Legal mobile sports betting went live in Maryland in November 2022, and two Maryland lawmakers — Sen. Ronald L. Watson and Sen. Nancy J. King — hope to see increased gaming options in the state in coming years.
The duo proposed legislation this week that could legalize iCasino gaming. SB 267, if passed, would put an online casino referendum in front of voters in 2024.
A bill introduced in the Maryland Senate today would potentially legalize “Internet gaming” (online casino-style gambling) in the state. If passed, it would place a referendum on the topic on the Nov. 2024 ballot.
— Hayes Gardner (@HayesGardner) January 25, 2023
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is expected to first address the bill. Maryland’s legislative session lasts through April 10, giving the legislature ample time to discuss additional online gaming options.
Maryland bill details
A tax rate of 15% is proposed in the bill, which states that licensees would “retain 85% of the proceeds from internet gaming.” Online casino licenses would cost $500,000 and be active for five years.
If approved to be put on the 2024 ballot, the question in front of Maryland voters would be: “Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize Internet gaming for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education?”
Should Maryland voters approve it, online casinos could go live in the state in 2025. Given the expected expansion of mobile and retail sportsbooks in the state, Marylanders could have access to an array of legal gambling platforms in the next five years.
New Hampshire bill
New Hampshire lawmakers are also considering legalizing iCasino as an expansion of the state’s gaming offerings. The state currently allows legal sports betting, with DraftKings as the state’s lone operator.
Net proceeds from online gaming would go to a community college scholarship fund. Customers would have to be 18 years old to participate in online casino gaming, and a recently introduced bill proposes that legal online casino gaming take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Additional details of the bill need to be hashed out in upcoming committee meetings. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is tasked first with considering the bill.
New Hampshire’s legislative session lasts through the end of June.
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