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HB 1048

Sports Wagering - Wagers on Historical Horse Races - Authorization

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jason Buckel and 6 co-sponsors

Maryland bill authorizes wagering on historical horse races, expanding legal gambling to generate revenue while raising concerns about impact on live racing and problem gambling.

Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1048

Legislative bill overview

HB 1048 authorizes sports wagering on historical horse races in Maryland, expanding the state's legal gambling options beyond current offerings. The bill would allow residents and visitors to place bets on recorded thoroughbred racing events, similar to existing historical sports betting in some other states.

Why is this important

This legislation could generate additional tax revenue for Maryland while creating new entertainment options and potentially revenue streams for horse racing industry stakeholders. It also reflects broader national trends toward expanded legal gambling, which have economic implications for both state budgets and the racing industry infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Horse racing industry impact: Unclear whether historical racing bets would cannibalize revenue from live racing attendance and handle, or complement existing wagering
  • Gambling expansion concerns: Opponents may view this as incremental normalization of gambling and worry about problem gambling prevalence and social costs not fully offset by tax revenue
  • Regulatory oversight: Questions about how historical races would be selected, odds calculated, and potential for fraud or manipulation of legacy racing data

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

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