HB 610 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

St. Mary's County - Gaming by Qualified Organization - Permit Required

HB 610 requires qualified organizations in St. Mary’s County - such as volunteer fire companies, religious groups, charities, and veterans’ organizations - to obtain a gaming license for certain activities like bingo or raffles. It exempts events where no individual benefits financially from the gaming (e.g., purely non-profit fundraisers). The bill also mandates that St. Mary’s County Commissioners adopt regulations for enforcement and designate a person to manage license issuance. This applies specifically to gaming events or devices not involving personal financial gain by organizers, effective October 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - St. Mary's County - Gaming by Qualified Organization - License Required → Third - St. Mary's County - Gaming by Qualified Organization - Permit Required · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the requirement from holding a 'gaming license' to holding a 'gaming license permit' for qualified organizations operating gaming devices in St. Mary's County. The definition of a 'gaming device' was expanded to explicitly include the term 'mechanism for playing a game of chance.' The effective date of the law was changed from October 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

Scope change

The scope of the requirement was slightly clarified by changing the trigger from conducting 'gaming' to 'operating a gaming device,' and the terminology was updated from 'license' to 'license permit' throughout the text.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the mandatory requirement from holding a 'gaming license' to holding a 'gaming license permit' for qualified organizations.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Gaming Device' as a 'mechanism for playing a game of chance' to clarify the scope of items covered.

TIMELINE

Advanced the effective date of the bill from October 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 555

executive

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-10)

house of delegates

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors