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*hb0195*
HOUSE BILL 195
C7 6lr1641
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Queen
Requested: November 1, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Ways and Means
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 4, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission – Authority to Conduct Studies 2
on the Use of Emerging Technology – Collaboration and the Workgroup on 3
Gambling Prevention Technology 4
FOR the purpose of requiring authorizing the State Lottery and Gaming Control 5
Commission, in collaboration with Bowie State University, Morgan State University, 6
and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, to conduct certain 7
studies of the State lottery and gaming program that identify certain trends and 8
emerging technology to create a safe and transparent gambling environment; 9
requiring the Commission to analyze certain technology that may be used by the 10
Commission to carry out its duties in implementing certain provisions of law 11
concerning sports wagering; requiring the Commission to collaborate and partner 12
with or contract with certain institutions of higher education in the State, 13
foundations, or private entities under certain circumstances; requiring the 14
Commission to designate the Director of the State Lottery and Gaming Control 15
Agency or the Director’s designee to collaborate with and participate in certain 16
studies; establishing the Workgroup on Gambling Prevention Technology in the 17
Commission to study best practices in using g ambling prevention technology, 18
including geofencing technology, to ascertain the extent of problem gambling on 19
college campuses in the State; and generally relating to the State Lottery and 20
Gaming Commission’s authority to conduct studies on the use of eme rging 21
technology and the Workgroup on Gambling Prevention Technology. 22
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
2 HOUSE BILL 195
Article – State Government 1
Section 9–109 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
Article – State Government 6
Section 9–1E–03(a)(2) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
BY adding to 10
Article – State Government 11
Section 9–1E–03(a)(3) and (4) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – State Government 17
9–109. 18
(a) In addition to the specific powers granted and duties imposed by this subtitle, 19
the Commission has the powers and duties set forth in this section. 20
(b) (1) [The] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , THE 21
Commission shall conduct studies of the State lottery and gaming program to: 22
(i) identify any defect in this subtitle, Subtitle 1A of this title, or the 23
regulations of the Agency that may allow abuses in the operation and administration of the 24
State lottery and gaming program or any evasion of this subtitle, Subtitle 1A of this title, 25
or the regulations; 26
(ii) guard against the use of this subtitle, Subtitle 1A of this title, 27
and the regulations of the Agency as a means of conducting organized crime; 28
(iii) ensure that the regulations of the Agency are proper and that 29
this subtitle, Subtitle 1A of thi s title, and the regulations are administered to serve the 30
purpose of this subtitle; [and] 31
(iv) analyze the gaming industry within and outside the State to 32
determine whether Maryland’s gaming program is competitive and maximizing revenues 33
for the State; AND 34
HOUSE BILL 195 3
(V) IDENTIFY THE LATEST TRENDS AND EMERGING 1
TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE TRANSPARENT GAMBLING ENVIRONMENT, 2
INCLUDING: 3
1. CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT GAMING 4
ACTIVITIES FROM SECU RITY BREACHES THROUG H USE OF DATA ENCRYP TION, 5
MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURE PAYMENT GATEWAYS, AND BLOCKCHAIN 6
TECHNOLOGY; 7
2. THE USE OF ARTIFICIA L INTELLIGENCE TO PR OTECT 8
CUSTOMERS, MONITOR BEHAVIORAL P ATTERNS OF CUSTOMERS TO ANALYZE 9
BEHAVIOR, AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE GAMING; AND 10
3. DIGITAL IDENTITY VER IFICATION TO VERIFY THE 11
CUSTOMER’S AGE AND IDENTITY T O PREVENT ILLEGAL GA MING ACTIVITY AND TO 12
SUPPORT FACIAL RECOG NITION AND BIOME TRICS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF 13
IDENTITY FRAUD. 14
(2) The Commission shall conduct studies of: 15
(i) the operation and administration of similar laws in other states 16
or countries; 17
(ii) federal laws that may affect the operation of the State lottery or 18
gaming activities; 19
(iii) literature on lotteries and gaming activities, including problem 20
gambling programs; and 21
(iv) the reaction of citizens of the State to existing and potential 22
features of the State lottery and gaming program. 23
(C) (1) IF THE COMMISSION DOES NOT H AVE THE RESOURCES OR 24
EXPERTISE TO CONDUCT A STUDY UNDER SUBSEC TION (B) OF THIS SECTION , THE 25
COMMISSION SHALL: 26
(I) COLLABORATE AND PART NER WITH AN INSTITUT ION OF 27
