5 States Where Online Casinos Could Become Legal in 2025
From Maryland to Louisiana, Here Are Five States Eyeing Online Casino Legalization in 2025
Five States Eyeing the Jackpot
The ever-growing online casino industry has been expanding ever since Delaware legalized online gambling in 2012. Since then, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Rhode Island have all followed suit, allowing online casinos to operate in their states. Given the success these states have seen, it looks like more states may soon jump on the trend. Here are five states that could legalize online casinos in 2025.
Maryland
As of now, online casinos have not been legalized in Maryland… yet. That’s right—in 2025, The Old Line State may finally join its neighbors in offering legal online gambling. Legislation has been introduced to place a referendum on the general election ballot in November 2025. So, Marylanders, cross your fingers—this dream may soon become a reality!
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The bill to watch is SB0340—if approved by voters, online casino gambling in Maryland would become legal (meaning legit gambling sites would pop up instead of scammy ones). This is excellent casino news for someone living in Las Vegas who’s been flirting with the idea of moving to Maryland. I may not be able to take the neon lights with me, but a little casino in my pocket? Magical.
New Hampshire
Senator Timothy Lang has been at the forefront of efforts to legalize online casinos in New Hampshire. In 2023, a bill was proposed to allow online casino games—including poker, roulette, and blackjack—to anyone physically located in the state and over 17 years old.
Sadly, the legislation has hit some serious roadblocks. The biggest one? Cordish Companies, which opposes the bill, received approval to build a $200 million casino in Salem, New Hampshire. Womp womp.
But honestly, isn’t this just delaying the inevitable? Pretty much everything is digital now. And just because I can buy everything from Amazon doesn’t mean I don’t still skip around Target for fun. Isn’t there enough demand to support both? Whatever the case, New Hampshire is a big “maybe” as of now.
Louisiana
Like many states in the U.S., Louisiana recently legalized online sports betting, and the natural next step seems to be online casinos, right? That’s what the Bayou State is hoping for, anyway. While legislators have faced pushback, they’re still fighting for it, arguing that the illegal online casino industry is siphoning tax dollars away from the state. Hopefully, 2025 is the year!
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Illinois
In November 2023, gross gaming revenue for regulated iGaming markets in the U.S. hit $557.2 million—and Illinois has been trying to get in on the action.
Since 2023, Illinois lawmakers have been working to legalize online casinos after seeing their neighboring states succeed. Senator Cristina Castro and Rep. Edgar Gonzalez have been leading the charge, hoping to stimulate the economy. And even though online casinos remain illegal in Illinois for now, they’re not giving up. In 2025, they’re continuing their push to get iGaming bills passed for new casino online USA sites.
Virginia
2025 might be the year Old Dominion gives us new gambling laws. On Jan. 8 2025, Senator Locke introduced Senate Bill 827, which would expand Virginia’s gambling framework by allowing its existing licensed casino operators to offer online gaming.
However, there’s a catch—this bill would only allow the Virginia Lottery Board to issue online gaming licenses to the state’s four current casino operators: Caesars Virginia, Golden Eagle Corp., Hard Rock Bristol, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth. So while Virginia might be getting new online casinos, it’s looking like a closed-door party for existing operators—at least for now.
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