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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0862*
SENATE BILL 862
C7, J1 6lr3489
SB 706/25 – B&T CF 6lr3499
By: Senator Zucker
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Gaming – Problem Gambling – Prevalence Study and Fund Revenue 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to conduct certain 3
prevalence studies concerning problem and pathological mobile gambling; altering 4
the distribution of certain fantasy competition and sports wagering proceeds; and 5
generally relating to problem gambling and the Problem Gambling Fund. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Health – General 8
Section 19–804 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – State Government 13
Section 9–1A–33(b)(7) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – State Government 18
Section 9–1D–04 and 9–1E–12(b) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
Article – State Government 23
Section 9–1E–12(a) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26
2 SENATE BILL 862
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Health – General 3
19–804. 4
(a) (1) The Secretary shall make grants from or agreements for the use of State 5
funds, including the funds provided under § 9–1A–33 of the State Government Article, and 6
federal funds to help public agencies or nonprofit organizations operate the network of 7
clinically appropriate services for problem gamblers who reside in the State to provide the 8
following: 9
(i) Inpatient and residential services; 10
(ii) Outpatient services; 11
(iii) Intensive outpatient services; 12
(iv) Continuing care services; 13
(v) Educational services; 14
(vi) Services for victims of domestic violence; and 15
(vii) Other preventive or rehabilitative services or treatment. 16
(2) Research and training that are designed to improve or extend these 17
services are proper items of expense. 18
(b) The Secretary shall conduct [a]: 19
(1) A prevalence study and replication prevalence studies to measure the 20
rate of problem and pathological IN–PERSON gambling in the State; AND 21
(2) A PREVALENCE STUDY AND REPLICATION PREVALENCE STUDIES 22
TO MEASURE THE RATE OF PROBLEM AND PATHOLOGICAL MOBILE GAMBLING IN 23
THE STATE. 24
(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall contract 25
with an independent researcher to conduct the prevalence studies. 26
(2) The Secretary shall utilize the most current psychiatric or diagnostic 27
criteria for problem and pathological gambling as the basis for the prevalence studies. 28
SENATE BILL 862 3
(d) (1) The initial prevalence study ON PROBLEM AND PATHO LOGICAL 1
IN–PERSON GAMBLING IN THE STATE shall be completed on or before July 1, 2009. 2
(2) THE INITIAL PREVALENC E STUDY ON PROBLEM A ND 3
PATHOLOGICAL MOBILE GAMBLING IN THE STATE SHALL BE COMPLE TED ON OR 4
BEFORE JULY 1, 2031. 5
(e) Replication prevalence studies shall be conducted no less than every 5 years 6
with measures taken to permit comparisons between the initial prevalence study and 7
subsequent replication prevalence studies. 8
(f) Services under this subtitle shall be provided by public agencies or, under 9
contract, by nonprofit organizations. 10
Article – State Government 11
9–1A–33. 12
(b) (7) ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2027, AND EACH NOVEMBER 1 13
THEREAFTER, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE 14
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE , ON HOW 15
THE FUNDS IN THE PROBLEM GAMBLING FUND HAVE BEEN EXPEND ED ON 16
PROBLEM GAMB LING TREATMENT AND P REVENTION PROGRAMS U NDER THIS 17
SUBSECTION. 18
9–1D–04. 19
(a) A fantasy competition operator shall retain [85%] 84% of the proceeds and 20
pay the remainder to the Commission. 21
(b) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 22
SUBSECTION, THE Commission shall distribute the proceeds paid under subsection (a) of 23
this section to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund established under § 5–206 of the 24
Education Article. 25
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL DIST RIBUTE 1% OF THE PROCEEDS 26
FROM FANTASY COMPETITIONS TO THE PROBLEM GAMBLING FUND ESTABLISHED 27
UNDER § 9–1A–33 OF THIS TITLE. 28
9–1E–12. 29
(a) (1) The Commission shall account to the Comptroller for all of the revenue 30
under this subtitle. 31
4 SENATE BILL 862
(2) The proceeds from sports wagering, less the amount retained by the 1
licensee under subsection (b)(1) of this section, shall be under the control of the Comptroller 2
and distributed as provided under subsection (b) of this section. 3
(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this 4
paragraph, all proceeds from sports wagering shall be electronically transferred monthly 5
into the State Lottery Fund established under Subtitle 1 of this title. 6
(ii) A Class A –1 and A–2 sports wagering facility licensee shall 7
retain [85%] 84% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the locations described 8
in § 9–1E–09(a) of this subtitle. 9
(iii) A Class B –1 and B –2 sports wagering facility licensee shall 10
retain [85%] 84% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the location described 11
in the licensee’s application. 12
(iv) A mobile sports wagering licensee shall retain [80%] 79% of the 13
proceeds from online sports wagering received by the licensee. 14
(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, all 15
proceeds from sports wagering in the State Lottery Fund established under Subtitle 1 of 16
this title shall be distributed on a monthly basis, on a properly approved transmittal 17
prepared by the Commiss ion to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund established 18
under § 5–206 of the Education Article. 19
(ii) 1. THE COMMISSION SHALL DIST RIBUTE 1% OF ALL 20
SPORTS WAGERING PROC EEDS TO THE PROBLEM GAMBLING FUND ESTABLISHED 21
UNDER § 9–1A–33 OF THIS TITLE. 22
2. For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, 5% of 23
the proceeds [attributable to mobile] FROM ONLINE sports wagering shall be deposited in 24
the General Fund. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
1, 2026. 27