Updated May 2026Industry Intelligence

Gaming Regulatory Calendar

State-by-state legalization timelines, license award dates, and iGaming expansion tracking. Where casino jobs will exist in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

States Tracking

80,000+

Jobs at Stake (pending)

iGaming States Live

Q4 2025

New York License Decision

High-Impact Markets to Watch

Texas

Active LegislationCommercial Casino + iGaming

SB 21 / HJR 155

45,000+

est. jobs

$5B+

annual GGR

SB 21 authorizes 3 destination resort casinos in the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio MSAs. Employment projections: 15,000 jobs per property during construction + 3,000"“5,000 permanent per property. Largest unlegalized gaming market in the US.

Timeline

Legislature meets Jan"“Jun 2025 (biennial). If passed, voter referendum Nov 2025. First openings 2028"“2029.

Bidding Operators

Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock

Dallas-Fort WorthHoustonSan AntonioProbability: Moderate

New York

License Process ActiveCommercial Casino (3 Licenses)

Downstate Casino Licensing (Gaming Facility Location Board)

15,000+

est. jobs

$3B+

annual GGR

3 downstate commercial casino licenses at $500M each. Each property projected 5,000 jobs. The NYC-area market would be among the top 5 gaming markets in the US by revenue within 5 years of opening.

Timeline

Applications submitted 2023"“2024. GFLB review ongoing. Award decision expected 2025"“2026.

Bidding Operators

MGM (at Yonkers), Wynn (at Hudson Yards), Sands (at Nassau Coliseum), Hard Rock (Times Square)

New York CityLong IslandYonkersProbability: High

Georgia

Active LegislationCommercial Casino + Lottery Expansion

HB 2 / SR 77

12,000+

est. jobs

$2.5B

annual GGR

Georgia has introduced casino legislation in multiple consecutive sessions. Atlanta metro is one of the largest unlegalized markets. Voter polls show 65%+ support but legislative leadership remains divided.

Timeline

Bills introduced 2025 session. Requires constitutional amendment (2/3 vote + voter referendum). Earliest: 2028.

Bidding Operators

Hard Rock, Caesars, MGM, Cordish

AtlantaSavannahAugustaProbability: Moderate

Missouri

Passed — ImplementationSports Betting (Launched Jan 2025)

Proposition A (Sports Betting) — Passed Nov 2024

800+

est. jobs

$250M+

annual GGR

Missouri voters approved sports betting in November 2024 after failed legislative efforts. Digital gaming compliance and trading roles added at all active Missouri operators. iGaming legislation not included.

Timeline

Mobile sports betting launched January 2025. Retail sportsbooks at existing casinos live Q1 2025.

Bidding Operators

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers

Kansas CitySt. LouisProbability: Completed

New York Downstate Casino License Timeline

Three commercial casino licenses for the New York City downstate market represent the largest single gaming employment event in the US in a decade. Each license is expected to generate 5,000 permanent jobs and $1B+ in annual GGR within 5 years of opening.

Q3 2022

NY Legislature authorizes 3 downstate commercial casino licenses

Q2 2023

Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) established and staffed

Q4 2023

RFA (Request for Applications) issued. $1M application fee required.

Q1 2024

Major applications submitted: MGM/Yonkers, Wynn/Hudson Yards, Hard Rock/Times Square, Sands/Nassau

Q2"“Q3 2024

GFLB community impact hearings in NYC, Long Island, and Yonkers

Q4 2024"“Q1 2025

Environmental reviews and impact studies submitted by applicants

Q2"“Q3 2025

GFLB deliberation and scoring of applications

Q4 2025"“Q1 2026

License award decision expected — 3 of 5+ applicants selected

2026"“2027

Licensing approved — construction begins. Hiring ramps up 12 months before opening.

2028"“2029

First NYC-area commercial casinos open. 5,000 jobs each.

State Legalization Tracker

State	Type	Status	Jobs	Note
Florida	iGaming Legislation	Pre-Legislative	3,000+	Seminole compact covers sports betting through 2036. Full iGaming bill possible 2026 — depends on Seminole Tribe negotiations.
Alabama	Commercial Casino + Lottery	Active Legislation	8,000+	Strong legislative push in 2025 session. Multiple competing bills. Cherokee poised as lead operator for northeast AL.
North Carolina	iGaming	Active Legislation	1,200+	Sports betting first full year was record-setting. iGaming bill faces opposition from tribal gaming interests.
Minnesota	Sports Betting (Tribal Only)	Active Legislation	600+	Tribal operators support exclusive online sports betting. Commercial operators excluded from proposal. Significant tribal employment implications.
California	Sports Betting	Failed / Stalled	4,000+	Tribal opposition to Prop 27 (commercial model) defeated it decisively. A tribal-only framework may advance in 2025"“2026 but commercial operators face sustained opposition.
Georgia	Sports Betting	Active Legislation	800+	Separate from casino legislation. Sports betting via lottery framework bill has broader support than full casino bill.
Ohio	iGaming	Pre-Legislative	1,500+	Ohio sports betting launched Jan 2023 with record results. iGaming bill discussions expected 2025.
Maine	Commercial Casino Expansion	Pre-Legislative	1,200+	Oxford Casino has been seeking expansion approvals. Additional gaming licenses periodically proposed.
Nebraska	Commercial Casino Expansion	Passed — Implementation	2,500+	Constitutional amendment passed 2020. Commercial gaming expanding at horse racing tracks across the state. Hiring ongoing.
Kentucky	Sports Betting + Historical Racing	Passed — Implementation	1,800+	Churchill Downs-driven expansion. Historical horse racing (HHR) machines growing rapidly — unique regulatory framework creates compliance jobs.
Idaho	Tribal Gaming Expansion	Pre-Legislative	400+	Coeur d'Alene Tribe and others actively expanding. Limited non-tribal commercial gaming path.

iGaming Legalization Tracker

State	Status	Launched	Operators	Annual Revenue	Note
New Jersey	Live	2013	18	$2,100M	Most mature iGaming market — regulatory template for all other states
Pennsylvania	Live	2019	14	$2,050M	Second-largest and fastest-growing — all major operators active
Michigan	Live	2021	15	$1,800M	Tribal + commercial mix unique to MI — compliance roles in high demand
West Virginia	Live	2020	5	$185M	Small market, 5 operators. Growth limited by population density.
Connecticut	Live	2021	3	$420M	Tribal-only — Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods licensed. DraftKings/FanDuel via tribal skin agreements.
Delaware	Live	2013	3	$62M	Pioneer state. Small market — limited employment impact.
Rhode Island	Live	2024	2	$88M	State lottery operated iGaming — limited private sector jobs.
New York	Active Legislation	N/A	—	—	iGaming bill introduced multiple times. Would be largest market nationally if passed.
Illinois	Active Legislation	N/A	—	—	Second-largest sports betting market — iGaming bill faces opposition from brick-and-mortar casinos.
Ohio	Pre-Legislative	N/A	—	—	Sports betting a major success — iGaming discussions likely 2025.
Indiana	Pre-Legislative	N/A	—	—	Mature sports betting market. iGaming feasibility study requested by legislature.
North Carolina	Active Legislation	N/A	—	—	iGaming bill introduced 2025 — early stage, tribal opposition expected.

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