Maryland casino hopes dwindle as governor establishes budget blueprint
Chris Altruda, Casino Reports
Looks like dreams of legalizing internet casino gaming in Maryland this year are on hold, following Gov. Wes Moore's Thursday night budget announcement. The proposed budget aims to close a projected $3.3 billion deficit, and there's no plan to legalize online casinos within.
Bills introducing online casino gaming had been debated in both the Senate and House, courtesy of Sen. Ron Watson and Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, but the chance of passage in either chamber remained uncertain.
More recently, lawmakers in Maryland have joined forces with other states, proposing bans on sweepstakes casinos. The focus appears to have shifted away from iGaming as a priority.
While the discussion around online casinos continues, potential benefits like boosted tax revenue and consumer demand are being weighed. However, as of now, no legislative action has been taken to legalize full-scale online casino gaming in Maryland.
Meanwhile, Gov. Moore has signed the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025, raising the tax on online sports betting from 15% to 20%. However, this doesn't include provisions to expand iGaming or online casinos[1][3].
[1] LegislationTrack.md.gov, "Senate Bill 340" [Accessed 28th February, 2025].
[2] LegislationTrack.md.gov, "House Bill 17" [Accessed 28th February, 2025].
[3] Governor's Office of the State of Maryland, "Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025" [Accessed 28th February, 2025].
[4] Governors for Accessible Auto Insurance, "A Guide to Sports Betting in Maryland" [Accessed 28th February, 2025].
[5] American Gaming Association, "The Current State of iGaming in the US" [Accessed 28th February, 2025].
Despite the ongoing debates on internet casino gaming in Maryland, no progress has been made towards legalizing online casinos at present. Additionally, instead of focusing on iGaming, lawmakers have proposed bans on sweepstakes casinos, suggesting a shift in gambling trends away from online casinos.
