Maryland Governor Wes Moore proposed raising the state’s sports wagering tax rate from 15% to 30% in his FY 2026 budget. The proposal requires legislative approval; the budget document projects wagering-tax revenue rising from $7.5m in 2025 to $95.4m the following year.
If approved, the proposal would double the sports wagering tax rate paid by operators in Maryland.
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Maryland sports wagering rose 30% in June to $523.3 million, reportedly as soccer betting increased during the FIFA World Cup.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming has made its eLicensing system available to businesses and individuals pursuing Class B facility or mobile sports wagering licences. Applicants must submit information and documents and pay an initial investigative cost; the separate SWARC application is also required, and SWARC assesses whether awarding a licence serves the public interest.
Maryland senator Joanne Benson introduced SB 1033, a bill proposing an end to online sports betting from 1 January 2026. The proposal would not affect retail sportsbooks and includes conditional refunds of application fees for certain operators; the report says it is not expected to advance this legislative session because it was filed after the deadline.
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.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has proposed a progressive tax on casinos before his term ends in January. The plan would set an effective rate of 23%, with casinos earning more than a threshold paying up to 35%; Polis said it could raise $80.2 million annually for childcare and preschool programmes.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has proposed raising the state's tax on casinos before his term ends in January. The proposal would replace the current effective rate of 16.1% with a progressive tax at an effective rate of 23%. The governor's office said the measure could raise $80.2 million a year in new revenue for childcare and preschool programmes.