• About Us / Contact
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Massachusetts
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Massachusetts
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Maryland Lawmakers Hear Plenty As Sports Betting Framework Takes Shape

Bill hearing reveals concerns about minority participation, problem gambling, and operators' desire for more licenses

Brett Smiley by Brett Smiley
February 26, 2021
in Regulation
maryland sports betting

Maryland State House (Shutterstock)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Maryland House of Delegates on Thursday afternoon took a small but necessary and important step toward implementing the framework for legal sports betting in the state — an expansion that voters overwhelmingly approved via ballot referendum in the NovemberΒ  2020 election. The House Ways and Means Committee heard from proponents and some critics of the betting bill, with testimony from roughly 25 interested parties including representatives for the Maryland State Fair, lobbyists for national sportsbook operators, problem gambling advocates, and others.

The bill under discussion is HB 940, sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne Jones. It did not go to vote Thursday, but it appears poised to advance to the floor this session, which ends April 12. In 2020 both chambers actively discussed how to shape a legal sports betting framework in the state, but due to the havoc wreaked by the unfurling COVID-19 pandemic, leaders decided it was wisest to simply put the ballot question up for voters first and figure out the details later, which is now occurring.

During the roughly three-hour hearing, three key discussion points repeatedly emerged: interest in increasing the number of licenses for digital brands available from 10 to 20 (or more); ensuring that minority businesses and business people have legitimate opportunities to participate in the market in both procurement and as actual equity owners with licensees; and making sure that Maryland keeps up with its neighbors such as Virginia, by implementing a competitive framework that will generate as much revenue as market forces will allow to benefit all Maryland students’ education.

β€œA disparity study review found that minorities are historically shut out of as meaningful participants in the gaming industry in Maryland,” said Jones, discussing the importance of provisions in the bill to put minorities on equal footing.

The committee did not take a vote but received a range of testimony and calls for certain amendments to address the concerns laid out above. There is not yet a companion bill in the Senate, but it is expected to materialize after a work group comes to a consensus on how best to proceed. Fantasy sports contests are also considered in the bill with new taxes levied on those operators.

Here’s a look at the details

Some of the issues brought up last session included how to handle mobile vs brick-and-mortar operation, where funds go, if teams should have licenses, minority involvement in the business and more.

— Wes Brown (@W_Brown21) February 25, 2021

After Jones gave an overview, Delegate Eric Ebersole reviewed key points in the framework of the bill. It would:

  • Allow eight β€œClass A” physical sportsbook licenses to the state’s six casinos and certain racetracks.
  • Allow β€œClass B” licenses for five more β€œcompetitively bid physical locations” at least 10 miles from the Class A locations.
  • Make 10 mobiles licenses available to operators that do not necessarily have to be tethered to the physical locations.
  • Impose a tax of 15% for the first $5 million gross gaming revenue and 17.5% for anything beyond that, all of it benefiting the state’s Blueprint Fund.
  • Set the following fees: Class A applications, $250,000 and annual fees of $50,000,Β  and after five years, renewal fee of 1% GGR for previous five years; Class BΒ  applications $50,000 and annual fees, and after renewal fee of 1% GGR for previous five years;
  • Set the fee for mobile-only licenses at $500,000 (application) and $100,000 (annual renewal).
  • Create a licensure review commission to review all applications.

On balance, Maryland appears to be on track for a reasonably competitive market. However, amendments are coming primarily aimed at increasing the number of licenses to 20, so there are not only a pair of licenses available beyond the eight to 10 that would likely go to the physical locations. The general sentiment expressed by various stakeholders: Why not open up the competition and make more licenses available to minority and local groups?

β€œDuring this process we will hear from many special interests — regional and otherwise,” said Delegate Eric Luedtke, a supporter of the measure. “Our job is to find the public interest, making sure our commercial gaming industry is competitive with other states. And this bill will do that. It will provide access as the voters approved wagering in person and online, and get the revenue we need to fund programs we care about. It will raise revenue for our schools.”

Luedtke also underscored Speaker Jones’ emphasis on securing minority business owner participation in this market.

β€œWe must create opportunities for minority business owners to own equity in these licenses in a way this state has rarely provided in the gaming industry, he said. β€œHorse racing, OTBs, bingo halls, are almost entirely white-owned. There are provisions crafted here to abide by legal standards, but set Maryland out as the national leader in providing opportunities for minority ownership and equity in the gaming industry to create truly equitable economy.”

