On March 23, 2026, two U.S. Senators moved to introduce a new bill called "The Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act”, which would ban prediction market operators from offering...
Maryland House pushes 2 gambling bills forward
Lawmakers in Maryland have pushed forward two gambling bills, HB 1226 and HB 295, sending both to the Senate for review.
House Bill 1226 is the Maryland Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act, which targets illegal online betting activity and connected networks. If it’s passed, offering unauthorized gambling platforms or promoting and supporting them will become illegal.
The bill covers operators, affiliates, payment processors, and online platform providers. Under the bill, the Attorney General and Maryland prosecutors will be able to send cease-and-desist orders, use injunctions, and force operators to block users in the state.
The second measure, House Bill 295, focuses on interactive games, which are described as online offerings that mix payment, chance, and reward through dual-currency systems that can be swapped for cash or prizes.
The bill clarifies that if there’s no cash reward or required payment, then these products will not fall under the restrictions. The legislation mostly targets sweepstakes-style platforms, and, at the same time, draws a line around free-to-play games.
Operators would be banned from offering or promoting such games in Maryland and would be forced to add disclosures to report any connection to entities involved in such activity. In case of violations, fines could go up to $100,000, and non-compliant operators could even face prison time.
The legislative session is to continue on April 13, 2026, which means the Senate has around three weeks to consider and vote on the bills.
The Kentucky House has passed House Bill 904, which aims to change the state’s gambling framework by raising the minimum age for sports betting and banning prop bets...
