【wynn 2025 poker series】Maryland governor loses bid to double sports betting tax rate

In a House Ways and wynn 2025 poker seriesMeans Committee meeting held on 20 March, legislators voted 13-5 to amend the proposed tax increase, setting the new rate at 20% instead of the originally suggested 30%.

The proposed hike was included in Moore’s budget plan as part of a broader effort to address a $3 billion budget shortfall.

The governor’s attempt to significantly raise revenue through the sports betting industry reflects a growing trend among U.S. states, where tax hikes on gambling revenues are increasingly being considered as a solution to budgetary gaps.

Despite Moore’s ambitious proposal, committee members signaled caution about increasing the burden on the gaming industry too sharply.

The revised 20% tax rate represents a middle ground between the current 15% rate and the governor’s more aggressive plan.

The amendment passed alongside a separate vote that rejected a proposed increase to casino table game taxes, which would have raised the rate from 20% to 25%.

The Maryland legislature must approve the state’s budget by 7 April, and the fate of the final tax rate on sports betting remains uncertain.

The measure will continue to be debated and could be subject to further adjustments as it moves through the legislative process.

Maryland legalized sports betting following a 2020 voter referendum, and online sports wagering began in late 2022.

The market has since grown, with numerous operators active in the state. The increase in tax revenue is seen as a viable mechanism to support state funding, particularly for education and infrastructure.

However, concerns remain about the long-term impact of steep tax hikes on operator participation and competitiveness.

States turn to gambling industry to boost economic growth

Maryland is not alone in its efforts to modify sports betting tax structures. A number of other states have also introduced or implemented changes to their gambling tax regimes in recent years.

In 2023, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine doubled his state’s sports betting tax rate from 10% to 20% through a budget provision.

This year, he has proposed another doubling, although key Ohio lawmakers have expressed skepticism and signaled that further increases are unlikely to pass.

Similarly, Illinois adopted a tiered tax system in 2024 that adjusted rates from a flat 15% to a range of 20% to 40%, based on operator revenue.

This system was designed to scale tax obligations in proportion to company earnings, aligning tax policy with the size and profitability of operators.

In Massachusetts, Sen. John Keenan has introduced SD 1657, a bill that would raise the sports betting tax rate dramatically to 51%.

Supported by the Public Health Advocacy Institute, this proposal would also impose significant restrictions on the state’s sports betting industry, signaling a major shift in regulatory approach.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy proposed increases to online gambling taxes in his 2024 budget.

While details of the proposal have not yet been finalized, legislative insiders have suggested that the final tax rate will likely be lower than initially proposed.

Still, Gov. Murphy’s initiative adds to the growing number of states considering higher levies on gambling as a fiscal strategy.

Other states add twists

Michigan lawmakers have also entered the discussion. In early 2024, Sens. Sam Singh and Jeremy Moss introduced Senate Bills 1193 and 1194, which seek modest tax increases on iGaming operators.

Senate Bill 1193 seeks to raise the online sports betting tax rate from 8.4% to 8.5%, while Senate Bill 1194 suggests a 1% increase across the sliding scale for operators.

These measures, if passed, would amend the 2019 Lawful Sports Betting Act and Lawful Internet Gaming Act.

In Indiana, Sen. Fady Qaddoura has proposed legislation, SB 394, aimed at increasing the tax rate on sports betting operators from the current 9.5% to 11%.

A separate online casino bill spearheaded by Rep. Ethan Manning has been modified to incorporate a substantial tax hike on mobile sports betting, raising the rate from 9.5% to 20%.

In New York, there’s a measure to take taxes in a different direction. S 6013 has been introduced by Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, who chairs the Assembly Racing & Gaming Committee.

This bill aims to expand the mobile sports betting market by allowing seven additional operators to enter the industry.

Alongside the market expansion, the proposal would reduce the current tax rate on all sports betting operators, potentially lowering it from the existing 51% to as little as 25%.

The exact rate would be determined by how many total operators are licensed under the revised system.