Maryland residents overwhelmingly support iGaming legislation

A poll shows that most Maryland residents would support online casino legalization

Since online sports betting was launched in Maryland in 2022, some wondered if online casino gaming would soon follow. Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency report indicates the state could generate more than $533 million in tax revenue in the first year if legalized. A recent poll from MDBetting.com suggests that Maryland voters would likely approve online casino legislation if the issue appears on the 2024 ballot.

One thousand registered Maryland voters of various ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds were targeted in this Pollfish. They were asked if they would support Maryland’s online casino legalization if it were on the 2024 ballot, with 75.84% of respondents saying they would vote yes.

For a Maryland online casino referendum to be on the 2024 ballot, Senate Bill 267 must first advance through the Budget and Taxation Committee and be endorsed by both chambers of the legislature. If approved by Maryland voters, legal online casino gaming could launch as soon as June 2025.

Retail casino revenue benefits the Education Trust Fund, Maryland’s small minority-owned businesses, and the districts where the casinos operate. Online casino revenue will presumably support the same endeavors.

Senator Ron Watson sponsored SB267 and suggested additional money would benefit Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an education reform initiative seeking to manage achievement gaps and enhance opportunities for pre-kinder through post-secondary students.

Online casino gaming is currently legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware. Online poker is legal in Nevada, but other casino games, such as online slots or table games, are prohibited. Online casinos are now legal in Rhode Island, but they won’t be ready to go live until at least March 2024.