Maryland becomes second state to ponder axing online sports betting
Senator Joanne Benson introduces legislation to repeal online sports betting in the Old Line State, following on from Vermont introducing a similar bill earlier this month
A Maryland senator has introduced legislation designed to repeal online sports betting in the state less than three years after the vertical went live.
Democrat Joanne Benson has introduced Senate Bill 1,033 which would abolish online sports betting in Maryland, while leaving in-person sports betting intact.
Should the bill come to pass, online sports betting will no longer be available in Maryland from January 2026 onwards.
The State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission would also have to refund the application fee submitted by certain applicants for and holders of mobile sports wagering licenses under certain circumstances.
The bill has passed its first reading and has now been referred to committee.
Sport betting was first approved in the Old Line State in 2020, with online sports betting first going live in November 2022. Retail sports betting hit the state in late 2021.
There are currently 11 online sportsbooks and 13 retail sportsbooks in operation in the state.
In January, Maryland’s online sportsbooks generated handle of $601.3m, with $8.1m in taxes heading back to the state. The figure marked the fourth-best single-month tax return in Maryland’s history.
Benson’s proposal follows on from similar legislation introduced in Vermont earlier this month.
Senators Thomas Stevens, Michael Mrowicki, and Troy Headrick introduced Bill H.133 which would repeal legalized sports betting and online lottery in the Green Mountain State.
The bill was introduced on February 4 and has been referred to Vermont’s House Committe on Government Operations and Military Affairs.
Vermont’s sports betting market first launched in January 2024, with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics chosen as the state’s first operators.
Earlier this year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore included plans to double the state’s online sports betting tax rate from 15% to 30%.
The move formed part of Moore’s proposed 2026 fiscal budget, and would put Maryland’s tax rate in line with the likes of Vermont (31%) and Pennsylvania (36%).