NCLGS to Examine if Regulation Hinders Innovation in Rapidly Evolving Gaming Markets at Summer Meeting

According to the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (“NCLGS”) news release, they will spotlight the relationship between regulation and innovation in the gaming industry during its Summer Meeting in San Diego this July.

The discussion, titled “Does Regulation Stifle Innovation? Legislative Considerations for a Rapidly Evolving Gaming Industry,” is scheduled for July 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego and will feature experts in gaming policy, regulation, and technology.

As gaming technologies continue to advance, including blockchain-based platforms and emerging wagering products, lawmakers and regulators are increasingly tasked with balancing consumer protections alongside industry growth and competitiveness. Industry stakeholders have pointed to challenges such as multi-state licensing rules, increasing compliance expenses, and lengthy approval timelines as potential barriers to innovation for both new entrants and established companies.

Ohio Senator Bill DeMora, a member of the NCLGS Executive Committee, will moderate the session.

Featured speakers include:

Desiree Dickerson, CEO & Co-Founder, THNDR
Travis Geiger, Co-Founder, WagerWire
Roger Parkes, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Gaming Associates
Sam Ross, Senior Program Lead, Group Strategy, FDJ United
Eric Weiss, Managing Director, North America, IC360

The broader NCLGS Summer Meeting agenda will also include sessions covering prediction markets, sports betting, a joint committee on casinos and tribal gaming sovereignty, a pari-mutuel committee, illegal gambling, gaming taxation, a lottery committee, and responsible gambling initiatives.

Registration for the Summer Meeting is currently open.

Michigan Gaming Website Changes

The Michigan Gaming website (MichiganGaming.com) is a centralized portal for news resources focused on the gaming and casino industry in the State of Michigan. The site is hosted and published by Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C., providing an industry-focused perspective compared to the official state government site.

The website has recently undergone renovations and upgrades to enhance the user experience in navigating the site and accessing the Michigan Gaming Newsletters. The most significant addition is the new search bar on the main page, which allows users to search for keywords and terms to quickly identify which volume and issue contain specific topics or articles.

The homepage now also features the Daily Gaming Industry News feed—a daily digest highlighting important casino and gaming news articles from across the world. This is also provided through Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C. Additionally, the publications tab now allows users to sign up for email delivery of both the Daily Gaming Industry News feed and the Michigan Gaming Newsletter.

The resources page has been redesigned with a cleaner view of the article library. Access is more intuitive with search filters for keywords or dates. Users can easily browse newsletters and download copies for offline access.

MGCB Launches “Don’t Bet on Your Future” Youth Gambling Prevention Campaign

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) has launched a new statewide campaign, Don’t Bet on Your Future, focused on increasing awareness of underage and problem gambling among young people across Michigan.

The initiative expands the agency’s existing responsible gaming efforts and introduces new educational resources aimed at students, parents, schools, and communities. The campaign emphasizes that gambling is intended for adults and seeks to educate youth about the potential risks associated with gambling activity.

A key part of the initiative is the new High School Boosters Program, which allows school affiliated booster clubs to receive funding for sharing gambling prevention messaging throughout their communities. Participating organizations may qualify for up to $4,000 for promoting MGCB approved educational content.

The campaign also includes a new television advertisement and plans for a future Gambling Education and Prevention (GAP) Grant Program, which is expected to provide schools and community organizations with additional resources to support gambling awareness and prevention efforts.

Michigan iGaming and Online Sports Betting Revenue Reaches $371 Million in April

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) released April 2026 online gaming and sports betting figures, reporting that Michigan operators generated a combined $371 million in revenue during the month.

Internet gaming continued to account for the majority of revenue, contributing more than $303 million, while online sports betting generated nearly $68 million. Although overall revenue saw a slight decrease from March, iGaming activity remained strong and continued to show notable growth compared to the same period last year.

Michigan operators also contributed significant tax revenue during April, submitting more than $63 million to the State of Michigan. Detroit casinos additionally reported more than $15 million in wagering taxes and municipal service fees paid to the City of Detroit.

Michigan’s online gaming market remains one of the largest in the country, with 15 authorized commercial and tribal operators currently offering iGaming. Of those 15, 13 operators offer online sports betting services throughout the state.

Detroit Casinos Report $118.9 Million in April Revenue

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) has released the Detroit casino revenue figures for April 2026, reporting that the city’s three commercial casinos generated a combined $118.87 million in aggregate revenue during the month.

Table games and slot revenue totaled $118.03 million, while retail sports betting generated $837,397 in qualified adjusted gross receipts (“QAGR”).

April market share by casino was:

MGM, 49%
MotorCity, 29%
Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 22%

The three casinos paid $9.6 million in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan and submitted $14.0 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit during the month.

U.S. Commercial Gaming Industry Reaches Record Revenue in 2025

The American Gaming Association (AGA) released its annual U.S. Commercial Gaming Revenue report for 2011 through 2025, showing that the commercial gaming industry generated a record-breaking $78 billion in revenue in 2025.

According to the report, growth was driven by continued strength across traditional land-based casinos, sports betting, and online gaming markets. The figures reflect the ongoing expansion of regulated gaming throughout the United States and the industry’s growing economic impact nationwide.

The report also highlighted the steady rise in commercial gaming revenue over the last decade, aside from a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, the industry has continued to rebound and post year-over-year growth.

The AGA’s State of the States 2026 report provides an overview of gaming revenue trends, state-by-state performance, and the overall impact of the regulated gaming industry across