A second bill to legalize online casinos was filed last week in the Maryland House of Delegates.
House Bill 1319, sponsored by Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, is scheduled for debate in the House Ways and Means Committee on February 26. It would award up to 12 online casino licenses. Unlike Senate Bill 603, which was introduced in late January, HB 1319 doesn’t require the licenses be connected to the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos.
The new bill would tax licensees at a minimum of 20 percent on live dealer table games and a minimum 55 percent on other online casino gaming. It lists an initial licensing fee of $1 million and each license is good for five years.
The Senate bill taxes gross revenue at 47 percent.
The Senate bill is scheduled for committee debate February 28. If either the House or Senate bill is approved by a floor vote, the other chamber will debate and possibly amend it, and the two bills will have to be reconciled in a conference committee. It would then be subject to voter approval in the November elections, with possible live iGaming in 2025.
