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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0761*
SENATE BILL 761
C7 6lr3215
CF 6lr3217
By: Senator Watson
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Expansion of Commercial Gaming – Internet Gaming Referendum 2
FOR the purpose of providing that the General Assembly may authorize, by law, the State 3
Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue certain Internet gaming licenses; 4
requiring certain implementation legislation to include certain criteria and 5
specifications, subject to a certain limitation; declaring the intent of the General 6
Assembly that certain revenues be used for dedicated purposes including the funding 7
of public education; submitting this Act to a referendum of the qualified voters of the 8
State; and generally relating to Internet gaming. 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That: 11
(a) The General Assembly may authorize, by law, the State Lottery and Gaming 12
Control Commission to issue a license to offer Internet gaming in the State. 13
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, l egislation enacted by the 14
General Assembly to implement the provisions of this Act shall include the criteria for 15
eligible applications for a licensee and specifications of the permissible forms and means of 16
conduct of Internet gaming. 17
(2) The State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission may issue a license 18
to offer Internet gaming in the State only to: 19
(i) the holder of a video lottery operation license , as defined under 20
§ 9–1A–01 of the State Government Article; and 21
(ii) subject to additional eligibility criteria specified by law in 22
accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection, an entity under contract with the holder 23
of a video lottery operation license. 24
2 SENATE BILL 761
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if the voters of this State 1
adopt a referendum that authorizes Internet gaming in the State , the State’s share of 2
revenues generated by Internet gaming shall be used for dedicated purposes including the 3
funding of public education. 4
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the provisions of Section 1 of 5
this Act, which authorize the General Assembly to authorize, by law, the State Lottery and 6
Gaming Control Commission to issue Internet gaming licenses to certain licensees in the 7
State, are subject to a referendum of the qualified voters of the State as provided in Section 8
4 of this Act, and on voter approval of this Act at the general election to be held in November 9
2026, legislation shall be required to provide for the operation, regulation, and disposition 10
of proceeds of Internet gaming in the State. 11
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 12
(a) In accordance with Article XIX, § 1(e) of the Maryland Constitution, before 13
Section 1 of this Act, which authorizes additional forms or expansion of commercial gaming, 14
becomes effective, a question substantially similar to the following shall be submitted to a 15
referendum of the qualified voters of the State at the general election to be held in 16
November 2026: 17
“Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to 18
authorize Internet gaming for dedicated purposes i ncluding the funding of public 19
education?” 20
(b) The State Board of Elections shall do those things necessary and proper to 21
provide for and hold the referendum required by this section. If a majority of votes cast on 22
the question are “For the referred law” , this Act shall become effective on the 30th day 23
following the official canvass of voters for the referendum, but if a majority of the votes cast 24
on the question are “Against the referred law”, this Act, with no further action required by 25
the General Assembly, shall be null and void. 26
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, subject to the provisions of 27
Section 4 of this Act and for the sole purpose of providing for the referendum required by 28
Section 4 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 29