest.”

Georgia’s Sportsbook Potential

Georgia has over 11 million residents and is considered a top legislative target for domestic sportsbooks alongside California and Texas. Today, 39 states (+ Washington D.C.) have domestic sports betting options.

With three professional sports teams and several prominent college teams, Georgia could benefit from the additional revenue generated by licensing domestic sportsbooks. Additionally, several polls conducted throughout the state indicate that most residents favor passing domestic sports betting bills.

Online Sports Betting For GA residents

The state of Georgia has been allowing offshore sportsbooks to service their players since the late 1990s, as no laws make them illegal. While it is technically not legal, no laws forbid their access or create punishments for gambling online.

It is estimated that nearly 300,000 online sports betting accounts will remain active among GA residents in 2025. Popular wagering options include the NFL, NCAA, MLS, and NBA, as the state has a professional team in each of those leagues.

Until a domestic sports betting bill is passed in Georgia, Georgians only have the offshore option. While some people are wary of offshore sites, their concerns are often unwarranted, as the sites we vet and recommend adhere to tougher regulations from world-renowned gaming authorities that go above and beyond to ensure player protection.

However, if you choose to gamble online, make sure that you start small and never wager more than you can afford to lose. There is a reason so many of the sites we play and recommend have been around for several decades, and it’s not because they rip people off; it’s because they offer a quality service and fast “real money” payouts.

Two bids for the coveted and highly sought-after New York City casino license, which will be awarded later this year, have scratched their plans due to vastly different reasons.

Both Wynn Resorts and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation recently announced that they will no longer seek an NY casino license. However, there are still plenty of contenders in the running, including Bally’s and Caesars. Other contenders are also seeking the one casino license believed to be up for grabs.

New York recently approved three additional downstate casino licenses that will be awarded in Q4 of 2025. Two licenses are expected to go to established racinos, the Aqueduct and Yonkers Raceway. However, nothing is promised, and the bidding market is still full of high rollers looking to transform the local gaming options.

Wynn Resorts Drops NYC Casino Plans

A Wynn Resorts representative told news sources that the company has surrendered to “years of persistent opposition.” The company was planning on a posh Manhattan casino in Hudson Yard. They blamed the withdrawal on the rezoning process.

Las Vegas Sands Will No Longer Pursue NYC Casino Licensing

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation was the first big player to withdraw its bid in April 2025. The announcement, alongside its Q1 earnings report, stated that they are looking for a third party to take over the Nassau Coliseum casino conversion project. The Sands Corp. blamed the possibility of competition from iGaming, or online casino games, for dropping their bid.

MGM Resorts and Resorts World are considered leading contenders for securing two of the three licenses due to their existing gaming operations, which include slots only, without live tabletop games.

Online Casinos In New York

Today, there are only a handful of states that have online casinos operating from inside the US, and New York isn’t one of them. However, online casinos outside the states have accepted NY players since the early 2000s. While some international brands have elected not to service the state’s residents, plenty of reputable online casino apps will be accessible in 2025.

Several states have recently proposed allowing state-licensed casinos to operate online; however, no legislation has been passed so far this legislative season.

One of the most influential Republicans is drafting a House bill that would permit Ohio residents to engage in online gambling beyond sports betting. The legislation could soon enable Ohio players to access virtual poker or other casino games on their phones or laptops.

Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) has confirmed that he is working on a bill to establish iGaming in Ohio and generate additional revenue for the state. Stewart is the chair of the House Finance Committee and the sponsor of House Bill 96, the House version of the two-year state budget.

Republicans approved House Bill 96 after making significant changes to Governor Mike DeWine’s initial budget, including removing a doubling of the tax on sports gambling operators intended to create a sports facilities fund.

State Legislators Show Signs Of Support

State legislators are not new to the concept of casino-style games or lottery games online. Two years ago, a commission was established in the current budget and approved to investigate the idea. A report was issued last July.

Three Republican lawmakers on that panel stated in the report that other states that legalized iGaming, iLottery, or both experienced “substantial increases in tax revenues generated with greater participation.” However, Representatives Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp..), Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), and former Representative Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) also observed that in-person sales of lottery games increased as well.

Lawmakers noted that additional tax revenue benefits to the state and funding could be provided to the K-12 education system, and should not be overlooked. However, lawmakers cautioned that implementing iGaming or iLottery should not negatively impact Ohio’s existing brick-and-mortar casinos and racinos. The industry has expressed concerns about how internet gambling might affect traffic at its four casinos and seven racinos.

The Ohio Senate is reviewing the budget and considering an iGaming bill. House Republicans had removed DeWine’s tax increases on sports gambling operators, marijuana, and cigarettes, stating they were not interested in raising any taxes.

However, the House budget did not include an income tax reduction. An income tax cut or revision has been included in the last seven state budgets.

Offshore Casinos Operating To OH Players

For most Ohio players, the addition of domestic online casino and poker services will just expand their options, as offshore casinos have been accepting players since the late 1990s.

Offshore casinos operate from outside the state to avoid local laws and restrictions enforced on domestic services. In Ohio, there are no gambling laws that explicitly make online gambling illegal; however, laws are preventing domestic casinos from operating online in the state.

Popular online casino games include blackjack betting, roulette, video poker, live dealer games, slots, and specialty games. Ohio players also like the incorporation of cryptocurrencies as the digital assets offer higher bonuses, and of course, crypto payouts.