New York and Virginia kicked off 2026’s legislative session with renewed efforts to legalize and regulate online casinos, while regulators across the Atlantic roll out tighter promotional rules that will reshape how operators market to players.
On January 7 and 8, state lawmakers filed bills that, if enacted, would expand the United States’ iGaming footprint in two populous Eastern states and add momentum to a wave of state-level activity after a relatively quiet 2025. The developments come as the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission confirms new bonus restrictions taking effect later this month, signaling a global shift toward tighter consumer protections and clearer product segmentation.
New York and Virginia: Bills aim for controlled rollout
In New York, State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. introduced Senate Bill 2614 on January 7, 2026. The measure would authorize licensed commercial casinos, video lottery terminal facilities, tribal casinos operating under compact, and existing mobile sports-betting operators to offer regulated online casino products. The legislation lays out a licensing structure intended to channel online casino access through existing brick-and-mortar operators, a model lawmakers say preserves land-based revenue while expanding consumer choice.
Across the border in Virginia, Delegate Marcus Simon filed House Bill 161, proposing a regulated internet gaming framework under the Virginia Lottery Board. HB161 would permit each of Virginia’s five licensed casinos to operate up to three branded online “skins” – a total of 15 online casinos statewide – and includes a 15% tax on adjusted gross internet gaming revenue, a $500,000 initial license fee for each casino operator, and $2 million launch fees per skin. The bill also embeds consumer-protection measures such as age and identity verification, deposit and time limits, and criminal penalties for unlicensed operations.
Industry analysts and operator lobbyists see these bills as pragmatic attempts to balance tax revenue and consumer safeguards. Observers note the licensing-fee structure and skin limits reflect lessons from states that launched iGaming earlier in the decade, aiming to avoid market oversaturation while attracting established gambling brands.
UKGC bonus rules and sweeping changes to promotions
Meanwhile, the UK Gambling Commission has confirmed that new bonus rules will take effect on January 19, 2026. The regulations prohibit operators from combining different gambling categories in a single promotion – for example, preventing offers that tie sports bets to free spins on slots – and tighten rules around free-to-play promotional games that award real-money bonuses. The change is part of a broader regulatory push to increase transparency in how bonuses are granted and to reduce potentially misleading cross-product promotions.
Why this matters: the simultaneous legislative push in U.S. states and regulatory tightening in the UK underscores a global industry pivot. U.S. lawmakers are trying to capture tax revenue and direct online gambling through regulated operators, while regulators in mature markets are curbing promotional practices that can obscure risk for consumers. Both trends will influence operator strategy, platform launches, and partnership negotiations in 2026.
What to watch next
Key dates to watch include January 19, 2026, when the UKGC rules come into force, and the calendar of legislative hearings in New York and Virginia over the coming weeks and months. If either bill moves through committee, expect fast follow-up from operators and payment providers seeking clarity on licensing timelines and technical requirements. For ongoing coverage of the state proposals and the UK regulatory rollout, see reporting from industry outlets such as Gambling Insider. Gambling Insider coverage of the New York and Virginia bills