Over in the Old Line State, the fate of widespread online gaming is at a standstill as of the latest legislative session in Maryland. Per a recent report, a much-awaited Senate hearing of the current Maryland online casino passed by the House generated little attention from committee members in late March. This was also likely to be the last legislative hearing on Maryland iCasino this session. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee heard HB1319, which the House passed 10 days earlier by a vote of 92-43. Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary introduced the bill earlier in the session, while one committee member voiced her concerns and then the committee chair asked a couple of questions per sources, with the discussion ending after just 18 minutes. Finally, sources have also said this likely will be its last hearing of 2024.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the state of Maryland along with more thoughts about gaming in the state.
As noted in the same article, Atterbeary, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, told Senate committee members that Maryland online casino was part of the revenue package passed by the House. To that end, the House wanted to use the $300 million in projected online casino revenue to help local jurisdictions and the state meet their obligations to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The state has only funded the education plan through 2027. One source also estimated that the Maryland online casino market could bring in $1 billion by 2029, much more than the state projected in the fiscal note attached to Atterbeary’s bill. That would help counties fund the Blueprint for years.
Atterbeary would later elaborate in one article on the bill. “I put this in because I am very passionate about our children, which I know all of our are. And, as you all know, we are running out of Blueprint funds come 2028. This is the House’s way and the way Ways and Means came up with to generate funds specifically for the Blueprint. I am passionate about not walking back on that commitment, particularly to our Pre-K three and four-year-olds.”
She would go on to note that people are already gambling on the internet illegally in Maryland. In that regard, she compared the effort to Maryland opting to legalize and regulate cannabis last session rather than continuing to let the illegal market run rampant. “I think it is incumbent on us to capture that market, regulate it, and get rid of the illegal market,” Atterbeary said. “By doing that, you can put safeguards in it. For folks who are worried about problem gaming, there are no safeguards for iGaming happening right now. Absolutely no safeguards.”
Per the same report, the House and Senate passed budget plans in late March. While the House included iCasino revenue in its budget proposal, the Senate did not. Senator Ron Watson, who introduced online casino legislation in the Senate, explained to one source in March: “My general sense is the Senate passed a balanced budget without any tax increase and is very reluctant to move forward with iGaming because of concerns about problem gaming and cannibalization.” A conference committee was supposed to work out the differences between the House and Senate budget proposals in early April.
As of this article’s writing, one source reported in early April that Senate leaders, including Senate President Bill Ferguson, have dismissed iGaming as a non-starter. A final vote on the Maryland budget was scheduled for April 3rd with the Maryland legislature adjourning on April 8th. “We have been consistent for months,” Ferguson said in a report from late March. “It is what it is. It’s a hard no on iGaming and a hard no on the combined report. Those are not things we’re to be taking up this year. Appreciate the perspective of the House, again we share similar values and where we want to go in the long run, in terms of what we want to invest in. How we get there is where the difference is.”
With that in mind, the original article noted that it is unlikely that Maryland online casinos will make it any further than the Tuesday hearing in April. Watson also told one outlet following the Senate hearing: “If it does not come out of the budget committee, it is dead.” As of this article’s writing, there are no new updates on the bill for 2024.
Once you are all dialed in regards to the most recent updates and notes coming from the Old Line State, SBS has you covered with all kinds of great info from the Maryland gaming scene and beyond. For even more info on the topic at hand, our Maryland sports betting guide has your back with an awesome array of notes and updates from the state and its recent gambling reports. On a separate note, for those interested in maximizing their wagers (and who isn’t), look no further than the best bonus betting sites rundown. Here you can find a variety of fantastic information including a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers to charge up your bets. Finally, for those on the go, look no further than the best betting apps breakdown which covers the nuances of mobile betting.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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