New Poll Shows 71% of Maryland Voters Oppose Online Casinos

A new survey released by a group opposing online gambling suggests that most Maryland voters remain wary of expanding the state’s casino market into the digital realm — a finding that could spell continued difficulty for lawmakers seeking to legalize iGaming ahead of the 2026 ballot.

According to data from Lake Research Partners, 71% of Maryland voters oppose legalizing online casinos, echoing skepticism that has persisted through two consecutive legislative sessions. The poll was commissioned by the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG), a coalition formed earlier this year to fight the nationwide expansion of online casino gambling.

The survey, conducted between September 15–18 among 650 registered Maryland voters, reported a margin of error of 3.8%. Respondents were reached through phone interviews and text-to-online outreach, with results weighted for demographics such as gender, age, race, and partisanship.

 

Opposition Rooted in Awareness

Initially, 64% of respondents said they had no opinion about online casino gaming, and nearly half — 49% — said they had never heard of it. But after being presented with a description of iGaming as “24-hour gambling access on mobile devices,” opposition climbed sharply to 71%. Only 17% said they viewed online casinos favorably or very favorably.

“These results show that once Marylanders understand what iGambling really is, they strongly reject it,” said Jason Gumer, NAAiG board member and executive vice president and general counsel of Monarch Casino & Resort, in a statement. “Policymakers should take note: voters are deeply concerned about the risks to children, families, and communities.”

NAAiG’s leadership includes major casino operators such as The Cordish Companies, Churchill Downs Inc., and Jack Entertainment, alongside several unions and municipalities. The Cordish Companies, which operates Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, has been among the most vocal opponents during legislative hearings in Annapolis, citing potential threats to brick-and-mortar revenue and employment.

A 2024 analysis by The Innovation Group, commissioned by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission, projected that online casino legalization could lead to a 10% decline in physical casino revenue, intensifying union fears of job losses.

 

Legislative Hurdles Continue

Despite strong opposition, some lawmakers have continued to push for online casino legislation. Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) and Senator Ron Watson (D-Prince George’s) have sponsored bills over the past two years to authorize iGaming in Maryland.

In 2024, Atterbeary’s bill cleared the House but stalled in the Senate after hours of contentious hearings. “At this point, we’re not being left behind,” she said during a hearing earlier this year. “We are behind, quite frankly.” Watson, meanwhile, has pledged to collaborate with labor unions to ensure no job losses accompany the expansion. “Any casino that implements iGaming and gets rid of employees is doing it out of greed, not because they don’t have the money to do it,” he said during testimony.

Maryland’s gambling debate has extended beyond iGaming to include efforts to ban sweepstakes casinos, which mimic online gambling through digital “free play” models. Although the proposed ban (Senate Bill 860) died in the House, the state’s Lottery and Gaming Control Agency issued cease-and-desist letters to multiple sites, including Virtual Gaming Worlds, earlier this year.

 

These results show that once Marylanders understand what iGambling really is, they strongly reject it,” said Jason Gumer, NAAiG board member and Monarch Casino & Resort executive vice president and general counsel. “Policymakers should take note: voters are deeply concerned about the risks to children, families, and communities.

 

Looking Ahead to 2026

Even if a future iGaming bill passes the General Assembly, it would still require approval by voters through a statewide referendum, likely in November 2026.

Sen. Watson acknowledged during the 2024 National Council of Legislators from Gaming States summer meeting that the legalization effort will require a more coordinated public education campaign. “We need to treat it like a campaign,” he said. “The person who introduces the legislation is just the quarterback. In this case, you need a whole team behind you.”

For now, however, the latest polling suggests that Maryland’s path toward online casino legalization remains uncertain — and that public sentiment, rather than legislative strategy, may be the decisive factor in shaping the state’s gambling future.