US States Considering Online Poker Regulation in 2026
In this article, we’ll look at some US states considering online poker regulation to see how far along these efforts are and the likelihood that legal online poker will go live in key states.
As of 2026, there are nine US states with regulated online poker . Six of these states have active poker sites (New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), while three (Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine) have a legal framework in place but no active operators.
Of these nine regulated states, Pennsylvania is the largest market, with over 13 million people, followed by Michigan (just over 10 million) and New Jersey (around 9.5 million). Some of the largest states are still not in the mix, which represents a significant hindrance to regulated US online poker.
| State | Active Online Poker Bills | Potential Legislation Date |
|---|---|---|
| California | No | Not likely before 2028+ |
| New York | S2614 | 2026-2027 |
| Florida | No | Unlikely in the near future |
| Texas | No | Not likely in the near future |
| Virginia | HB161 | 2028 |
California Online Poker
With a population of almost 40 million, California is the most populous US state and one of the most interesting prospects for online poker. Many believe that the arrival of regulated online poker in California would be a real game-changer.
This reasoning makes sense even without any deep research. The state alone has more people than all other states that have regulated online poker at this time. So, if California were to pass the legislation and join the MSIGA, it would be a huge boost to the US-wide player pool.
Additionally, poker is very popular in California, with many well-known live card rooms, such as The Bike and Commerce.
Despite all this, in California online poker is not regulated, and it’s hard to say if and when this situation might change. Over the years, there have been multiple attempts to pass the legislation, but all have fallen short.
While the general public is largely pro-poker, there are many conflicting interests in the state, with local tribes, politicians, and other relevant stakeholders hindering the progress.
There is some hope that 2026 could be the year when things might change. In September 2025, California passed a bill to ban sweepstakes poker sites that have been operating in the state for many years unchallenged. This move could be in preparation for an online gambling bill that would include online poker.
However, there are currently no active bills proposed by the California lawmakers to regulate online poker. In fact, it’s been quite a while since such a bill was attempted, so we won’t be holding our breath on this one. While it’s good to stay positive, the reality is that regulated online poker in California is probably at least a couple of years away.
Online Poker in New York
New York might be the most likely of the major US states to regulate online poker in the near future. If this were to happen, the state’s 20 million population would represent a significant boost to the current player pool.
Like California, New York passed a bill in 2025 to ban sweepstakes poker and casino sites, paving the way for regulation. However, unlike California, NY is making legislative moves toward creating a regulated iGaming environment, likely similar to that of neighboring New Jersey.
New York’s State Senator Joe Addabbo Jr. has been the biggest supporter of the regulation over the years, having filed several iGaming bills. While these failed to garner the required support, it seems the tide is finally shifting.
Addabbo’s currently proposed Senate Bill S2614 is in the procedure, and, if passed, it would give all nine licensed sports betting operators in the state an opportunity to apply for and receive New York online poker and casino licenses.
While previous attempts at legalization failed, the time could finally be right for New York online poker. With the state banning sweepstakes operators and an ongoing project to open three land-based casinos, it looks like legislators are finally ready to move toward regulation, which would bring substantial funds to the state budget.
It is likely that New York would quickly join the MSIGA once the regulation is passed, creating a massive surge in player numbers across the board. Likewise, there’d be no shortage of interest from operators, as WSOP, PokerStars, BetMGM, and BetRivers would all want to obtain a license and set up shop in the state.
Florida Online Poker
Florida is another state often mentioned when discussing US states that could legalize online poker. With a population of over 23 million and a very vibrant live poker scene, it seems like a very viable candidate. However, hopes and expectations don’t quite match the reality in this particular case.
While Florida has regulated sports betting, online casinos and poker will not be coming to the Sunshine State anytime soon. As with California online poker, the situation is very complex, with conflicting interests from local tribes and lawmakers muddying the waters.
At the moment, there is no active bill to bring legal online poker to Florida, and there are really no strong proponents of the idea either. The last such attempt came way back in 2009. Since then, we haven’t seen any significant legal movements.
So, the reality is that legal online poker in Florida is at least a few years away. It will certainly not happen in 2026, and, most likely, not in 2027. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess, but some powerful lobbying efforts would be required to move the needle.
Florida has also taken steps to ban sweepstakes poker, following in the footsteps of several other US states, and it’s quite likely the bill will pass. This will further limit the number of safe options available to poker fans residing in the Sunshine State.
Texas Online Poker
Although this state’s name is also part of the name of the most popular poker variation, Texas is one of the states where online poker won’t be regulated any time soon.
Unlike many other US states that allow land-based casinos but don’t have regulated online gambling, Texas is largely anti-gambling. There are no state-sanctioned casinos in operation, and there is no real interest among legislators in changing the situation.
When it comes to live poker, the state has a surprisingly vibrant scene , despite legal obstacles. For nearly a decade now, many card rooms have operated in Texas as private clubs. They get around anti-gambling laws by charging no rake in their games and using a membership-and-hourly-fee model instead.
This model has been challenged many times, and state authorities keep coming after these poker clubs. There are frequent raids and shutdowns; one such raid recently led to the temporary closure of the Lodge, the largest club in the state, located near Austin. The club is partially owned by Doug Polk , a well-known name in the poker community.
While land-based venues manage to find ways to keep the games going, online poker doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Texas any time soon. There are currently no bills in the pipeline, and no lawmakers championing online poker, either.
This is a somewhat sad state of affairs, given the fact that Texas has around 32 million people and poker is hugely popular. The legalization of online poker in Texas would represent a massive boost for the regulated US market, but it’s safe to say that any such developments are at least a few years away.
Virginia Online Poker
One US state that was on the verge of regulating online poker in 2026 is Virginia. HB161 was a piece of legislation intended to regulate online gambling in the state, with the Virginia Lottery Board serving as the regulator responsible for issuing licenses.
While the bill has strong support, there is also a lot of opposition, as many lawmakers fear that the regulation would make casino gambling too easily accessible, leading to increased gambling addiction rates across the state.
Despite several positive indicators, the Virginia online gambling bill was ultimately postponed. Where things stand right now is that even if the bill passes this year, it will need to pass again in 2027 for it to take full effect. This means that there will be no legal online poker in Virginia before 2028 at the earliest.
Are There Any Other US States Considering Online Poker Legislation?
There are a few more online gambling and poker bills floating around, but none of them have advanced far enough that they’d be of interest to fans of the game. However, offshore poker and crypto sites are available to most US players. You can find our comprehensive guide on what each state has to offer for online poker players in the US .
With Virginia out of the picture, it is not likely that we’ll see any new US states with regulated online poker in 2026. New York online poker news could come as a surprise, but it’s likelier that we’ll have to wait at least until 2027 to see any concrete developments.
It seems that online poker regulation in the US has once again hit a rough patch. With only a couple of states seriously considering online poker at this point in time and even sweepstakes sites coming under heavy scrutiny, the future doesn’t look that bright.
We’ll get back to the topic of US states considering online poker regularly, but don’t hold your breath until then. Find the best online poker bonuses that suit you, and hone your skills in any of our recommended poker sites!
