Maryland: Online casino expansion not moving forward in 2024

The old adage “in like a lion, out like a lamb” is an apt comparison for the prospects of online casinos in Maryland. Although the interest and discussion was not limited to March, since last fall, operators, suppliers, consultants, legislators and many others in the US gambling landscape had been talking about the possibility of Maryland legalizing casinos online. However, on Monday (April 8), those prospects quietly faded when the general meeting concluded without taking any action regarding the game.This loss, from the perspective of the gaming industry, is the second key in this session.

Ten days earlier, the Georgia General Assembly also concluded its term without legalizing digital sports betting. This means that the two states that were projected to be most conducive to an expansion of gambling failed to produce results. In Georgia, lawmakers are still stuck on how to spend revenue rather than deciding whether to support the legislation. Negotiations continued until the last minutes of the session.

In Maryland, if lawmakers had considered online gambling on the final day, it would have been to send a referendum to voters to determine whether they want it or not, but without a legal framework. Similarly, sports betting was legalized in the same way, and after voters approved it in November 2020, details were worked out and regulations were developed. This won't be the year for online casinos to be legalized in Maryland, and maybe that won't be such a bad thing. Clearly, state authorities still have much to discuss and investigate in terms of how to address 

Across the country, few opportunities remain for gambling expansion in state legislatures. Some of those that exist have little chance of being approved. Hopes in Minnesota were complicated last week when the state's racing commission approved regulations to allow historic horse racing. Considered by many to be a violation of the state's promise of gaming exclusivity to its tribes, this decision resulted in several new gaming bills in the legislature that expressly prohibit historic horse racing. 

The time lawmakers will spend banning these races and dealing with the gaming commission will be subtracted from negotiations for a deal that could allow online sports betting statewide. House sports betting sponsor Zack Stephenson responded to the racing committee by introducing a bill explicitly banning historic horse racing. It was initially scheduled to be heard in the Commerce Committee on Monday (April 8), but after its introduction, the committee adjourned for a plenary session