Maryland will not get online casinos in 2024

Marylanders hopes of seeing online casinos arrive in the state before long have been dashed in the Senate with lawmakers shutting a House of Representatives-sponsored bill in its final dash to the governor’s office. The Senate has proven too tall an order for HB 1319, backed by Vanessa Atterbeary, to clear, and legislative efforts to see online casinos in Maryland would have to wait another year. The bill did not get a floor vote in the Senate, but rather got stuck in the Budget and Taxation Committee, as is the fate of many similar pieces of legislation.

The good news is that despite the setback, discussions surrounding iGaming are now more pronounced and open. Although scepticism still permeates legislative efforts, there is a good bit of momentum for the matter. Marylanders may not need to wait much longer either.

HB 1319 has outlined a possible industry that is very much in line with industry standards elsewhere in the United States where online casinos are legal, and also promises a fair bit of return to the state with the proposed 55% levy on online casino games, with the exception of live casino dealers which would have been taxed 20% under the draft law.

The reason why this is the case is that live dealer games actually require a much more complex infrastructure and have a higher maintenance cost as they involve purpose-built live gaming studios along with professionally trained croupiers the likes of which you find in Vegas-style casinos around the country.

Atterbeary was hoping to see as many as 30 licenses awarded to various companies that would cost $1m for a five-year period as well, giving the state an immediate financial boost. The draft proposed that all land-based casinos and racetracks, as well as VLT operators, apply for a license, giving a pretty competitive field for online gambling.

The House of Representatives showed overwhelming support for the bill as well, passing with 92 votes for and 43 against. Atterbeary may renew efforts for next year, but an even better way to move things forward would be to seek co-sponsorship from across the political pond. A Democrat herself, HB 1319 and its successor may benefit from the backing of the Grand Old Party as well.

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