Maryland House Pushes iGaming Bill to Fund Education

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 03/27/2024

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Maryland House Pushes iGaming Bill

The Maryland House of Delegates is moving ahead with a bill to legalize online casinos and iGaming as part of a more extensive $1.2 billion revenue package designed to fund critical education and transportation projects across the state. However, the bill faces significant hurdles as Senate leaders have consistently rejected calls for both gaming expansion and tax increases.

House Bill 1319 Advances to Full House Vote

House Bill 1319, introduced by Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, successfully passed the committee on Wednesday with a 15-7 vote. The proposed legislation aims to allow each of the state’s six brick-and-mortar casinos to operate up to three iGaming platforms, with the generated tax revenue being dedicated to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a comprehensive early childhood, elementary, and secondary education program.

In an interview with Maryland Matters, Del. Atterbeary emphasized the importance of the bill’s progress, stating she thinks:

It’s a different story when things are in front of you and actually on the table and are passed. We made it very clear that our members are interested in doing something for the Blueprint. We’re going to send over what we think is the right thing to do.

With the committee’s approval, the bill now advances to the full House floor, where it must be voted on and passed to the Senate before the General Assembly’s “Crossover” day, scheduled for Monday, March 18.

Senate Leaders Stand Firm in Opposition to Gambling Expansion

Despite the momentum building in the House, Senate leaders have made their stance clear: they do not plan on entertaining any measures related to gaming expansion this year. Both Senate President Bill Ferguson and State Sen. Guy Guzzone, Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, have voiced their strong opposition to expanding gambling in Maryland.

Guzzone’s opposition is particularly notable, as Senate Bill 603, a separate iGaming measure introduced by Sen. Ron Watson, has been sitting in his committee since January without any progress.

The iGaming bill is just one part of a larger $1.2 billion revenue package put forward by House Democrats, which also includes closing corporate tax loopholes and increasing taxes, fees, and tolls to fund both education and transportation initiatives. House leaders claim that these measures are needed to address the state’s projected budget deficits and to also prevent cuts to vital programs and services.

However, the Senate remains adamant in its opposition to the House’s revenue proposals, with Ferguson emphasizing that there is little room for compromise on the issue during the current legislative session. Subsequently, as the session continues, the future of the iGaming bill and the larger revenue package remains uncertain.

House leaders appear to be steadfast in their attempt to try and figure out a way to solve the state’s financial issues, while, on the other side of the coin, the Senate leaders appear also to be holding firm in their resistance to any tax or gaming expansion measures.

iGaming is currently legal in just seven states – New Jersey, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Michigan.