Senator Ron Watson’s proposal to allow online casino gambling in Old Line State failed during the state’s 2023 legislative session. However, he managed to spark interest among other lawmakers about the possibility of expanding Maryland’s online gambling.
As part of the budget for the fiscal year 2024, the Maryland Lottery must submit a report to the General Assembly regarding online casino gambling. The study has already begun, and it needs to be presented to the legislature by November 15. The study’s main objective is to better understand how regulating online casino gambling in Maryland might affect its residents.
The lottery recently announced that it had created a request for proposal (RFP) to find a third party that would conduct the study. The RFP was issued on June 2, and by June 14th the lottery had already addressed a few inquiries from potential applicants.
The quick interest does not come as a surprise, especially to Watson. He thinks online gambling could generate over $100 million in annual tax revenues in Maryland.
What Will the Research Focus On?
Once the lottery chooses a third party to conduct the study, the selected entity will focus its research on several important areas, including:
- Estimating the size of the online gambling market in Maryland.
- Assessing the potential economic effects on physical casinos in the state.
- Evaluating the potential impact on the state’s lottery system.
- Examining the outcomes and findings from other states that have legalized online gambling.
- Investigating the potential impact of online gambling on individuals with gambling problems.
It is expected that either Senator Watson or another legislator from Maryland will bring up the topic of legalizing online casino gambling during the 2024 legislative session. Senator Watson’s goal is to allow Maryland voters to decide whether they want online casino gaming through a vote during the 2024 election.
Online Sports Betting Allowed in Maryland
Currently, Maryland sports betting apps are regulated (and placing sports bets in physical locations like casinos and stadiums). Besides being able to gamble in Maryland sports betting, residents of the state also have the opportunity to participate in off-track horse race betting. They can experience pari-mutuel action through three companies: TwinSpires, XpressBet, and TVG.
However, online casino gambling is not allowed. Maryland has physical casinos where you can play games, but there are no options for playing casino games online.
Online Casinos Are Rare in the United States
In the United States, only six states permit their residents to engage in online casino gaming. These states are Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, and soon Rhode Island, where recently passed legislation will take effect on March 1, 2024. Nevada offers online poker but not casino games.
So, it looks like the wheels are in motion and that lawmakers will at least kick the tires on the idea of online casino gaming in Maryland.
*Bookmakers Review will continue to follow the developments and bring you updates as they are warranted.
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