(AsiaGameHub) – Efforts to legalize online casinos in Maryland have lost momentum during the 2026 legislative session. A referendum bill from Senator Ron Watson was withdrawn, and the companion measure that would have set rules for Maryland’s online casinos failed to advance out of committee before Crossover Day. This leaves the state’s push to legalize online casino gaming in a vulnerable position as the session enters its final phase.
Good to Know
- SB 761—the referendum bill tied to Maryland’s online casino legalization effort—was pulled by Senator Watson.
- SB 885, which would have established the framework for internet gaming and online bingo, remained in committee.
- The broader Maryland iGaming plan cannot proceed in its current form without voter approval via a referendum.
The two-bill strategy was designed to work together, but that structure now appears to be the main reason the effort has stalled. SB 761 would have put a Maryland online casino referendum on the ballot, while SB 885 outlined how internet gaming and online bingo would be licensed and regulated. Once SB 761 was withdrawn, the path for SB 885 narrowed sharply because the regulatory bill depended on referendum approval.
Timing also worked against the proposal. Maryland General Assembly records show both Senate bills were introduced in early February and heard on March 11. Yet SB 885 did not advance from committee before the March 23 Crossover Day deadline—a point in the session where bills that haven’t crossed chambers rarely recover. The Maryland General Assembly’s homepage on March 24 also noted the legislature was nearing sine die, leaving little room for a last-minute save.
Opposition came from multiple angles. Delegate Wayne Hartman, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, made clear that support within Annapolis was weak. He said: “I feel pretty confident there’s not an appetite for it this year.”
He also raised a longer-term concern about state finances. He said: “My concern is, really, next year, after the election, when our deficit continues to grow, what are we going to see to quench the thirst of the majority party here to spend money?”
Casino interests also pushed back. Representatives from Ocean Downs Casino warned lawmakers that Maryland online gambling could harm tourism and put local jobs at risk. Worcester County Commissioners shared similar worries, arguing that internet casino play could draw spending away from in-person venues in the region. That argument has surfaced in other states too, where online casino bills often face resistance from retail operators worried about cannibalization—even as supporters say digital gaming can add tax revenue and keep play within a regulated market.
For now, legal online casino gaming in Maryland remains out of reach. The state still has six commercial casinos, and Watson’s proposal would have let those operators join a regulated online casino market. But with the referendum bill gone and the implementation measure stuck in committee, online casinos in Maryland look unlikely in 2026 unless lawmakers revisit the idea in a new form later on.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
