As the summer months wind down, U.S. legislatures have been busy with significant developments in gambling regulation. California and New Hampshire led the way, with 15 bills advancing in August. Key updates include new tribal gaming compacts, revisions to lottery operations, and increased regulations on horse racing wagering.
Key Legislative Updates
New Hampshire
- HB 1197: This bill focuses on criminal background checks for lottery and charitable gaming personnel. It authorizes additional personnel to conduct fingerprinting for non-criminal background checks and creates a task force to evaluate the need for FBI Criminal History Record Information checks across employment and volunteer positions. It has been signed into law (effective as of 8/27/2024).
California
- SB 1523: This bill clarifies that operating communications equipment within California for lotteries hosted by other states is not illegal, provided participants are physically present in those states when placing bets. The bill also emphasizes that advertisements related to lotteries in California are prohibited. This bill was sent for signature on 9/4/2024.
- AB 3235: A tribal gaming bill that modifies fingerprint rolling requirements for tribal gaming employees in California. Employees of tribal gaming agencies are exempt from certain fingerprinting rules as long as they meet specific training and background check criteria. This bill was sent for signature on 8/26/2024.
- SB 931: This bill amends the process for suspending gambling work permits, reducing the timeframe for a required hearing from 30 to 27 days. It was sent for signature on 9/4/2024.
Changes Passed by the Second Body
- AB 224: This bill increases the membership of California’s Gaming Policy Advisory Committee from 10 to 12, adding representatives from academia and the Bureau of Gambling Control. It also mandates the committee meet at least twice a year to discuss regulatory policy. The bill passed the Senate on 8/20/2024.
- AB 3261: Related to horse racing, this bill amends California’s laws on out-of-state thoroughbred races, increasing the number of races that can be imported from 50 to 75 per day. Exceptions and specific conditions regarding the distribution of audiovisual signals and race wagering are included. The bill passed the Senate on 8/31/2024.
- AB 3179: This bill introduces changes to the approval process for mini-satellite wagering sites, with stricter conditions on licensing, proximity, and agreements between operators. The bill passed the Senate on 8/22/2024.
Tribal Gaming Compacts
Three bills were passed in California regarding tribal gaming compacts, which are agreements between Native American tribes and the state:
- AB 2032: Ratifies a gaming compact with the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians, effective immediately as of 8/31/2024.
- AB 2656: Ratifies a gaming compact with the Table Mountain Rancheria, focusing on the tribe's economic development and sovereignty, effective immediately as of 8/28/2024.
- AB 3276: Ratifies a gaming compact with the Tule River Indian Tribe, emphasizing tribal sovereignty under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This bill passed the Senate on 8/21/2024.
Additional Context
Bill activity tends to slow down during the fall as legislative sessions end in most states. North Carolina and Massachusetts were still in session, while 12 other states were in recess. The report draws from Regology’s database to provide insights on ongoing legislative activities.
