Maryland is set to revisit its sports betting laws when the General Assembly reconvenes in January. Lawmakers will debate a bill that could ban all online sports wagering, just a few years after legalization. Its chances of passage remain uncertain.
Sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, are reviewing restrictions on prop bets, while the NBA has adjusted its injury reporting policies. Meanwhile, the rise of fast-paced prop bets is alarming many, particularly among young adults.
William Hinman, a Maryland resident who struggled with gambling addiction, shared: “I had all the high-risk symptoms. I was struggling with alcoholism. I was struggling with mental health, you know, um, depression, anxiety. Um, my wife got fed up because of my alcoholism or my depression. She ended up kicking me out of the house. We separated.” Now ten years sober, Hinman works as a peer counselor and has noticed increasing calls from college-aged gamblers: “Let’s just say we’re definitely getting a lot more calls from younger colors, definitely that young adult age, college kids.”
The Dangers of Prop Bets
Prop bets allow wagers on specific in-game events, such as whether a pass is dropped or a batter strikes out, enabling rapid losses. Hinman explained: “If you’re down money and you’re gambling desperately and recklessly, if you can do that throughout the game, rather than having to wait, you know, two or three hours until the game is over, you’re more likely to get yourself into trouble.”
Even as states report record gambling revenue, including Maryland, officials are reconsidering these bets due to addiction risks and potential corruption. A recent FBI case alleges NBA player Terry Rozier tipped off gamblers, allowing prop bettors to profit. Jason Van’t Hof noted that betting has expanded beyond superstars to minor league and college athletes.
Political and Social Pushback
Senator Joanne C. Benson introduced Senate Bill 1033 to repeal online sports wagering in Maryland, reflecting a broader movement to challenge corporate gambling. Efforts are also underway in Vermont and New York.
Online gambling has become widespread, drawing in younger, affluent, and previously unexposed players. Dr. Kavita Fischer, a psychiatrist, lost $600,000 on DraftKings despite trying to stop, illustrating how apps exploit behavioral triggers. Pew Research shows growing opposition: 43% of U.S. adults now view legalized sports betting as harmful, up from 34%, with young men particularly concerned.
The rise of corporate gambling follows decades of legal and cultural shifts, from New Hampshire’s first lottery in 1963 to the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision allowing online sports wagering. Though Maryland earned $1.589 billion from lotteries, casinos, and sportsbooks last year, critics warn that the societal harms — addiction, debt, and corruption — outweigh the fiscal benefits.
Senator Benson’s bill marks a pivotal step in addressing corporate gambling’s influence, signaling a potential nationwide movement to curb addictive and predatory betting practices.
Source:
“Maryland among states to debate repealing certain sports betting”, cbsnews.com. Oct 30, 2025
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