Maryland's Vanessa Atterbeary Recognized as American Gambling Awards 2024 Policymaker of the Year
Online Casino Gaming in Maryland: A Look at Vanessa Atterbeary's 2025 Plan
As of mid-2025, online casino gaming is not legal in Maryland. Despite ongoing legislative efforts, no bill legalizing it has been fully passed or implemented. However, Maryland legislator Vanessa Atterbeary is leading a push for legalization with her proposed House Bill 17 (HB 17), which aims to legalize online casinos for residents 21 and older.
Current Status of Online Casino Legality in Maryland
Online casino gaming remains illegal in Maryland due to the absence of enacted laws. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has not yet been established as the licensing authority for online casinos.
Vanessa Atterbeary's 2025 Plan (HB 17)
HB 17 proposes licensing linked to existing casinos with a $1 million initial fee, a 15% tax rate, and strong consumer protections such as cybersecurity measures, age verification, and self-exclusion programs. It also earmarks revenue for public education and addressing problem gambling. Importantly, the bill requires a statewide voter referendum for final approval, meaning online casinos cannot legally operate until Maryland voters themselves approve it, likely in 2026.
Legislative Progress
The bill HB 17 passed initial hearings in 2025 and was referred to Senate committees, signaling increased legislative seriousness compared to prior years. However, it has not yet passed the Senate, and the final decision remains pending voter approval through the referendum mechanism outlined in the bill.
Key Provisions
The bill HB 17 includes provisions for licensing fees, tax rates, consumer protections, and revenue allocation. It also requires a statewide voter referendum for final approval.
Additional Requirement
The bill HB 17 requires a statewide voter referendum for final approval, meaning online casinos cannot legally operate until Maryland voters themselves approve it, likely in 2026.
In summary, online casino gaming remains illegal in Maryland, but Vanessa Atterbeary is leading a legislative push aiming for legalization pending voter approval in the subsequent election cycle.
Other Notable Events
- Atterbeary said she doesn't "see a tax hike coming in sports betting" in Maryland.
- Winners of the American Gambling Awards 2024, which includes categories such as Online Casino of the Year, Gaming Product of the Year, and Policemaker of the Year, can be found at www.gambling.com/us/awards.
- During the 2024 legislative session in Annapolis, Atterbeary was successful in winning approval in the House of a bill to legalize online casino gaming, known as iGaming.
- Vanessa Atterbeary, a Maryland legislator, has been named the American Gambling Awards 2024 Policymaker of the Year. Atterbeary said she is honored to receive the award and remains committed to creating a regulatory environment that encourages innovation and ensures that every community member has a voice in the process.
- Atterbeary said the potential push for online lottery games, plus iGaming competition from other states, are arguments in favor of iGaming legalization in Maryland.
- The American Gambling Awards 2024 has 12 categories, including Online Casino of the Year, Gaming Product of the Year, Betting Product of the Year, Online Sportsbook of the Year, Platform Provider of the Year, Data Service Provider of the Year, Payment Service Provider of the Year, Responsible Gaming Award, Dealmaker of the Year, Policemaker of the Year, Regulator of the Year, and C-Suite Gaming Executive of the Year.
- FanDuel CEO Amy Howe, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, and DraftKings CEO Jason Robins are among the judges for the American Gambling Awards 2024.
- Winners of the American Gambling Awards 2024 receive a Golden Eagle trophy.
- Maryland also is home to brick-and-mortar casinos that allow people to place in-person sports bets.
- While sports betting is legal and operational in Washington, D.C., and 38 states, including Maryland, iGaming is legal in only a half-dozen states.
- The general news highlights that online casino gaming is yet to be legalized in Maryland, despite the efforts of Maryland legislator Vanessa Atterbeary, as indicated by her proposed House Bill 17 (HB 17).
- In a separate news, Vanessa Atterbeary, the Policymaker of the Year at the American Gambling Awards 2024, has expressed that she doesn't foresee a significant increase in sports betting taxes in Maryland.
