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HB 633

Gaming - Slot Machines - Skills-Based Amusement Devices

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Vanessa Atterbeary

Maryland HB 633 legalizes and regulates skills-based gaming devices, creating licensing requirements and tax structures for arcade-style machines where player skill determines outcomes.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 290
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Bill Summary · HB 633

Legislative bill overview

HB 633 creates a regulatory framework for skills-based amusement devices in Maryland, distinguishing them from traditional slot machines. The bill establishes licensing requirements, operational standards, and tax provisions for these gaming devices, which are games where player skill primarily determines outcomes rather than chance alone.

Why is this important

This legislation legalizes and regulates a growing gaming category that exists in a legal gray area in many states. It generates tax revenue for the state while establishing consumer protections and operational oversight for a market that was previously unregulated in Maryland, affecting both arcade businesses and gaming venues.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition disputes: Determining what constitutes "skills-based" versus chance-based games is technically complex and subject to manipulation; devices marketed as skills-based may still rely heavily on luck
  • Cannibalization of lottery revenue: Skills-based machines may compete with state lottery sales, potentially reducing dedicated education funding that lottery revenue supports
  • Problem gambling concerns: Critics argue these devices create similar addiction risks as traditional slots while marketing themselves as skill games, potentially targeting vulnerable populations with less regulatory scrutiny

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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