The state of Maryland is moving forward with steps to legalize online casinos in 2024 with the award of a study contract this week related to iGaming.
Just two months after launching online sports wagering in the state, Maryland lawmakers introduced a bill in January to legalize MD online casinos.
Sen. Ron Watson’s online casino bill SB 267 made no movement after being introduced and will wait until 2024 for further review. Watson (Democrat, Prince George’s County) filed the bill along with Sen. Nancy King (Democrat, Montgomery County).
In the meantime, Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) announced on Thursday they have awarded an iGaming fixed-price study contract to The Innovation Group.
With 30 years of experience, the company has helped bring many of the world’s largest entertainment and hospitality developments to life, one area being gaming and casinos.
In 2022, The Innovation Group participated in a study to see if both Richmond and Petersburg, Va., could host a casino of their own with less than 25 miles distance between the two. The study concluded that both cities could support a casino and provide an economic boost to the region.
On Thursday, the monthly MLGCA meeting voted and approved an iGaming study contract for The Innovation Group.
“We issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) on June 5 and received five proposals by or July 7,” MLGCA Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer James Nielson said at the meeting. “The evaluation committee reviewed proposals, came to a consensus ranking, and gave a recommendation to the director this week. The proposal ranked number one technically was submitted by The Innovation Group. Their financial proposal ranked third, but the committee believes that the slightly higher price is reasonable given the services being provided.”
Nielson said the MLGCA will meet with The Innovation Group in about 10 days to work through the specific timeline to perform the study.
“We’re hoping to have something in the, at least a draft in the early September timeframe,” Nielson said. “This is a pretty significant report and a relatively short timeframe. So, we want somebody who’s going to pay attention and dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s.”
Internet Gaming – Authorization and Implementation
The bill introduced in January, “Internet Gaming – Authorization and Implementation” is designed to make Internet gambling available to the state’s six million residents.
Watson’s bill, SB 267, would authorize the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses to video lottery operators in Maryland to conduct Internet gaming operations. The bill clearly states it supports “casino-style gaming through an online gaming system,” on a computer or mobile device.
The bill sets the initial license fee for an Internet gaming license at $500,000, good for five years.
The proposal to launch Internet gaming follows behind the state’s rollout of retail sports betting in December 2021 and then online/mobile sports betting in November 2022.
Maryland is a prime candidate for online casinos. Its proximity to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware, which all have online casinos, will possibly help get a referendum passed.
Several new forms of gambling have appeared in the Commonwealth of Virginia over the past five years, a border state with Maryland. But Virginia law prohibits online casinos. The state has opened three land-based casinos in less than a year. It also allows retail and online sports wagering, charitable poker, horse racing, and skill games.
Many states have recognized gaming’s ability to raise state and local revenues. Virginia is following along closely with its neighbors in adding to the available options.
The District of Columbia, another border neighbor with Maryland, only allows retail and online sports wagering at the moment.
Maryland Land-Based Casinos:
- Horseshoe Casino, Baltimore
- Ocean Downs Casino, Berlin
- Live! Hotel & Casino, Hanover
- Hollywood Casino, Perryville
- Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone
- MGM National Harbor, National Harbor
