US Gambling News: Taxes, Table-Game Turbulence, and a Vegas-Area Rebrand

A quick-hit roundup of the biggest U.S. gambling headlines this week, spanning softer Super Bowl numbers in the Silver State, major rule changes that could reshape cardroom blackjack in California, and fresh legislative moves in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

Sportsbooks in Nevada took a step back on Super Bowl betting this year, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board reporting $133.8M wagered, its lowest handle since 2016, and a notably smaller win percentage versus last year.

The piece flags two potential headwinds: growing competition from prediction markets and a broader dip in visitor volume.

In California, newly approved rules are set to prohibit traditional blackjack in cardrooms, forcing operators into altered “target point” formats and limiting howTPs from repeatedly banking the game.

The California Gaming Association warns the fallout could be severe for employment and local tax bases, while tribal interests continue pressing exclusivity arguments around house-banked games. Key dates: rules take effect April 1, with compliance plans due by May 31.

A bill filed by Daniel Didech would repeal Illinois’ per-wager tax that was signed by JB Pritzker in 2025, 25 cents per bet up to 20M wagers, then 50 cents beyond.

The story notes a sharp decline in betting volume since the tax kicked in, with the Sports Betting Alliance arguing customers shift to better-priced markets when costs rise.

A proposed casino in Fairfax County is back for a second straight year, with Scott Surovell pushing legislation that cleared a key committee on a bipartisan vote.

Even if lawmakers approve, voters would still need to sign off via referendum, and local resistance is already organized, including county officials and community groups skeptical of the revenue projections.

A long-running locals spot in North Las Vegas is getting a full refresh. Truckee Gaming is renovating Poker Palace ahead of a mid-April reopening under a new name, Club Fortune Casino North, with plans for updated gaming, food-and-beverage upgrades, and (eventually) a sportsbook.

Poker is expected to remain, even as other table games reportedly won’t return.