A lawmaker in Maryland has made it the second state legislature to consider repealing its sports betting law.
Sen. Joanne Benson introduced Senate Bill 1033 this week, which would repeal online sports betting in Maryland. It would not impact in-person sports betting.
It is the second such bill introduced this month, as lawmakers in Vermont filed a similar bill.
Maryland sports betting framework
Maryland voters approved sports betting in 2020, with the legislature setting up the framework in 2021. In-person sportsbooks began opening in late 2021.
Online sportsbooks did not get the green light until November 2022, taking a long road through the regulatory process. There are 11 online books and 13 in-person books in the state.
In January 2025, retail sportsbooks took $17.6 million in wagers, while online sportsbooks handled $601.3 million. That brought in $160,698 and $8.1 million in taxes, respectively.
Similar Vermont bill
Vermont Rep. Thomas Stevens has introduced a similar bill looking to repeal the state’s sports betting and lottery.
“State-sanctioned gaming functions as a camouflaged form of regressive taxation,” co-sponsor Rep. Troy Headrick told PlayUSA. “It disproportionately harms low-income and working families who are forced into desperate financial decisions.”
Vermont has three online sportsbooks that have handled $222.6 million in wagers since launching in January 2024.
Maryland gambling legislation
Maryland lawmakers are a focus for the online gambling industry as they discuss online casino expansion for the second straight year. Last year, an online casino bill passed the House.
Benson’s repeal proposal is not the only sports betting legislation under consideration. Gov. Wes Moore proposed doubling the sports betting tax rate to 30% from 15% and raising table game tax rates to 25% from 20%.
Terrapin State lawmakers also introduced a bill that puts online sweepstakes casinos in the crosshairs. Sen. Paul Cornerman’s SB 860 would prohibit social sweepstakes games in the state.
