Total casino revenue across Maryland’s six land-based properties reached $162.1 million in October, representing a 1% increase, or $1.5 million more than the same month in...
Maryland raises mobile betting tax to 20% starting 2026
Starting in 2026, Maryland will raise the tax rate on mobile sportsbooks from 15% to 20%, following Governor Wes Moore’s signing of House Bill 352 as part of the state’s 2025 budget plan.
Initially, Wes Moore proposed a tax hike of up to 30%, but state lawmakers firmly opposed the bill, settling on 20%. Maryland isn’t alone in this move. States like North Carolina and Louisiana are also rethinking how they tax betting.
The money that will come with the 20% taxation rate will continue going to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports major education reforms. But under the new setup, 5% of all mobile sports betting revenue will now flow directly into the state’s general fund. Retail (in-person) betting taxes, however, stay unchanged at 15%.
Governor Moore framed the hike as a necessary step to keep Maryland’s budget healthy, especially with the state facing a structural deficit and economic pressures from broader national trends. With this update, Maryland joins Ohio and Illinois, both of which also tax mobile betting at 20%.
Sportsbook operators are concerned
While the sports betting tax hike comes as a vital help for the state’s funding, sportsbook operators are getting concerned. DraftKings, for instance, expects Maryland’s new tax to be part of a broader hit to its 2025 revenue.
Bet365 is excited to announce it has secured a license from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to begin offering online sports betting in the state.Already...
