Maryland Lottery Contract Battle Heats Up Again

Maryland’s lottery contract drama just got even messier. For the second time in two months, state officials have hit pause, dragging out what’s already been a heated battle over one of Maryland’s biggest and most lucrative deals.

At stake? A multi-million-dollar contract to run the Maryland Lottery — the state’s third-largest source of revenue. As Treasurer Dereck Davis put it, “That’s nothing to play with. We depend on that money, and we need to know it’s handled with transparency and accountability.”

Here’s the breakdown of what’s happening:

• Scientific Games, the longtime lottery operator, came in with a $371 million bid. It had the backing of staff, but it wasn’t their top choice.

• Back in July, the commission shocked everyone by choosing Intralot, a Greece-based company, with a cheaper $260.4 million bid. Just two weeks later, though, Intralot was disqualified over minority-business subcontracting requirements.

• Intralot has faced these issues before. Earlier this year, the D.C. attorney general accused the company of running an “elaborate scheme” around subcontracting, which cost them a $5 million fine. Intralot denied it — but it’s a shadow that hasn’t gone away.

On Thursday, after more than an hour and a half behind closed doors, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission voted 4-3 against moving forward with Scientific Games. No clear explanation was given. That means Intralot could still have a shot at the contract despite its earlier disqualification.

The decision now falls back to the Lottery’s procurement officer, who must decide what comes next. Whether that means reopening bids, revisiting past offers, or starting over entirely remains unclear.

Commission Chair Everett Browning admitted the closed-door talks covered legal risks, potential lawsuits, and the overall stability of the Lottery. “The unfortunate facts that brought us here today” had to be addressed, he said.

Meanwhile, Davis and other state leaders are stressing one thing: getting it right matters more than getting it fast. If that means scrapping everything and starting fresh, so be it.

One thing is certain — with hundreds of millions of dollars and public trust on the line, this is no small gamble for Maryland.