But questions persisted as to how to actually accomplish this goal. Delegate Jason Buckel inquired what criteria would be used, whether to set aside a targeted percentage of licenses, use a weighted criterion, or actually implement a mandate.

Maryland State Fair wants piece of the action

Thomas Kelso, Chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority, says that teams in Maryland should be able to have sports gaming licenses.

He notes that fans may be more inclined to stay home and gamble on events, lowering ticket sales or money for other local businesses.

— Wes Brown (@W_Brown21) February 25, 2021

The committee heard testimony from over 25 witnesses, several of them representing the Maryland State Fair, who insisted that the nonprofit group should have a seat at the table, holding that it would indeed boost revenue generation as the current home of the highest-performing OTB in the state.

Christian Goode, CEO of IG Acquisition Group and founder of Ivory Gaming Group, testified about the importance of increasing the number of mobile licenses available.

“Several states allow more than 10, and we would support as many operators as possible to develop the most robust market,” he said. “Virginia received 25 applications for just 12 licenses.Β  Maryland will receive more than that. It’s a means to provide a seat at the table for diverse entities to participate, not just the established casinos. It will lead to a robust sports wagering industry within the state of Maryland.”

The committee also heard from Erin Weinstock, a University of Maryland law student and Rule 19 student attorney, concerning problem gambling measures. She emphasized the importance of collecting information about gambling treatment programs, ensuring that operators offer only responsible advertisements, and requiring licensees to develop safe platforms.

She also advocated for a reporting requirement in the bill. Around the country, enabling legislation requires regulators to report vastly different information about total bets made and revenue generated, including within which sports and so forth. Some states require only a bare minimum. In other words, Weinstock encourages total transparency.

No other hearing is currently set for the bill, but it is expected to gain a favorable report and move forward. In the event that some version of this bill’s framework reaches Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk this session, it is possible that sportsbooks would go live sometime in the first quarter of 2022, perhaps a bit sooner.

ShareTweetShare
Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Sports Handle, which joined forces with the US Bets team in November 2018. He focuses on the sports betting industry and legislation. He's a recreational sports bettor and DFS player himself, focusing on the NFL. In a past life, Smiley practiced commercial litigation in New York City and previously wrote for FOX Sports and SI.com. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

Related Posts

thumbs up down
Industry

A Mixed Bag Of Numbers For Virginia Sports Betting in June

August 1, 2022
Shutterstock
Legislation

No Minor Threat: States Fail To Mandate Gambling Education For Kids

July 14, 2022
Load More

Top Sportsbooks In Your State

1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetRivers Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs ApplyOnly 1x Wager Applies
1
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
SugarHouse Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
bet365 Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetRivers Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs ApplyOnly 1x Wager Applies
2
FOX Bet Sportsbook
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
SI Sportsbook
Review / 4.1
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
SuperBook Sports
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetRivers Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs ApplyOnly 1x Wager Applies
1
SI Sportsbook
Review / 4.1
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
Betfred Sportsbook
Review / 3.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetRivers Sportsbook Ontario
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
NorthStar Bets Sportsbook
Review / 4.6
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Bet99 Sportsbook
Review / 4.7
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Sports Interaction Ontario
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
PowerPlay Sportsbook
Rating / 3.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Monkey Knife Fight
Rating / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
PrizePicks
Rating / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

State Sports Betting Guides

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
August 9, 2022

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
July 8, 2021

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
July 8, 2022

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
July 6, 2022

Top Stories

boston

Massachusetts Lawmakers Reach Last-Minute Sports Betting Deal

August 1, 2022
magnifying-glass-paper

Unpacking Massachusetts’ Bill: College Ban, Data Mandate, Extra Fees, And More

August 3, 2022
watson ridley

NFL Punishments For Watson And Ridley Aren’t Equal β€” And They Shouldn’t Be

August 2, 2022
yes-on-27-screenshot

California’s Proposition 27 Launches New Ad Called ‘Shameful’ By Opposition

August 2, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

gambling therapy
ncpg
igaming ontario
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN),Β 1-800-522-4700Β (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA),Β 1-888-532-3500Β (VA) or call/text TN REDLINEΒ 1-800-889-9789Β (TN).
19+. Please play responsibly. Terms and conditions apply.Β 
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to participate in igaming in Ontario. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem in Ontario and wants help, please visit ConnexOntario or call their helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Operators on this website operate pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Massachusetts
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location