2013 Legislation Regarding Internet Gambling and Lotteries

Updated May 20, 2013
 
New Jersey became the third state in the U.S. to authorize internet gambling in February of this year.  California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Texas are hoping to join Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey and authorize online gambling in their states in 2013. Nevada also enacted modifications to their internet gambling law to allow for interstate compacts, among other provisions.  Pennsylvania has introduced two bills this session, one that would provide for internet gambling and one that would prohibit it.
 
Currently, Georgia and Illinois offer the sale of lottery tickets over the internet.  Florida and Massachusetts have introduced legislation to do the same and Illinois has introduced legislation authorizing further online lottery ticket sales.  Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma and Washington have also introduced legislation regarding internet gaming law.
 


California
SB 51
Status: 1/10/2013 – To Senate Committee on Governmental Organization
Establishes a framework to authorize intrastate Internet gambling. Authorizes eligible entities to apply to the Gambling Control Commission for a license to operate an intrastate Internet gambling Web site. Prohibits nonauthorized gambling games. Provides application procedures and fees. Creates a related oversight fund. Requires a report by the Bureau of State Audits to the Legislature that would detail the implementation of this bill.
 
SB 678
Status: 3/11/2013 – To Senate Committee on Governmental Organization
Authorizes the operation of Internet poker Web sites within the borders of this state. Requires the Gambling Control Commission to establish a regulatory framework for the licensure of eligible entities and the operation of Internet poker Web sites.

Florida
HB 275
Status: 3/5/2013 – Referred to House Committee on Regulatory Affairs
Relates to state lotteries; authorizes Department of the Lottery to create and administer program that provides for sale of lottery tickets online.

SB 266
Status: 3/5/2013 – Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations
Relates to state lotteries; authorizes the Department of the Lottery to create and administer a program that provides for the sale of lottery tickets online; authorizes the department to adopt rules.

Hawaii
HCR 223
Status: 4/12/2013 – Failed First Crossover Deadline – First Year of Biennieum
Requests the convening of a gambling task force to perform a social and financial analysis of legalized gambling in Hawaii.
Includes Internet gaming.
 
SB 768
Status: 3/7/2013 – Failed First Crossover Deadline – First Year of Biennium
Establishes the Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation for the purpose of conducting internet gambling in Hawaii; allocates proceeds to capital improvements at public schools and the University of Hawaii system, scholarships and educational loan repayments for medical students who practice in Hawaii for 10 years, support for the family practice rural residency program, watershed protection, and reduction and prevention of problem gambling.

Illinois
HB 1077
Status: 1/30/2013 – To House Committee on Rules
Creates the Internet Gaming Act; contains only a short title provision.
 
HB 1078
Status: 1/30/2013 – To House Committee on Rules
Creates the Internet Gaming Act; contains only a short title provision.
 
SB 1955
Status: Status: 05/14/2013 - Amendment No. 1 filed. Referred to Rules.
Amends the Lottery Law; allows the Lottery to offer Lucky Day Lotto, My3, Pick 3, and Pick 4 games through the Internet pilot program.
 
Iowa
SSB 1068
Status: 1/23/2013 – To Senate Committee on State Government
Permits licensees authorized to conduct gambling games to apply for and receive a license to conduct internet wagering on poker; concerns definitions, is amended; defines internet wagering as a method of wagering by which a person may establish an account, deposit money into the account, and use the account balance for wagering by utilizing electronic communication; also defines internet wagering service provider as a person who has entered into an agreement to conduct internet wagering.
 
Louisiana
HCR 3
Status: 5/1/2013 – To House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs
Requests a study of the feasibility and practicality of authorizing Internet gaming in Louisiana.
 
Maryland
HB 486
Status: 1/30/2013 – To House Committee on Ways and Means
Allows a person to conduct a home game, which is a game of chance or skill involving wagering that is conducted in a person's home and allows a player to compete directly against one or more players; prohibits a home game from involving a player's use of an electronic device that connects to the Internet; prohibits a person from benefiting financially in any way, directly or indirectly, other than from the winnings accrued by participating as a player in a home game.
 
SB 272
Status: 2/26/2013 – To House Committee on Ways and Means
Prohibits the Director of the State Lottery Agency, unless authorized by the General Assembly, from adopting regulations that would allow a person to purchase a State lottery ticket through an electronic device that connects to the Internet.

Massachusetts
SB 101
Status: 2/15/2013 – Filed as Senate Docket 473
Relates to lottery online products.
 
SB 197
Status: 2/15/2013 – Filed as Senate Docket 1768
Relates to gaming.
Provides for the licensure to conduct gaming operations via the internet.
 
Michigan
HB 4531
Status: 4/10/2013 – Introduced
Prohibits sale of lottery tickets over the internet.
 
SB 294
Status: 4/10/2013 – Introduced
Prohibits sale of lottery tickets over the internet.
 
Mississippi
HB 254
Status: 2/5/2013 – Died in Committee
Creates the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2013; makes findings regarding the authority of the state to regulate lawful internet gaming, in response to certain federal laws and recent action by the United States Department of Justice; sets forth definitions that apply to the provisions of the act; provides a process whereby the Mississippi gaming commission may issue internet wagering permits to gaming licensees.
 
New Jersey
AB 2578
Status: 2/26/2013 – ENACTED
Authorizes Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos under certain circumstances; includes gaming equipment; imposes a tax on Internet gaming gross revenues; relates to the investment alternative tax.
 
Nevada
AB 114
Status: 2/21/2013 - ENACTED
Revises provisions governing interactive gaming.
 
Oklahoma
SB 955
Status: 4/9/2013 – From House Committee on Appropriations and Budget.
Relates to amusements and sports; relates to the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act; modifies the Powers of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission; provides that specified types of lottery games shall not be permitted by the board of trustees of the Lottery Commission; expands types of funds which may be made available in Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund.
States “[t]he board of trustees shall not permit the operation of any lottery game using a video lottery machine or any lottery game which is played using the internet without physical purchase of paper tickets from a lottery retailer on that retailer's premises.
 
Pennsylvania
HB 1235
Status: 4/22/2013 – To House Committee on Gambling Oversight
Amends Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions; further provides for definitions, in Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board; further provides for general and specific powers, for slot machine licensee application appeals from board, for board minutes and records, for regulatory authority of board, for reports of board, for diversity goals of board, for Category 3 slot machine license, for supplier licenses and for manufacturer licenses.
Also provides for Internet Gaming.

HB 1404
Status: 5/15/2013 – To House Committee on Gaming Oversight
Amends Titles 4 (Amusements) and 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes; further provides for general and specific powers and for gambling devices, gambling, etc.
Contains a provision that would prohibit Internet gaming. See attached memo.

 
Texas
HJR 141
Status: 3/20/2013 – To House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures
Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize online poker gaming regulated under federal law.
 
HB 3529
Status: 3/20/2013 – To House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures
Relates to regulation of certain online poker facilities under federal law.
 
SJR 43
Status: 3/18/2013 – Referred by Chair to Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters
Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize online poker gaming regulated under federal law.
 
SB 1103
Status: 3/12/2013 – To Senate Committee on State Affairs
Relates to regulation of certain online poker facilities under federal law.
 
Washington
HB 1824
Status: 2/19/2013 – Public Hearing Scheduled
Reduces the penalty for a person conducting unlawful internet gambling in his or her primary residence for recreational purposes.