Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 09, 2025
Maryland Casino Revenue Dips 2.1% as Legal Battle Over Prediction Markets Intensifies
TLDR
- MGM National Harbor's 6.5% revenue decline creates opportunities for competitors like Live! Casino to gain market share in Maryland's casino industry.
- Maryland's casino revenue fell 2.1% to $170.3 million, with video lottery terminals at $118.2M and table games at $52M, showing mixed performance across six properties.
- The revenue decline may prompt casinos to enhance community benefits and responsible gaming programs to maintain public trust and support local economies.
- A federal court ruling on Kalshi's prediction markets could redefine sports betting laws, potentially impacting Maryland's gaming landscape and setting national precedents.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it reflects broader trends in the gaming industry where traditional casino revenue faces pressure from both market saturation and emerging competition from digital platforms like prediction markets. For Maryland residents, casino revenue directly impacts state funding for education programs, as a significant portion of gaming taxes supports public education. The legal battle over Kalshi's prediction markets could redefine what constitutes legal gambling, potentially opening doors to new forms of online betting that consumers might access, while also creating regulatory challenges that could affect consumer protections and tax revenue streams for states nationwide.
Summary
Maryland's casino industry experienced a 2.1% decline in gaming revenue during August, with total takings dropping to $170.3 million compared to $173.9 million in the same period last year, according to figures released by Maryland Lottery and Gaming. The state's largest operator, MGM National Harbor, reported a significant 6.5% revenue slide to $70.1 million, which heavily impacted the statewide results, while Hollywood Casino Perryville suffered the steepest decline at 13%. In contrast, Live! Casino & Hotel and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore posted modest gains of 2.1% and 4.4% respectively, demonstrating mixed performance across the market.
The revenue report emerges as Maryland becomes central to a critical legal battle involving prediction markets and sports betting regulations. A federal judge recently ruled that contracts offered by Kalshi, a New York-based trading platform, could qualify as sports betting under state law, with the company currently appealing the decision. As Alex Murphy, a digital PR specialist at Casinos.com, noted, "The Kalshi case highlights the blurred lines regulators are facing between traditional sports betting and emerging prediction markets," suggesting that the outcome could set an important precedent for the broader U.S. gaming landscape beyond just Maryland.
This development appears first on citybiz, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing both established casino operators and emerging gaming platforms in navigating complex regulatory environments while maintaining revenue stability in a competitive market.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, Maryland Casino Revenue Dips 2.1% as Legal Battle Over Prediction Markets Intensifies
