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The state legislature begins its session on Jan. 8 with a single sports wagering proposal, Senate Bill No. 58, already on the table. The proposal, which calls for a voter referendum on the expansion of gambling, would lead to authorizing the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue sports wagering licenses.
The referendum would take place in November 2020. SB 58, which comes from state Sen. Chris West, a Republican representing central and northern Baltimore County, is currently the only sports wagering proposal on file in the state. It’s not certain that a non-referendum Sports Betting bill will be filed in 2020.
Sports wagering licenses would be limited to holders of a video lottery operation license or a license for thoroughbred racing or harness racing. Those currently total 11 through existing casinos and racetracks.
The legislation dictates that the primary purpose of any new Sports Betting revenue would be to fund education in Maryland.
Despite several years of discussion and work, plans for Maryland Sports Betting still appear to be in their infancy. SB 58 marks the third legislative session in a row that the Old Line State will look at allowing sports wagering. House Bill No. 1132, one of multiple gaming expansion proposals that failed to gain traction in 2019, did not call for a statewide referendum.
Some discussion in the state concerned classifying sports wagering as a lottery offering, which potentially could circumvent the need for a referendum under the state constitution. Maryland could opt for the referendum route, which could be more favorable for the brick-and-mortar gambling dens. A lottery offering could put some form of Sports Betting in thousands of lottery retail locations across the state.
The state legislature begins its session on Jan. 8 with a single sports wagering proposal, Senate Bill No. 58, already on the table. The proposal, which calls for a voter referendum on the expansion of gambling, would lead to authorizing the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue sports wagering licenses.
The referendum would take place in November 2020. SB 58, which comes from state Sen. Chris West, a Republican representing central and northern Baltimore County, is currently the only sports wagering proposal on file in the state. It’s not certain that a non-referendum Sports Betting bill will be filed in 2020.
Sports wagering licenses would be limited to holders of a video lottery operation license or a license for thoroughbred racing or harness racing. Those currently total 11 through existing casinos and racetracks.
The legislation dictates that the primary purpose of any new Sports Betting revenue would be to fund education in Maryland.
Despite several years of discussion and work, plans for Maryland Sports Betting still appear to be in their infancy. SB 58 marks the third legislative session in a row that the Old Line State will look at allowing sports wagering. House Bill No. 1132, one of multiple gaming expansion proposals that failed to gain traction in 2019, did not call for a statewide referendum.
Some discussion in the state concerned classifying sports wagering as a lottery offering, which potentially could circumvent the need for a referendum under the state constitution. Maryland could opt for the referendum route, which could be more favorable for the brick-and-mortar gambling dens. A lottery offering could put some form of Sports Betting in thousands of lottery retail locations across the state.