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE, A FOUNDATION, OR A PRIVATE ENTITY TO STUDY 28
AND ANALYZE BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELDS DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) 29
OF THIS SECTION; OR 30
(II) CONTRACT WITH AN INS TITUTION OF HIGHER E DUCATION 31
IN THE STATE, A FOUNDATION, OR A PRIVATE ENTITY TO CONDUCT THE STUDY. 32
4 HOUSE BILL 195
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL REQ UIRE THE DIRECTOR OR THE 1
DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE TO COMMUN ICATE AND FULLY PART ICIPATE IN A STUDY 2
CONDUCTED BY AN INST ITUTION OF HIGHER ED UCATION, A FOUNDATION , OR A 3
PRIVATE ENTITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 4
[(c)] (D) (1) The Commission shall submit to the Governor and, subject to § 5
2–1257 of this article, to the General Assembly the reports required under this subsection. 6
(2) The Commission shall submit monthly a report that states the total 7
State lottery and gaming revenues and the total prize disbursements and other expenses 8
for the preceding month. 9
(3) The Commission shall submit annually a report that states the total 10
State lottery and gaming revenues and the total prize disbursements and other expenses 11
for the preceding year. 12
(4) The Commission shall submit a report whenever a matter requires an 13
immediate change in a State law to: 14
(i) prevent an abuse or evasion of this subtitle, Subtitle 1A of this 15
title, or a regulation of the Agency; or 16
(ii) rectify an undes irable condition in the operation or 17
administration of the State lottery and gaming program. 18
(D) THE COMMISSION MAY CONDUC T STUDIES, IN COLLABORATION WIT H 19
BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE MARYLAND 20
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, TO IDENTIFY THE LATE ST 21
TRENDS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE TRANSPARENT 22
GAMBLING ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING: 23
(1) CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT GAMING ACTIVITIES 24
FROM SECURITY BREACH ES THROUGH USE OF DA TA ENCRYPTION, MULTIFACTOR 25
AUTHENTICATION, SECURE PAYMENT GATEWAYS, AND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY; 26
(2) THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS, 27
MONITOR BEHAVIORAL P ATTERNS OF CUSTOMERS TO ANALYZE BEHAVIOR , AND 28
PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE GAMING; 29
(3) DIGITAL IDENTITY VE RIFICATION TO VERIFY THE CUSTOMER ’S 30
AGE AND IDENTITY TO PREVENT ILLEGAL GAMI NG ACTIVITY AND TO S UPPORT 31
FACIAL RECOGNITION AND BIOMETRICS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF IDENTITY FRAUD; 32
AND 33
HOUSE BILL 195 5
(4) GEOFENCING TECHNOLOG Y TO DETERMINE THE I MPACT OF 1
MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN THE STATE. 2
9–1E–03. 3
(a) (2) The Commission shall consider the use of technology, remote 4
surveillance, and other similar measures to carry out its duties under this subsection and 5
§ 9–1E–04 of this subtitle. 6
(3) IF THE COMMISSION DOES NOT H AVE THE RESOURCES OR 7
EXPERTISE TO CARRY O UT THE PROVISIONS UN DER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 8
SUBSECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL: 9
(I) COLLABORATE WITH AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R 10
EDUCATION IN THE STATE, A FOUNDATION, OR A PRIVATE ENTITY TO ANALYZE THE 11
BEST PRACTICES IN USING TECHNOLOGY; OR 12
(II) CONTRACT WITH AN INS TITUTION OF HIGHER E DUCATION 13
IN THE STATE, A FOUNDATION, OR A PRIVATE ENTITY TO PERFORM THE ANALYSIS. 14
(4) THE COMMISSION SHALL REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE 15
LOTTERY AND GAMING CONTROL AGENCY OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE TO 16
COMMUNICATE AND FULL Y PARTICIPATE IN A S TUDY CONDUCTED BY AN 17
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION , A FOUNDATION , OR A PRIVATE ENTITY IN 18
ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 20
(a) In this section, “Commission” means the State Lottery and Gaming Control 21
Commission. 22
(b) There is a Workgroup on Gambling Prevention Technology in the Commission. 23
(c) The Workgroup established under subsection (b) of this section shall be 24
conducted in partnership with: 25
(1) (i) Bowie State University; 26
(ii) Morgan State University; and 27
(iii) the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling; and 28
(2) any other foundations or private entities as determined b y the 29
Commission. 30
6 HOUSE BILL 195
(d) The Workgroup shall study best practices in using gambling prevention 1
technology, including geofencing technology, to ascertain the extent of problem gambling 2
on college campuses in the State. 3
(e) The Commission shall determine th e time frame and necessary steps to 4
establish the Workgroup. 5
(f) On or before July 1, 2027, the Commission shall submit a report on the 6
Workgroup’s findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 7
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 8
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.