Online casino operators are facing a period of intense scrutiny and rapid change as U.S. policymakers, international regulators and industry rivals press responses to mounting legal, labor and technology challenges. In the past year lawmakers have circulated model legislation for state internet gambling, governments in Europe have moved to clarify crypto-facing rules, and high-profile corporate disputes and worker protests have thrown fresh light on how the sector is governed and policed.
Lawmakers push model rules for U.S. expansion
On October 23, 2025, the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States circulated model language intended to help states considering legalized internet casino gaming adopt consistent regulatory elements – including suggested tax bands of 15 percent to 25 percent, tighter anti-money-laundering controls and prohibitions on credit-card deposits. The proposal aims to make it easier for states to weigh legalization while protecting consumers and preserving state revenues; sponsors argued a middle-range tax would attract operators without creating monopolistic barriers.
“This is about giving states a template that balances consumer protection with realistic market economics,” said a council representative in materials distributed to state regulators. The model legislation has already prompted discussions in several state capitols – including New York and Louisiana – that are weighing bills or regulatory studies expected in legislative sessions through 2026.
Crypto, licensing and enforcement collide
While some U.S. states steadily approve fiat-based online-casino licensing, regulators remain cautious about crypto-first operators. In 2025, enforcement actions and cease-and-desist letters increased against offshore platforms and sweepstakes-style operators that target U.S. customers without state approval. At the same time, European jurisdictions – notably Estonia and Malta – have been advancing clearer frameworks for crypto transactions and blockchain auditability, drawing operators who want regulatory certainty for tokenized payments and provably fair games.
Industry groups and compliance officers say the central tension is technological: blockchain can provide traceable ledgers for bonuses and payouts, but it also raises new AML and identity-verification challenges when players use self-custodied wallets. Expect state regulators to focus on KYC, transaction monitoring and whether credit-card bans should extend to fiat-to-crypto rails used by some casinos.
Labor disputes and corporate conflict raise reputational risk
Beyond regulation, labor and corporate disputes have forced regulators and customers to reckon with industry practices. Last year workers at a major live-casino supplier staged strikes and hunger actions over pay and working conditions at sites abroad, drawing union attention as the supplier sought U.S. expansion. Separately, an escalating rivalry between two large software suppliers culminated in revelations that one firm commissioned private investigators to probe the other – a saga that has triggered lawsuits and shaken investor confidence.
Those scandals matter to regulators assessing license applications: hearings in state gaming boards increasingly include questions about supplier conduct, overseas labor practices and whether operators have adequate governance and audit trails. The Nevada and New Jersey boards in particular have signaled they will consider non-domestic labor and corporate-ethics issues when vetting applications for market access.
What to watch next
Between now and mid-2026, stakeholders should track three linked developments: whether states adopt the NCIGS model language or modify tax and consumer-protection thresholds; how U.S. gaming regulators treat crypto-enabled products and whether any state grants explicit licenses tied to blockchain wagering; and outcomes of pending litigation and labor disputes involving major suppliers, which could shape licensing standards for corporate fitness and social-responsibility review.
For a detailed framing of the U.S. legislative pitch and the model provisions being circulated to state legislatures, see the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States’ summary of the proposal: Model legislation aims to standardize internet gambling rules.