Bill > SB652

This bill, titled the Maryland Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act, establishes new regulations and penalties to combat illegal online gambling within the state. It explicitly prohibits individuals and entities from operating, offering, conducting, engaging in, or promoting illegal online gambling, and also forbids knowingly supporting such activities, directly or indirectly. The bill defines "illegal online gambling" as any form of online wagering not expressly authorized by law, encompassing a wide range of activities like casino-style games, lotteries, and sports betting, but it excludes persons licensed for online sports wagering or fantasy competitions. The Attorney General and certain prosecuting attorneys are empowered to issue cease and desist orders to violators, requiring them to block access to illegal gambling sites within a specified timeframe, with failure to comply leading to potential imprisonment or fines. The bill also outlines penalties for violations, including misdemeanors for operators with significant fines and potential imprisonment, and lesser fines for those knowingly supporting illegal gambling. Furthermore, it imposes obligations on "financial transaction providers" (entities facilitating payments) and "platform providers" (entities hosting or storing online content) to not knowingly process transactions or transmit information related to illegal online gambling, and they can be subject to cease and desist orders and fines if they fail to comply. The Act also allows courts to issue injunctions to prevent and restrain illegal online gambling activities, including freezing accounts and removing websites, and clarifies that violations are considered irreparable harm. Finally, the bill specifies an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0652?ys=2026RS