Maryland’s House Ways and Means Committee voted 13-5 on 20 March to amend Governor Wes Moore’s proposed online sports betting tax increase, setting a 20% rate rather than the proposed 30%. The state legislature must approve the budget by 7 April, and the final rate remains undecided.
The proposed rate determines the tax burden Maryland sports betting operators may face.
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North Carolina lawmakers have reportedly agreed to expand the allocation of sports betting tax revenue to include the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University. The budget framework would also raise the operator tax rate from 18% to 23% from 1 July, but the measure still requires final approval and the governor’s signature.
Illinois lawmakers approved a $55.9bn fiscal 2027 budget that introduces taxes on fantasy sports operators and prediction-market sports betting. The plan establishes a fantasy sports licensing framework and a 15% industry tax; lawmakers said fantasy sports and digital asset taxes are expected to raise about $65m.
North Carolina lawmakers are considering raising the tax on sports betting revenue during state budget negotiations, according to reports. The current rate is 18%, and the increase could be as much as 12 percentage points. The General Assembly aims to finalise its budget next month, with the legislative session running through August.
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance urged Maryland’s House Ways and Means Committee not to advance HB 295, which would prohibit sweepstakes gaming, during a 5 February hearing. The group proposed a study of regulatory options and said a regulated model could raise at least $20 million annually; the bill remained under committee review with no vote scheduled.
It was reported that Maryland received $1.6bn in commercial gaming taxes during fiscal 2026. Casino and sports betting activity contributed funding for education and other public programmes.