A lawmaker’s hope of bringing online casinos to the Old Line State continues into 2025.
Maryland state delegate Vanessa Atterbeary pre-filed House Bill 0017 in October that calls for the “authorization and implementation” of iGaming. The issue of online casinos isn’t expected to be on the voters’ ballot until 2026 with hope of going operational by 2027 if passed.
A first reading of the bill is scheduled for Wednesday in the Ways and Means Committee.
The bill calls for the state’s Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses to “certain qualified applicants to conduct or participate in certain internet gaming operations.”
Atterbeary also wants Maryland to enter multi-jurisdictional agreements with other legal iGaming states. The bill would also establish the Video Lottery Facility Employee Displacement Fund as a “special, nonlapsing fund.”
Tax revenue provided by online casino operators would go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an educational fund that’s received more than $128 million in legal sports betting tax revenue since 2022.
Torchbearer
Attempting to legalize online casinos in the Old Line State is not new.
Atterbeary held a similar torch last year. Her attempt to have voters decide on the 2024 ballot whether or not the state should have online casinos made it through the House of Delegates but gained little traction in the Senate.
The previous bill was not presented at the end of the last legislative session.
iGaming in Maryland has faced opposition from brick-and-mortar union groups because of revenue fears and job losses. Lawmakers are concerned about problem gambling.
Maryland’s surrounded
Maryland’s 11 online and 12 retail sportsbooks have generated nearly $11 billion in wagers since sports betting launched in 2022.
Four U.S. states with legal iGaming border Maryland: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia. Virginia, which borders Maryland, is discussing legalizing iGaming in 2025.
All but Pennsylvania are members of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement along with Michigan and Nevada.
However, the Keystone State had discussions in 2024 to join the organization that increases player liquidity through online poker.
