Look for Nevada legislative committees in 2026 to consider bills dealing with prediction markets and any modifications to protect the integrity of sports betting. Two top Nevada lawmakers addressed the topic of the future legislation impacting the gaming industry when talking to gaming attorneys at their annual law conference sponsored by the State Bar of Nevada. The next session of the legislature is in 2027, but committees will be meeting throughout 2026.
Virginia Valentine, president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association who moderated a discussion with lawmakers, complained about licensed operators having to compete with what she called illegal activity that generates no tax revenue for the state.
“We’re facing a lot of headwinds right now. What can we do to avoid the threat of the challenges emerging today?” Valentine asked of prediction markets.
Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said sports betting prediction markets is a pertinent issue for legislation in the wake of the state being locked in a legal battle to keep the unlicensed operators from offering betting contracts in the state. The Gaming Control Board has warned license holders not to offer prediction markets in other states where it’s not allowed, at the risk of putting their licenses in jeopardy. FanDuel withdrew its license to pursue prediction markets.
Cannizzaro said she didn’t know what type of legislation would be needed, but lawmakers are looking forward to being educated on the spread of sports prediction markets nationwide. That includes looking at whether prediction markets need to be regulated.
“We have to be concerned about state revenue,” Cannizzaro said. “We need to talk about whether there’s a way to regulate that or put a line in the sand and say that’s something we’re not willing to engage in and how we will hold people accountable.”
Melanie Scheibel, chair of the Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee, said her committee will be meeting six times before the general session in 2027 and taking up several issues, including gaming legislation. Besides prediction markets, Scheibel expects discussion around sports betting, which continues to offer more betting options.
Some of the nation’s sportsbooks have come under fire for their prop wagers on athletes that have led to scandals in the NBA and MLB. In response, some sportsbooks around the country have reduced their menu offerings or the amount that can be wagered.
Without getting into specifics, Scheibel said they may have to look at adjusting rules if needed. She doesn’t know where that conversation will land. “I’m focusing on ensuring that our sportsbooks here in Nevada stay healthy and that we’re not being edged out by outside competition. We’ve had a lot of conversations about identification verification to make sure Nevada is a safe place for gaming.”
One member of the Gaming Control Board, George Assad, doesn’t think any rules need to be changed when it comes to sports betting, because operators have been good at identifying scandals.
Scheibel’s committee will also look at other gaming-related legislation that aims to keep the industry healthy, given the economic challenges nationwide and drop of tourism in Las Vegas in 2025.
“People are traveling less and that’s affecting us here more than anywhere else,” Scheibel said. “We want to find ways to promote tourism and make sure it’s a safe place to take families and come and enjoy our properties.”
Cannizzaro said another focus of lawmakers will be on the influx of artificial intelligence and any regulation that makes sense. She agreed that focusing on any bills that help improve Las Vegas tourism will be a big topic.
“We have to make sure we continue to be the No. 1 destination for folks,” Cannizzaro said. “Oftentimes, we’re the first to get hit and we need to continue to drive the conversation about diversifying the economy and make sure we have the right balance to create stability for state revenues, while maintaining the first in the world travel and convention destination. Those important topics will come up in the next legislative session.”
