The Free State may no longer be a free state for online sports betting next year. This after a Maryland lawmaker filed a bill to shut down the thriving Maryland sports betting industry starting January 1, 2026.
Maryland Senator Joanne Benson filed Senate Bill 1033 earlier this year in the hopes of shutting down the legal online sports betting market. This marks the second legislative attempt in the country to eliminate an already legal sports betting market, with lawmakers in Vermont also proposing the same in February.
SB 1033 is a proposed legislation that aims to eliminate the legal online sports betting industry in Maryland. Under SB 1033, online sportsbooks could receive refunds on certain application fees should it be approved.
It is, however, worth noting that SB 1033 won’t affect retail sportsbooks, which have been legally operating in Maryland since 2021. Digital sports betting was launched in 2022. Since then, both verticals have produced a combined $143.2 million in tax revenue.
Maryland’s sports betting industry also saw a massive uptick following the introduction of mobile sports betting with the betting handle increasing from $39.7 million in October 2022 to $219 million the next month.
These numbers highlight the large economic impact of sports betting in Maryland, leading many to point out that attempting to shut down the industry in the state would cause massive harm to Maryland’s economy. Maryland’s sports betting revenue is up by 26.6% from December 2024 to January 2025.
In December, the state’s total sports betting revenue was $43.405M, which levied $6,482,152 in taxes. For January, the total revenue was $53.893M, which amounted to $8,083,914 in taxes. A $1.5 million increase.
This is the result of widespread engagement with sportsbooks among sports fans in Maryland. As per recent data, Maryland punters have wagered more than $12 billion through 2025 with operators reporting a gross gaming revenue of $1.4 billion in the same period.
Opponents of bill SB 1033 have pointed out that, considering the numbers and the taxes generated by sports betting, shutting down online operations could potentially impact the ability to fund public services such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Despite the pushback against online sports betting, the Maryland General Assembly is considering the possibility of expanding casino gambling operations in the state. In fact, the senate and the house are looking to assess proposed bills that would allow the addition of historical horse machines at certain Maryland sportsbooks.
Historical horse racing machines, often referred to as HHR machines, are electronic gaming devices that allow players to bet on races that have already taken place. These machines use data from previously run horse races, obscuring the identity of the horses, tracks, and dates. This makes the race appear as a new event. Players can then place wagers based on the outcome of these past races, without knowing the specifics of each race.
Historical horse machines have been popular in some states such as Wyoming where casino gaming is regulated heavily. HHR machines are often classified under the category of pari-mutuel betting, which is legal in some states.
This makes it easier for Maryland lawmakers to incorporate historical horse machines to traditional retail sportsbooks since it aligns with conservative gambling laws.
Although SB 1033 has gained significant support from retail bookmakers and problem gambling advocates, industry experts believe that it won’t advance in the current legislative session.
This is because it was introduced after the Senate’s February 3 deadline. Making it more challenging is the fact that it was sent to the rules committee instead of going through the proper legislative channels.
Moreover, the state of Maryland also does not allow for the discussion of bills to carry over to the next session. This means that it will have to be reintroduced next year to stay under consideration.
The Free State may no longer be a free state for online sports betting next year. This after a Maryland lawmaker filed a bill to shut down the thriving Maryland sports betting industry starting January 1, 2026.
Maryland Senator Joanne Benson filed Senate Bill 1033 earlier this year in the hopes of shutting down the legal online sports betting market. This marks the second legislative attempt in the country to eliminate an already legal sports betting market, with lawmakers in Vermont also proposing the same in February.
SB 1033 is a proposed legislation that aims to eliminate the legal online sports betting industry in Maryland. Under SB 1033, online sportsbooks could receive refunds on certain application fees should it be approved.
It is, however, worth noting that SB 1033 won’t affect retail sportsbooks, which have been legally operating in Maryland since 2021. Digital sports betting was launched in 2022. Since then, both verticals have produced a combined $143.2 million in tax revenue.
Maryland’s sports betting industry also saw a massive uptick following the introduction of mobile sports betting with the betting handle increasing from $39.7 million in October 2022 to $219 million the next month.
These numbers highlight the large economic impact of sports betting in Maryland, leading many to point out that attempting to shut down the industry in the state would cause massive harm to Maryland’s economy. Maryland’s sports betting revenue is up by 26.6% from December 2024 to January 2025.
In December, the state’s total sports betting revenue was $43.405M, which levied $6,482,152 in taxes. For January, the total revenue was $53.893M, which amounted to $8,083,914 in taxes. A $1.5 million increase.
This is the result of widespread engagement with sportsbooks among sports fans in Maryland. As per recent data, Maryland punters have wagered more than $12 billion through 2025 with operators reporting a gross gaming revenue of $1.4 billion in the same period.
Opponents of bill SB 1033 have pointed out that, considering the numbers and the taxes generated by sports betting, shutting down online operations could potentially impact the ability to fund public services such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Despite the pushback against online sports betting, the Maryland General Assembly is considering the possibility of expanding casino gambling operations in the state. In fact, the senate and the house are looking to assess proposed bills that would allow the addition of historical horse machines at certain Maryland sportsbooks.
Historical horse racing machines, often referred to as HHR machines, are electronic gaming devices that allow players to bet on races that have already taken place. These machines use data from previously run horse races, obscuring the identity of the horses, tracks, and dates. This makes the race appear as a new event. Players can then place wagers based on the outcome of these past races, without knowing the specifics of each race.
Historical horse machines have been popular in some states such as Wyoming where casino gaming is regulated heavily. HHR machines are often classified under the category of pari-mutuel betting, which is legal in some states.
This makes it easier for Maryland lawmakers to incorporate historical horse machines to traditional retail sportsbooks since it aligns with conservative gambling laws.
Although SB 1033 has gained significant support from retail bookmakers and problem gambling advocates, industry experts believe that it won’t advance in the current legislative session.
This is because it was introduced after the Senate’s February 3 deadline. Making it more challenging is the fact that it was sent to the rules committee instead of going through the proper legislative channels.
Moreover, the state of Maryland also does not allow for the discussion of bills to carry over to the next session. This means that it will have to be reintroduced next year to stay under consideration.
Although online sports betting remains legal in Maryland, the proposal of SB 1033 has started a conversation about the future of sports betting in the Free State. As the debates continue, it will be interesting to see how Maryland navigates this issue as the outcome could have a massive impact on the broader opinion of sports betting in the nation.
Although online sports betting remains legal in Maryland, the proposal of SB 1033 has started a conversation about the future of sports betting in the Free State. As the debates continue, it will be interesting to see how Maryland navigates this issue as the outcome could have a massive impact on the broader opinion of sports betting in the nation.
