Maryland legislators will review multiple proposals to expand online gambling during hearings scheduled for March 11. The session will consider three bills introduced by Sen. Ron Watson that would legalize online casino gaming and regulated online poker, alongside a separate bipartisan bill targeting sweepstakes-style gambling.
Watson’s legislation aims to authorize full internet casino operations, establish a distinct licensing framework for online poker that could include multistate agreements, and submit the issue to voters in a statewide referendum. Meanwhile, a companion measure sponsored by Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher and Sen. Chris West seeks to curtail illegal gambling activities, including sweepstakes casinos.
iGaming and Multistate Poker Licensing
SB 885 serves as the primary framework for online casino authorization. The bill allows online slots, table games, and bingo, and directs the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to oversee licensing and operations.
Eligible applicants include existing casino operators and sports wagering licensees, with a $1 million license fee for full operations and $500,000 for live-dealer-only setups. Reduced fees apply for minority and social equity applicants. Licenses would last five years and require labor peace agreements to prevent work stoppages or economic interference. Revenue generated is intended to support educational programs.
The bill also includes consumer protections and responsible gaming measures, such as voluntary exclusion lists, marketing limits during self-suspensions, deposit-limit restrictions, and annual reporting of unusual gambling behavior. Regulators are required to conduct annual studies on potential cannibalization effects, and an employee-displacement fund would support displaced casino workers.
Online poker is treated separately under SB 884, which creates a distinct licensing scheme for skill-based games. Poker operators would retain 70% of proceeds, and deposit limits and responsible gaming controls would apply. The legislation allows the governor, on the Commission’s recommendation, to “enter into an agreement with other governments…that allows…multijurisdictional internet skill-based gaming,” potentially enabling Maryland to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.
SB 761 would submit the online gambling expansion to voters in November 2026, asking: “Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize Internet gaming for dedicated purposes including the funding of public education?”Previous efforts by Sen. Watson over four sessions failed due to labor concerns, potential casino cannibalization, and hesitation from Senate leadership. This year’s bills incorporate safeguards aimed at addressing those concerns.
Crackdown on Sweepstakes Gambling
SB 652 targets illegal online gambling, including sweepstakes casinos. It prohibits promotion and operation of unauthorized platforms, authorizes the Attorney General to issue cease-and-desist orders, and requires payment processors to block prohibited activity. Violations carry civil and criminal penalties, including forfeiture of profits.
Earlier in the session, SB 112 and HB 295 also sought to regulate sweepstakes casinos. The Commission reported sending 75 cease-and-desist notices, with roughly one-third of operators complying. Industry representatives have called for regulatory clarity, emphasizing adherence to existing laws.
All four bills are now under review in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and will be heard on March 11. Lawmakers are expected to weigh testimony from supporters and opponents, with potential movement toward a full Senate vote if committee approval is granted.
Source:
“Maryland Sets March 11 Hearings on iGaming, Multi-State Online Poker and Sweepstakes Ban”, gamblinginsider.com, February 12, 2026
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