Maryland Proposes iGaming Bill, Voter Approval Required for Online Casino Launch

House Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) has prefiled House Bill 17 (HB 17) ahead of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 session, set to begin on January 8. The bill seeks to legalize online casino gambling (“iGaming”) in Maryland, allowing the state’s six brick-and-mortar casino operators to offer online platforms or “skins.”

HB 17 also proposes granting iGaming licenses to certain sportsbook operators. In addition, the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission would oversee the expanded market and hold two competitive bidding rounds for five additional iGaming licenses.

Maryland Lawmaker Files Bill to Legalize Online Casino Gambling

Atterbeary’s bill does not specify an exact tax rate but suggests it will generate significant revenue for elementary and secondary education, likely via Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future. Last year, Atterbeary floated a 55% tax on iGaming gross revenue. The bill sets a $1 million license fee for a five-year term and includes responsible gaming requirements, such as clear messaging and resources for problem gambling.

HB 17 also incorporates a social equity component, modeled after Maryland’s 2021 sports betting law. To encourage diversity in the industry, iGaming applicants who meet at least two of four criteria—including residence or schooling in economically disadvantaged areas, or attendance at a Pell Grant-eligible Maryland college—could qualify as “social equity applicants.”

While Maryland’s 2024 iGaming bill passed the House, it stalled in the Senate. If HB 17 advances, voters would have the final say through a statewide ballot referendum, as legalizing iGaming would require an amendment to Maryland’s constitution.

Currently, online casino gambling is legal in only seven U.S. states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Maryland’s largest casino operator, Cordish (owner of Maryland Live!), has opposed iGaming expansion.