Important Post Election Online Gambling Updates

While the winner of the U.S. Presidential election is still technically up in the air, most other election issues have been resolved. That means many state legislatures will be pressing to finish up the year's business before heading into the holiday season.

With many legislatures slated to start shutting down business in the next week or two, several states still have gambling legislation that needs addressing. Currently, important news is coming out of Michigans, New Jersey, and Virginia.

Online Gambling Legislation in Michigan Facing Delays

Throughout Michigan, sports bettors were hoping that legislators would be able to pass online sports gambling and iGaming legislation by Thanksgiving. It now looks like said legislation is likely going to get pushed into the early part of 2021 as new legislators take their rightful seats.

As of now, the problem lies within the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules (JCAR). JCAR sessions are only permitted to run in blocks of 15-session days. Furthermore, a session day is only counted when both chambers of Congress meet at the same time.

While online gambling legislation is currently locked up in the last session of the year, it doesn't look like it's getting much focus. With time running out, there's a very good chance that discussions about online gambling rules will have to wait until the first JCAR session of 2021 if not later.

New Jersey Moves Forward With Legislation That Permits Gambling on In-state College Sports

When sports betting legislation was passed in New Jersey late in 2018, approval was predicated on the exclusion of sports betting on college football and basketball games being played within the state's borders.

At the time, the said legislation didn't seem to pose any major problems. That wad until the NCAA announced its decision to hold the 2025 men’s basketball East Regionals in Newark. Given the importance of March Madness on the annual sports betting schedule, legislators vowed to change the in-state sports betting rules.

The good news is the said amendment legislation is underway and has already passed committee scrutiny. It will now move for discussion within the full legislature. There are still hurdles that need clearing, but it's starting to look like the needed amendment to allow in-state sports betting could hit the fall of 2021 ballot.

Virginia Sees Overflow of Sports Betting Application

The deadline for submitting sports betting licensing applications in Virginia was reached on October 31, 2020. According to the VA Lottery Commission, a total of 25 applications were received. The problem is the law only permits the issuing of 12 licenses. It looks like the Lottery has some work to do related to the selection process.