State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission - Authority to Conduct Studies on the Use of Emerging Technology and the Workgroup on Gambling Prevention Technology
HB195 expands the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission’s authority to study emerging technology and best practices in the regulation of Maryland’s lottery, gaming, and sports wagering systems. The bill directs the Commission to examine trends and technologies that could make gambling safer and more transparent, including cybersecurity tools, artificial intelligence, digital identity verification, facial recognition, biometrics, and blockchain. It also authorizes the Commission to collaborate with Bowie State University, Morgan State University, the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, and other institutions, foundations, or private entities if the Commission lacks the resources or expertise to conduct the studies itself.
The bill also creates a Workgroup on Gambling Prevention Technology within the Commission to study gambling prevention tools, including geofencing technology, and to assess the extent of problem gambling on college campuses in Maryland. The workgroup must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2027. The act takes effect October 1, 2026, and amends provisions in the State Government Article governing the Commission’s study and reporting duties.
HB195 amends State Government Article § 9-109 and § 9-1E-03 to broaden the Commission’s statutory responsibilities beyond traditional oversight and reporting into technology-focused research and collaboration. It gives the Commission express authority to study emerging gambling-related technologies and, when needed, to partner with or contract for outside expertise from in-state universities, foundations, or private entities. The bill also establishes a new workgroup structure and reporting requirement related to gambling prevention technology, which may affect how the Commission evaluates sports wagering, responsible gaming, and problem gambling prevention efforts, especially on college campuses.
The bill appears to have been received positively and without recorded opposition. It passed the House and Senate unanimously, with votes of 126-0 and 43-0, respectively, indicating broad bipartisan support. The absence of committee transcript material suggests there was little publicly recorded controversy or debate around the measure.
No major contention is evident in the available record. The only potentially sensitive issues are the bill’s references to artificial intelligence, facial recognition, biometrics, and geofencing, which can raise privacy, surveillance, and data-use concerns in other contexts. However, the unanimous votes and favorable committee action suggest those issues did not generate significant opposition in this bill’s consideration. The bill also relies on partnerships with universities and private entities, but there is no indication that this collaboration model was disputed.