New Massachusetts iGaming Bill, Novig Leaves NJ, and Kalshi Comes Under Fire

Could Massachusetts Be Next to Ban Sweepstakes Casinos?

A new bill has been introduced in the Massachusetts legislature, House Bill 4431, titled "An Act relative to internet gaming" that could legalize and regulate online casino gaming in the commonwealth, while at the same time prohibit so-called sweepstakes casino sites.

The bill was introduced by Representative David K. Muradian Jr. earlier this week. It has been sent to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies for consideration.

This is not the first time Massachusetts has considered legislation pertaining to internet gambling. Prior to the introduction of Rep. Muradian's bill, the legislature saw two previous proposals this year, Senate Bill 235 and House Bill 332, both introduced in February of this year, and both seemingly dead after a hearing.

HB 4431 Guidelines for Legalized Casino Gaming

The new bill offers several requirements for building the legal framework to regulate licensed casino sites. Some of the key ones are the following:

• Minimum age of 21 for players
• Required verification of player age and location
• Limit one account per brand
• Daily deposit limit of $20,000
• No credit card funding of accounts
• So-called "risk-free" promotions are banned
• No targeting college students or minors
• Requirement to use AI tools to watch for problem gambling

HB 4431's Big Penalties for Sweepstakes Operators

Although HB 4431 brings online casinos into the sunshine through the legalization offered in the bill, it is downright hostile to sweepstakes casino operators, aiming to push them out of the commonwealth's marketplace completely.

Sites operating through loopholes in Massachusetts' sweepstakes laws will be prohibited under HB 4431, and the author of this legislation isn't messing around; fines run from $10,000 all the way up to $100,000, plus jail time is an option for habitual offenders. In the case of participants that may have licensing for other products in Massachusetts, such as game designers, licenses can be revoked.

At this time, there is nothing on the committee's schedule for hearings related to the bill. If that changes, you can be sure that we will be updating you here at SportsBoom.

Novig Leaves New Jersey in Wake of Sweeps Ban

In the aftermath of Assembly Bill 5447 being signed into law in New Jersey last week, we have another casualty. This time it is sports prediction platform Novig, which has announced their departure from the state.

Although we haven't seen an official press release on the matter, we have been forwarded an e-mail from a New Jersey player that received the announcement e-mail from Novig, stating that New Jersey players will no longer be allowed to use their platform.

Novig launched less than a year ago in September 2024, and has already exited four of the forty-two state markets where it originally launched.

For the time being, fellow prediction market site Kalshi continues to operate in the state, as their own legal case related to customers in New Jersey unfolds.

Wisconsin Tribal Group Brings Federal Case Against Kalshi

Sports prediction market site Kalshi faces its own new headache.

The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin brought a federal lawsuit against the operator in Wisconsin, grumbling that sites like Kalshi impair the tribe's sovereignty on the issue of gaming on their lands.

Among the claims of the Ho-Chunk Nation are the following:

• Sporting event contracts are illegal bets, not innovative financial products
• These contracts also violate various state constitutions
• They also undermine tribal land sovereignty

The Ho-Chunk Nation operated casinos throughout Wisconsin under a federal compact. According to their complaint, operators like Kalshi are directly interfering with and impairing their sovereign right to regulate gaming on their lands.