As Rhode Island became the seventh U.S. state to launch internet gambling this week, industry experts at an online gambling conference predicted that several more states would join the trend in the near future.
During the Next.io forum on internet gambling and sports betting, panelists mentioned New York and Maryland as likely candidates to start offering online casino games soon. They also noted that despite the difficulties in reaching an agreement between commercial and tribal casinos and card rooms, California’s market is too large to ignore.
Rob Heller, CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital, said, “Some of the dream is not quite fulfilled, which creates some opportunity.”
Currently, only seven states offer online casino games: New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and now Rhode Island. Nevada offers internet poker but not online casino games.
Shawn Fluharty, a West Virginia state delegate, and Brandt Iden, a former Michigan state representative, both acknowledged the challenges in passing online casino legislation. While 38 states and Washington, D.C., offer sports betting, only seven have legalized internet casino gambling.
One of the main concerns among lawmakers is the potential impact on revenue for existing brick-and-mortar casinos. However, industry executives argue that online gambling can complement in-person gambling, with Fluharty noting that four casinos opened in Pennsylvania after the state began offering internet casino gambling.
To encourage wider adoption of internet gambling, panelists suggested emphasizing the tax revenue it generates and highlighting programs to combat problem gambling. New York state senator Joseph Addabbo recently introduced legislation to allocate at least $6 million a year to problem gambling programs.
Despite the challenges, experts believe that more states will eventually legalize online gambling, with California being a prime candidate due to its size and potential tax revenue. However, others, like BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, disagree, citing the ongoing disputes among tribal and commercial gambling operations in California and Texas’s long-standing resistance to online gambling.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.