SB 885

Did not advance

Internet Gaming and Online Bingo - Authorization and Implementation

Sponsor: Ron Watson (District 23)Committee: Budget and TaxationSubject: GamingStatus: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue certain licenses to certain qualified applicants to conduct or participate in certain Internet gaming and online bingo operations in the State; requiring the Commission to regulate Internet gaming, online bingo, and the conduct of Internet gaming and online bingo in the State; requiring an Internet gaming licensee and online bingo licensee to require individuals to provide proof of registration in order to participate in Internet gaming or online bingo; etc.

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Testimony (37)

MGA witness list

FAV 4FavorableFWA 6Favorable with amendmentsUNF 26UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Askew, Qamryn	Maryland Youth Advisory Council / Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City	Oral
FAV	Sidh, Sushantlobbyist	On behalf of Delta Bingo and Abner's Bingo, as well as Evolution Gaming	Oral
FAV	Kapur, Ravi	Playtech	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Watson, Senator Watsonlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Ni, Tom	Anne Arundel County Government County Executive's Office	Written (PDF)
UNF	Welman, Jessica	Campaign for Fairer Gambling	Oral
UNF	Crawford, Kenneth	Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling	Oral
UNF	Eshleman, Heather	Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling	Position only
UNF	Wolfson, Kenneth	Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem gambling	Position only
UNF	Bodnar, Benjamin	Maryland Coalition of Families	Oral
UNF	Price, Sarahlobbyist	Maryland Retailers Alliance	Oral
UNF	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Toomey, Ruth	Maryland Tourism Coalition	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jenkins, Courtney	Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lacy, John	The Maryland Center of Excellence for problem gambling	Oral
UNF	Hinman, William	The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling	Oral
UNF	Barie, Oliver	The National Assocation Against iGaming	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Maxfield, Ken	UNITE HERE	Oral
UNF	Bertino, Chip	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Calomino, Michael	Individual	Oral
UNF	Hill, Deniselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Inniss, Blair	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Johnson, Lisa	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Roberts, Katharine	Individual	Oral
UNF	Stewart, Mark	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FWA	Limardo, Ricardo	MGM Resorts International	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Wilson, David	Morgan State University	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Maloney, Joelobbyist	Sports Betting Alliance (SBA)	Oral
FWA	Pappas, John	iDevelopment and Economic Association	Oral
FWA	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Tyrrell, Josephlobbyist	Individual	Oral
INFO	Zektick, Barbaralobbyist	Zektick + Company	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Anne Arundel County Government County Executive's OfficeUNF 1

Campaign for Fairer GamblingUNF 1

iDevelopment and Economic AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem gamblingUNF 1

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem GamblingUNF 2

Maryland Coalition of FamiliesUNF 1

Maryland Retailers AllianceUNF 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOUNF 1

Maryland Tourism CoalitionUNF 1

Maryland Youth Advisory Council / Associated Student Congress of Baltimore CityFAV 1

Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIOUNF 1

MGM Resorts InternationalFWA 1

Morgan State UniversityFWA 1

NCADD-MarylandUNF 1

On behalf of Delta Bingo and Abner's Bingo, as well as Evolution GamingFAV 1

PlaytechFAV 1

Sports Betting Alliance (SBA)FWA 1

The Maryland Center of Excellence for problem gamblingUNF 1

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem GamblingUNF 1

The National Assocation Against iGamingUNF 1

UNITE HEREUNF 1

Zektick + CompanyINFO 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVSidh, SushantOn behalf of Delta Bingo and Abner's Bingo, as well as Evolution GamingRegistered for: AFCO Cargo BWI II LLC; Abner's; Air Global (formerly Al Fakher Distribution); Allegis, Redwood, Maxim Public Affairs, LLC; American Express Travel Related Services, Inc.; Association for Accessible Medicines…

UNFPrice, SarahMaryland Retailers AllianceRegistered for: Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

UNFHill, DeniseRegistered for: Casino at Ocean Downs

FWAMaloney, JoeSports Betting Alliance (SBA)Registered for: Sports Betting Alliance

FWAHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FWATyrrell, JosephRegistered for: CBAC Gaming, LLC (Horseshoe Casino); Caesars Enterprise Services, LLC

INFOZektick, BarbaraZektick + CompanyRegistered for: Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights; Covista; Maryland Coalition of Families; Soteria LLC; Oracle America, Inc.; Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.…