A recent poll highlights steep public resistance to iGaming expansion in Maryland, revealing that 71% of voters are opposed once they understand the concept. The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners for the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG), comes after two years of legislative efforts to introduce online casino legislation in the state.
“These results show that once Marylanders understand what iGambling really is, they strongly reject it,” said Jason Gumer, NAAiG board member and Monarch Casino & Resort executive vice president & general counsel. “Policymakers should take note: voters are deeply concerned about the risks to children, families and communities.”
The survey interviewed 650 registered voters from September 15–18, 2025, using phone and text-to-online methods. The margin of error is 3.8%, with data weighted by age, gender, race, region, education, and partisanship. Initially, 49% of respondents said they had never heard of iGaming, and only 17% viewed it favorably. After receiving a description, which included 24-hour access to slot machines and table games via mobile devices, opposition rose sharply to 71%.
Legislative push meets public resistance
Lawmakers, including Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary and Senator Ron Watson, have introduced iGaming legislation in the past two sessions. Atterbeary guided a 2024 bill through the Assembly, but it stalled in the Senate amid strong opposition from The Cordish Companies and casino labor unions.
“At this point, we’re not being left behind,”Atterbeary said during a hearing earlier this year. “We are behind, quite frankly.”
The debate has often focused on potential revenue cannibalization for brick-and-mortar casinos. In 2024, The Innovation Group projected that expansion could cut traditional casino revenue by 10%, according to a report for the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission. Watson emphasized protecting jobs, stating:
“Folks are making money. Any casino that implements iGaming and gets rid of employees is doing it out of greed, not because they don’t have the money to do it.”
In addition to online casinos, lawmakers considered banning sweepstakes casinos, though Senate Bill 860 ultimately failed in the House. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has acted independently by sending multiple cease-and-desist letters, including one to Virtual Gaming Worlds.
Public education seen as key to success
Watson reflected on the 2024 legislative effort at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States meeting, noting that public education will be crucial for future success. “We need to treat it like a campaign,” he said. “The person who introduces the legislation is just the quarterback. In this case, you need a whole team behind you.”
Survey findings reinforce this point. Opposition grows as voters learn more about iGaming’s potential impacts, including risks to minors, addiction, and social costs. For example, when respondents were informed that iGaming could enable teenagers to gamble on mobile devices, 57% reported doubts about legalization, with 44% expressing serious concerns. Additional warnings regarding addiction, family disruption, and financial burdens, particularly drawing on New Jersey’s experience, generated similar skepticism among voters.
The poll underscores the uphill battle for proponents of Maryland iGaming, emphasizing that even with legislative efforts, public resistance remains strong and voter education will be a critical factor ahead of any potential 2026 referendum.
Source:
“Maryland iGaming faces steep public opposition, according to new poll”, naaig.org. October 9, 2025
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