Maryland Introduces Bill to Legalize Online Casino in 2025

Although online casinos in Maryland aren’t legal, things might change soon. State Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary has proposed a bill known as House Bill 17 (HB17), which seeks the legalization of online casinos across the Old Line state.

Atterbeary’s first attempt at legalizing online casinos in Maryland failed, after stalling at Senate level. If passed this time, it will allow existing land-based casino operators to adopt online casino brands. It will also levy a 15% tax on gross gaming revenue, enforce protection against underage gambling and impose strict cybersecurity measures for player data protection.

What House Bill 17 means for
casinos in Maryland

Atterbeary’s House Bill 17 aims to revamp the Maryland casino industry. In addition to allowing the operation of online casino sites, the bill seeks to create a safe gaming environment for Maryland residents while generating significant tax revenue for the state. This expansion might benefit
all Maryland sportsbooks, thereby creating opportunities for betting platforms across the state.

Here are some of the key points of HB17:

• Only existing casino operators and their partners can apply for online casino licenses
• A 15% tax will be imposed on gross gaming revenue
• There will be a tougher stance regarding underage and problem gambling
• Additional cybersecurity measures will be implemented to protect user data

The bill also suggests giving online gambling licenses to video lottery operators and sports betting facilities. Plus, it will offer five additional licenses to applicants who meet social equity conditions.

To Atterbeary, House Bill 17 will get Maryland into the league of US States where online casinos are legal. It will also create jobs and generate significant revenue for the State. That said, if the bill is passed this year at the Maryland General Assembly, it will not be fully operational until sometime in 2027.

Maryland gamers might have their pick of online casino games

Although online casinos are not legal in Maryland at the time of writing, if the law passes, gamers resident in Maryland would be able to play the following games:

• Online video slots
• Online blackjack
• Online roulette
• Poker

Not everyone wants
online casinos across Maryland

Atterbeary’s first attempt to make online gaming legal across Maryland in 2024 wasn’t successful. The first bill was passed in the House, but it didn’t progress beyond the Senate.

At the time, land-based casino operators in Maryland strongly opposed the bill. These operators and related businesses feared that online gaming sites would reduce patron traffic and ultimately threaten their revenue. Labor unions also believed that online gaming could lead to job losses.

House Bill 17 includes responsible gaming and social equity initiatives to address these issues while focusing on how online gaming sites can generate new revenue streams for Maryland.

Maryland gamers must seek alternatives for now

Based on information released on the legislature’s website, House Bill 17 was first proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 8, the opening day of the session.

Further meetings will now take place, where lawmakers will discuss the bill and collate public feedback. If HB17 makes it through this part of the process, it could be put to a statewide vote to gain final public approval. Keep an eye on this page to get the latest
legal betting news
about online gaming in Maryland.

Playing at
Maryland online casinos
might happen soon

Things appear to be looking up for casino fans in Maryland. House Bill 17, which seeks to legalize online casinos within the state, is currently under review by the Maryland legislature. It is the second time such a bill has been proposed, and the current version addresses some of the issues raised by those who opposed it in 2024.

If passed, the bill will have a knock on effect in terms of responsible gaming and social equity initiatives. However, the fact that the state of Maryland will massively increase its gambling revenue streams is the most likely factor to affect the eventual outcome of House Bill 17.