Maryland Senator Withdraws Online Casino Bill

Any hopes to legalize online casino gaming via referendum in Maryland this year were likely dashed when state Sen. Ron Watson recently withdrew SB 0761.

While there is a bill cross-filed in the House, HB 1255 from Del. Caylin Young, it has remained stuck in the Ways and Means Committee after an initial hearing in early March.

This is the second straight year Watson and other legislators in the Old Line State have seen such efforts grind to a halt. Watson's bill to legalize iGaming along with House counterpart and Del. Vanessa Atterbeary ended in 2025 when Gov. Wes Moore was able to negotiate a budget that partially closed a $3.3 billion deficit by raising the sports betting tax rate on mobile operators from 15% to 20%.

Watson does have a separate bill that would legalize internet casino and internet bingo and be regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming, but SB 885 has yet to advance from the Senate's Budget and Taxation Committee. It also does not have a companion bill cross-filed in the House.

Focus on gaming is elsewhere

Much like last year, Maryland legislators have turned their attention to other gaming verticals rather than legalizing online casino. Historical horse racing has been one such focus, where bills filed in both the House and Senate have had robust committee hearings.

There also is legislation looking to ban sweepstakes casinos, with HB 295 on first reading in the Senate after passing out of the House on Friday. This year's legislative push is backed by Maryland Lottery and Gaming, which had sent nearly a dozen cease-and-desist letters to sweeps operators last year.