Maryland’s effort to legalize online casino gaming appears to have stalled as the 2026 legislative session approaches a critical deadline, with one key bill withdrawn by its sponsor, rendering the other obsolete.
Key Takeaways
- Maryland Senator Ron Watson withdrew legislation that would have introduced iGaming to the state.
- The bill, SB 761, called for a referendum allowing voters to decide on the issue.
- The bill was withdrawn on March 13, leaving its companion bill highly unlikely to advance further.
Two Senate bills, introduced by Senator Ron Watson to Maryland’s General Assembly last month, have effectively stalled. Together, the bills would have authorized and regulated Maryland online casinos, allowing the state’s six commercial casinos to offer it.
The first measure, Senate Bill 761, would have introduced a referendum on election day, bringing the issue up to voters. This measure was withdrawn by Senator Watson on March 13. The second bill, Senate Bill 885, provided the outline of the proposed regulatory structure.
SB 885 has also failed to move out of its committee before Maryland’s “Crossover Day” deadline (which this year falls on March 23). Normally, this means that bills that fail to pass rarely progress further. On top of that, without SB 761, the legislation technically can’t move forward without referendum approval.
Both measures also faced staunch opposition. Delegate Wayne Hartman, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said there was limited appetite for controversial legislation, “I feel pretty confident there’s not an appetite for it this year,” he said.
“My concern is, really, next year, after the election, when our deficit continues to grow, what are we going to see to quench the thirst of the majority party here to spend money?”
Opposition also came from both the casino industry and local officials. Representatives from Ocean Downs casino have warned lawmakers that legalizing online gaming could threaten jobs and cut tourism to the state. Worcester County Commissioners have also raised concerns about the potential economic impacts on the region.
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Massachusetts online casino proposal sent to study
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, a similar effort to legalize online casino gaming has also stalled. Lawmakers voted unanimously to send an online gambling bill for study, a move widely seen as ending its prospects for the current session.
The bill, introduced by Representative David Muradian, would have allowed licensed casinos to operate online platforms offering digital casino games, overseen by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Each of the state’s three casinos would be allowed to operate multiple branded platforms.
The proposal included measures such as age restrictions, location requirements, deposit limits, and taxation on operator revenue, and it also set out funding for gambling addiction programs and enforcement against unlicensed operators.
Supporters say the bill would bring online gambling activity into a regulated framework, but opponents have raised concerns about the competition with physical casinos and the dangers of problem gambling.
Representative Muradian has indicated that he plans to reintroduce the bill in a future legislative session.
