For the second year in a row, we failed to see regulated online gambling grow in the United States.

While some states examined the matter, none has been able to pull the trigger.

Looking forward to 2016 we believe that there is a good chance that we finally get a fourth regulated state and that California makes serious progress towards that goal.

Below are four predictions for the regulated US iPoker market in 2016.

  1. Pennsylvania Passes Online Gambling in 2016

Despite the recent "will they or won't they" drama playing out in the Pennsylvania state legislature, we believe that PA will indeed become the next state to regulate online poker in the United States.

A bill is already going through the voting process in the state legislature and online gambling could become a part of the state budget by the end of the year.

Even if that does not happen, we believe another attempt will be made in 2016 and that the positive momentum will take it over the top.

2. New Jersey iPoker Rebounds Thanks to PokerStars

While New Jersey iGaming is experiencing overall growth, online poker has declined in 2015. We believe that part of this was the delay in awarding an operator's license to Amaya for PokerStars.

Fortunately, that has been remedied and PokerStars will launch sometime in the first half of 2016.

We believe that we will see a March/early April launch of PokerStars NJ and after that time, online poker will begin to rebound.

Online poker is presently pulling in around $1.9 million per month in revenue and we believe that this will increase to around $2.5 million monthly by the end of 2016.

In the event of a bullish run by PokerStars and NJ iPoker, that figure could reach $3 million per month.

3. California Stakeholders Begin Resolving Differences but Bill Doesn't Pass

We don't believe that online poker will pass in California in 2016 but there will be headway made to achieve that goal in 2017.

The issues surrounding the horse racing industry and bad actors we believe will either come to a conclusion or reasonable headway will be made on both.

The Pechanga tribe showed a willingness to work with the horse racing industry in 2015 and we would not be surprised to see racetracks reconsider in 2016.

We also believe that PokerStars' advocacy efforts combined with their license approval in NJ will eventually force the Pechanga to compromise on bad actors.

With that said, the process will probably drag for a majority of the calendar year and either time will run out for a bill to reach a vote or lawmakers will wait out the 2016 elections before tackling iPoker.

4. Online Poker is Examined as Part of DFS Probes

The buzzword in gambling right now is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). It is expected that several states will consider legislation either regulating or outlawing DFS in 2016.

For the states that consider regulation, don't be surprised if a couple decide to examine other forms of iGaming such as online poker and casino games.

Comprehensive iGaming bills that regulate several activities may be floated in multiple states, bring attention to iPoker and giving some change we see a fourth or maybe even a fifth state regulate online poker in 2016.

Massachusetts is one such state we expect such a bill and there are already rumors of an omnibus bill that would include online poker.

Should PA regulate online poker, the potential of a viable interstate network could make iPoker an attractive addition to any omnibus bill.