Maryland’s Legislature has calendared a comprehensive hearing on March 11 to consider a slate of online gaming‑related bills that could reshape the state’s digital gambling landscape. The package includes proposals to authorise full online casinos, establish regulated multistate poker, send a player referendum to voters, and strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling and sweepstakes gaming.
The hearing will be conducted by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and represents a coordinated effort by lawmakers to address both market expansion and enforcement gaps within Maryland’s regulatory framework.
Key Bills Under Review
As Maryland moves forward with potential changes to its gaming laws, several important bills will be under scrutiny during the March 11 hearing. These bills address the expansion of online casinos, poker, and measures to combat illegal gambling, each shaping a different aspect of the state’s iGaming future. Let’s take a closer look at each proposal:
SB 885: Online Gaming and Bingo Authorization
Senate Bill 885, filed by Senate leadership, is the central bill aimed at authorising internet gaming and online bingo in Maryland. It directs the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licences to qualified applicants to conduct regulated online gaming and bingo operations, marking the most significant attempt at iGaming authorisation in years.
Under this proposal:
- Licences would be issued for internet casino-style games, including slots and table games, with regulatory oversight similar to land‑based gaming.
- Applicants would need to meet criteria set by the Commission, including player protections and responsible gaming requirements.
- The bill also aligns with broader expansion efforts by structuring licensing and regulatory duties for a future iGaming market.
This measure does not yet set a tax rate or implementation specifics beyond licensing and regulation language, leaving key economic factors for subsequent legislative consideration.
Similar regulatory adjustments are taking place across the US, such as in Michigan, where new proposals include a per-bet sports fee and higher iGaming taxes, demonstrating states’ shifting approach to tax models in expanding markets.
SB 884: Multistate Poker and Skill‑Based Gaming Framework
SB 884 focuses exclusively on internet poker and “skill‑based” gaming. Rather than folding poker into the broader casino framework, the bill creates a discrete licensing system for poker and other skill‑based offerings. It mandates that the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission permit regulated poker operations and explicitly includes provisions for multistate poker agreements, positioning Maryland to potentially join interstate liquidity compacts, a major development for online poker markets.
This approach mirrors similar trends in other states that carve out poker from broader casino bills to accommodate regulatory and market liquidity goals.
This multistate poker expansion idea aligns with trends in other regions, such as New Jersey, which has introduced comprehensive online gambling reforms, including multistate compacts for poker.
SB 761: Internet Gaming Referendum Submission
Unlike the other bills, Senate Bill 761 would not directly regulate operations; rather, it would place a question before Maryland voters on the November 2026 ballot about expanding commercial gaming to include online iGaming.
Key elements include:
- Authority for the General Assembly to authorise Internet gaming via law, contingent on voter approval.
- Provisions requiring that implementation legislation outline eligibility criteria and permissible forms of conduct for licensed operators.
- A referendum question asking voters whether they support expanding commercial gaming to include internet gaming, with dedicated revenues earmarked for public education.
Because Maryland’s constitution currently requires public approval for expanded gambling, this bill is critical to any future launch of online casino operations.
SB 652: Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act
Separate from expansion proposals, Senate Bill 652 targets enforcement against illegal online gambling, including sweepstakes‑style platforms operating outside the regulated framework. The bill would:
- Prohibit persons from operating, promoting or knowingly supporting illegal online gambling in the state.
- Empower the Attorney General and local prosecutors to take action, issue cease‑and‑desist orders, and seek penalties for offenders.
- Define online gambling broadly to include games typically offered in casinos, sweepstakes games and other interactive offerings.
This enforcement measure reflects heightened legislative concern about unlicensed gaming and grey‑market sweepstakes platforms that skirt existing laws.
Broader Context and Implications
Maryland’s legislative activity mirrors broader national trends. Some states are recalibrating tax models and expansion frameworks to optimise revenue, while others are pushing comprehensive regulation reforms. At the same time, regulators are intensifying enforcement against illegal activity, as demonstrated by Washington’s recent lawsuit against unlicensed online casino apps, highlighting the challenges posed by grey-market platforms that bypass regulatory frameworks.
If passed, Maryland’s expansion bills would open one of the largest East Coast gambling markets to regulated online casinos and poker, but success hinges on legislative momentum and voter approval.
All four bills remain in committee, with testimony and stakeholder submissions expected during the March 11 hearing. Supporters and opponents, including regulators, operators, consumer advocates, and social gaming groups, are likely to weigh in, shaping amendments and future votes. Should these bills advance, Maryland could be poised to join a growing roster of US states embracing regulated online gambling while tightening enforcement against grey-market alternatives.