Updated August 26, 2023By Chris Boline
With Maryland casino and gaming revenues reaching a record high since widespread legalization, lawmakers in the state are tightening up certain state gaming regulations. Per a recent report, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission met last month and approved a variety of amendments to the state’s regulations for legal sports betting. In the same article, Maryland regulators have now started implementing the rule change lawmakers want to see for retail and online sports betting sites. This includes content scrutineers and a crackdown on certain college partnerships.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming out of Maryland, along with more notes about Maryland wagering.
Maryland gaming provisions cover a variety of topics
According to the same article, some of the Maryland sports betting tweaks were technical, such as clarifying bond requirements for brick-and-mortar facilities. However, a few were geared around enacting legislative changes passed earlier this year by lawmakers in Annapolis. One rule tweak was to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 620. This bill “prohibits institutions of higher education from contract with sports wagering licensees if the licensees would profit from securing student participation in sports wagering.”
This amendment comes as the advertising practices of sportsbook operators remain under scrutiny from the public, regulators, and lawmakers, including those in Maryland, the report notes. One practice that did not sit right with policymakers was that some bookmakers had put together partnerships with colleges. Another approved amendment was to implement a framework for “independent evaluators” of content “provided by a sports wagering expert, sports wagering influencer, or content partner.” Moreover, those same auditors can rate “the accuracy of predictions for sporting event outcomes,” as the proposed regulation also reads.
Gaming rules also implemented for Senate Bill 621
According to one report, the rules were approved after the Maryland legislature passed Senate Bill 621 in the spring. This legislation requires the commission to license independent evaluators that sports betting licensees can then choose to use. There is, however, no requirement for operators to hire an evaluator. “A sports wagering licensee or sports wagering operator that advertisers in the State (Maryland) may contract with a license independent evaluator,” another fiscal policy note said back in April of this year.
Per one article, this summer’s approvals “breathe life into that vision, although the rules still need to clear a few more hurdles before they are finalized.” This includes submitting the amendments to a legislative committee for review. In the meantime, the framework is there for firms that want to get into the content-evaluating business. Moreover, the article notes that “an independent evaluator and its principles and employees may not wager on a sporting event.” Moreover, the report and fiscal note mentioned that “an independent evaluator may not be compensated by a sports wagering licensee or sports wagering operator that uses the evaluator’s evaluations.”
Even more notes & info about Maryland sports betting
After you are all squared away regarding the latest news and updates coming from the Old Line State, make sure to tap into the wide variety of resources available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more news on the topic at hand, our Maryland sports betting guide is a must-read page to find out the latest Maryland gaming news. On a separate note, if you are looking to charge up your wagers, then the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a great page to dig into. Here you can find a catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers available to you. Finally, for those looking to bolster their payment options, our payment methods breakdown is a great page to learn about deposit and withdrawal options.
About the Author
Chris Boline
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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