Like years past, 2016 came and went without another state legalizing online gaming. Despite some serious hope in Michigan and Pennsylvania that an online gaming bill would pass in either state during the legislative session, the fact remains that no state has legalized online gaming since Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey did so in 2013.

And with Donald Trump elected as president, there is some concern that a federal online gambling ban, possibly in the form of the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), may be in the cards.

Pennsylvania

In 2016, Pennsylvania was one of the states closest to passing online gaming legislation.

The state’s House of Representatives passed a gaming expansion bill, but Pennsylvania’s efforts to legalize online gaming were put on hold after the state Senate decided not to move forward with the legislation.

Although there was no action on this issue in 2016, a recent report from the Associated Press predicted that lawmakers would take a close look at a plethora of casino-related legislation during the first week of January, including the potential for casinos to launch online gambling sites.

Michigan

Like Pennsylvania, there was hope in Michigan that 2016 could’ve been the year that saw online gaming legislation passed.

Although there was a chance for a late December decision on the state’s online gambling bill, Michigan enters 2017 without approving online poker.

Michigan already offers lottery games over the internet, approved in 2014, and the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee approved the legislation in June. Despite legislative sessions up until the third week in December, no action was taken on the online gaming bill.

While Michigan will presumably take another look at online gaming in 2017, some concern out of Michigan comes from the fact that Attorney General Bill Schuette was one of 10 attorneys general to sign a letter to President-elect Trump urging him to restore the 1961 Wire Act (RAWA), which would ban online gaming nationwide.

New York

Similar to Michigan and Pennsylvania, online gaming legislation was passed in one house of the New York legislature, but stalled in the other. The New York Senate passed a bill to legalize online poker, but the state assembly never acted on the legislation despite advocacy from Sen. John Bonacic.

Discussion around online poker could resurface in 2017, making New York another state with the potential to legalize online poker in the coming year.

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has ordered a study of online gambling, including poker, gaming, lottery, and daily fantasy sports. The report is expected to be completed in July 2017.

Although that doesn’t leave much time for online gaming legislation to be passed in 2017, Massachusetts is another state expected to make progress in the new year.

California

For years, California has discussed legalizing online poker, but stakeholders continue to grapple for position in what is a billion dollar industry.

In 2016, a bill by Assemblyman Adam Gray that proposed state internet poker licenses to card rooms and the 60 Native American tribes that operate casinos passed in a state committee. But the legislation failed to find traction on the Assembly floor.

Like the others, California failed to legalize online poker in 2016, but 2017 could tell a different story.

Federal Legislation

At the federal level, the election of Donald Trump has brought some concern over the future of online gambling.

Republicans could potentially look to pass the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), which prevent states from setting their own online gaming rules.

In addition to RAWA, Pennsylvania Republican Representative Michael Fitzpatrick has introduced a similar piece of legislation in the House that would ban online poker and lotteries at the federal level. This legislation follows a petition signed by 10 state attorneys general to President-Elect Donald Trump to impose a federal ban on online gambling.

Whether President-Elect Trump chooses to pursue such a course of action in his first year in office remains to be seen.