It is no secret that online casino gambling is not currently legal in the Old Line State, meaning Maryland residents cannot legally play online slots or table games.
Online poker is also not legal in the state, but this may change in the near future if the state’s legislators take into account the desires of its constituents. According to the latest polls on the matter, about 70% of them would like to see iGaming legalized within the state.
Based on the poll in question, residents of Maryland want to enjoy online poker opportunities, and 70% of state voters would support the legalization of iGaming and online poker.
This should not come as a surprise considering that many neighboring states have already jumped on the bandwagon and legalized some if not all forms of iGaming, including Pennsylvania which legalized online casinos and poker in 2017 and West Virginia, which has also legalized most forms of online gambling, along with Delaware and New Jersey.
Maryland NOW Survey by Victoria Research — Major Findings
The poll in question is named the Maryland NOW Survey, and it was conducted by Victoria Research. As mentioned earlier, 70% of the participants support the idea behind Old Line State’s legalization of online poker and online casino gaming.
The participants in the poll were asked a few questions regarding the potential launch of Maryland online casino gaming and online poker.
One of the questions was whether adult Marylanders should be able to place real money bets online. The poll also shared interesting information on six states with legalized online casino gaming and online poker, collecting over one billion just from iGaming-related taxes.
Needless to say, the launch of a legal Maryland online gambling market would mean greater economic prospects for the entire state.
The company behind the poll concluded that almost 70% of poll participants support the idea of expanding Maryland’s iGaming market.
Among these 70%, 38% stated they are strong supporters, while 31% of them were only somewhat supportive of the idea.
The poll also concluded that 10% of participants oppose the idea, and around 9% somewhat oppose it, suggesting their opinions could be swayed.
What Could the Voters’ Support Mean for the Maryland iGaming Expansion?
Maryland is already preparing for the next elections, which will take place in November 2024, and legislators may ask voters whether they support the idea behind Maryland’s iGaming expansion.
The support is excellent news for everyone in the gaming industry, and if the question is presented before the voters at the next election, this could mean that Maryland will jump on the bandwagon and legalize online poker and online casino gaming very soon.
Under state law, voters have the final say regarding all things related to potential gaming expansion. With 70% of voters supporting the idea, we would see MD online poker and online casinos opening their virtual doors sometime in 2025, which would be a great step in the right direction for iGaming in the US as a whole.
At this time, players in Maryland can enjoy casino gaming in a number of retail casinos, as well as retail sports betting and other gambling activities like pari-mutuel betting and lotteries, all available in retail form.
