2015’s HB 157, sponsored by Delegate Holmes, proposes to add home wagering to a list of non-prohibited activities under Maryland Criminal Law.  Under this bill, card and other games for money in a person’s home would no longer be prohibited.  Internet gambling would still be prohibited.

This title and Title 12 of this article do not prohibit:

…(2) A PERSON FROM CONDUCTING A HOME GAME THAT IS A GAME OF CHANCE OR SKILL INVOLVING WAGERING THAT:
(I) IS CONDUCTED IN:
1. THE PERSON’S HOME; OR
2. A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT IS RESTRICTED TO HOUSING FOR PERSONS WHO ARE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD;
(II) ALLOWS A PLAYER TO COMPETE DIRECTLY AGAINST ONE OR MORE OTHER PLAYERS;
(III) DOES NOT INVOLVE A PLAYER’S USE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT CONNECTS TO THE INTERNET; AND
(IV) DOES NOT ALLOW A PERSON TO BENEFIT FINANCIALLY IN ANY WAY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OTHER THAN FROM THE WINNINGS ACCRUED BY PARTICIPATING AS A PLAYER IN THE GAME.

Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
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