Legal Status
Sports betting is legal in the state of Maryland but has yet to launch.
Legislative Progress
The question of whether to legalize sports betting was put to the voters in November 2020. There was little to no organized opposition to it; FanDuel and DraftKings funded a campaign supporting it. So, it was not too surprising when voters gave the state government approval to make sports betting legal.
Maryland’s legislature passed House Bill 940 the following April, which Governor Larry Hogan signed into law in May. The legislation went into effect on July 1, with hopes of giving the state time to launch sports betting in time for the 2021 NFL season. But delays along the way have pushed those hopes back, with the goal now of getting betting live for the NFL playoffs or Super Bowl in early 2022.
Casino Participation
The legislation calls for ten Class A licenses to get reserved for specific entities, including Maryland’s six casinos. In the future, the state’s casinos will be involved in the state’s sports betting industry.
Role of the Lottery
Maryland does have a lottery, but it does not appear as if the state’s lottery will be involved with sports betting. Early efforts at legalizing sports betting involved the state lottery, but those efforts never really got off the ground.
Professional Sports Team Involvement
Maryland’s professional sports teams will be allowed to get involved with the state’s sports betting industry. The three professional teams/stadiums will receive a Class A license from the state. Teams will be allowed to open sportsbooks at their respective stadiums.
The Baltimore Ravens wasted no time in establishing a partnership with BetMGM. But the deal is not an exclusive one, so the Ravens could partner with other sportsbooks as well if they choose to. At this time, it is not clear whether BetMGM will establish a sportsbook at M&T Stadium (the home of the Ravens).
Licensing
It may be easier to say who will not receive a sports betting license in Maryland.
The legislation allows for up to 60 mobile/online licensed operators along with another 30 retail licenses. Ten Class A licenses will be reserved for the state’s professional sports venues, casinos, and horse racetracks. Class B licenses will be made available to smaller businesses, like off-track betting facilities, bingo operators with at least 200 electronic gaming machines, and the Maryland Fairgrounds.
Regulating the sports betting industry and issuing licenses will be the responsibility of the Maryland Gaming Commission. Revenue will be subject to a 15 percent tax. As for licensing fees, they could range from as low as $50,000 to as high as $2,000,000 (depending on the type).
Officials designed the legislation to make the sports betting industry in Maryland inclusive. Women-owned businesses and minority-owned ones are encouraged to apply for a license.
If more licenses are needed, the state will address that issue in December 2025.
Expected Live Date
The hope had been to have wagering in place by the 2021 NFL season, but now it seems likely that it will not be live until early 2022.
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