Maryland and Virginia Lawmakers Attempt to Pass iGaming Bill

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 01/13/2025

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Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.

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iGaming Legislation

State legislature across the US will consider legalizing online casinos in 2025. Bills have already been filed in Maryland and Virginia.

Maryland State Delegate, Vanessa Atterbeary, requested to introduce House Bill 17, aiming to authorize and implement iGaming in Maryland. Similarly, Virginia State Senate, Mamie Locke, pre-filed online casino bill SB827 on New Year’s Eve and it will officially be offered on January 8.

Marylands Attempt

Vanessa Atterbeary, Maryland State Delegate will try again to move an online casino bill in the state. HB 17 would allow for iGaming regulated by the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission. The bill was pre-filed in December and will officially be filed on 8 January 2025.

This bill is very similar to the one filed last year, which passed the house but didn’t get to the senate floor. The latest version would allow existing video lottery operators and sports betting facilities to apply for an icasino license. The bill proposes a $1 million licensing fee for operators with the license having a 5-year term limit.

Last year, The Cordish Companies was the group that was the most outspoken opponents of the proposed online casino legislation in Maryland. President of the company, Rob Norton had this to say,

I was very pro iGaming at one point in my career, and not so long ago honestly. But as time has gone on and we’ve started to see the results of states that have brought on casino, and even as mobile sports betting is expanded, my view of things has started to shift to the point where I think that we have to have a real honest conversation about what’s happening today.

Among the Provisions in the Bill

• The initial licensing fee would be $1 million, with 5-year renewals being 1% of the operator’s average annual revenue.
• In the first 5 years, operators can deduct between 20%-35% of promotional play.
• 1% of tax revenue would be earmarked for responsible gambling initiatives.
• If an applicant is live in 3 other US jurisdictions and those places are comparable in terms of igaming legislature, the application process will then be streamlined.
• Like the 2024 bill proposed, unique guidelines for “social equity applicants” will be proposed again.
• A percentage of online gambling revenue would be funneled to horse racing.

The proposal also allows for multi-state internet gaming agreements, meaning that digital poker will be allowed.

Virgina Attempting iGaming Legislation

Mamie Locke, Virginia Senator, pre-filed a bill on 31 December 2024 that would legalize online casinos in the state, this includes live dealer games. The bill would allow the state’s five casinos to have up to three digital partners on a casino license.

The casinos would pay a fee of $1 million for the license that will be valid for 5 years. The proposed tax rate is 15%. As with legal sports betting licenses, the regulator would open a 30-day application window for online casino licenses. The proposal includes advertising and problem and responsible gambling guidelines. It also requires that “1-800-GAMBLER” and the phrase “gambling problem” be vividly displayed on the platform. The legal gambling age would be 21.