Maryland regulators have agreed to fine-tune some of the rules around retail and online sports betting in the state as the former activity continues to grow but the latter still lacks an official launch date.
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) on Thursday approved proposed amendments to the state’s sports-wagering regulations, including a tweak that will allow bettors to check their bankrolls at online sportsbooks when they’re across state lines. Actual betting, however, would be a no-no.
“We modified language to allow bettors to access mobile accounts while they are out of state,” said James Nielsen, deputy director and chief operating officer of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, during an MLGCC meeting. “They just can't place a wager.”
Another change is removing provisions from the regulations that allow a “runner” to place an in-person bet for another person. The amendments also allow bettors to opt out of getting an email, text message, or other notification about each transaction made on their account.
Books no longer need to use official league data either.
“Licensees can now use any commission-approved data source,” Nielsen said.
Things to do
The regulations must still clear some hurdles before they are official, including approval from the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review. In the meantime, the MLGCC approved a waiver of some sports-betting regulations that may conflict with the proposed rules approved on Thursday.
“We expect the waiver to be in effect until sometime in February,” Nielsen told the commission members. “And after that, the amendments we've just gone through should take full effect.”
The regulatory tweaks will affect the sports betting that is already going on at some Maryland casinos and that will occur at other facilities and over the internet.
While the legal launch of online sports betting in the state has yet to happen — and it’s not expected until later in 2022 — there is a growing number of locations authorized to take wagers on their property.
A land-based beginning
The commission ruled Thursday that another off-track betting venue, Greenmount Station in Hampstead, had met the qualification criteria for a retail sports betting license. The facility is one of the 17 entities named in the state’s sports-wagering law that are getting the first crack at licenses for on-property betting.
Greenmount Station’s application will now be sent to Maryland’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, which actually awards the licenses.
“Maryland Lottery and Gaming staff will be working with Greenmount Station’s sports wagering operator partner, contractors and employees on their licensing procedures over the coming weeks in preparation for an opening in early 2022,” a press release noted.
Maryland’s legal sports betting model allows for up to 60 online sportsbook licenses to be issued, as well as 47 licenses for brick-and-mortar books, including the named facilities. Retail licensees who want to take mobile wagers would need to apply for a separate online wagering permit, although that process has yet to begin.
Greenmount Station’s approval is in addition to that of two other OTBs, Long Shot’s in Frederick and Riverboat on the Potomac in Colonial Beach, Va. (its gambling facilities are in Maryland). Those locations were awarded retail licenses earlier this month and are expected to start taking sports wagers in early 2022, the release said.
Meanwhile, three casinos in the state have already opened brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to the public: Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill.
A “controlled demonstration” of sports-betting operations at Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin was held this week as well. The facility’s sportsbook was expected to open to the public on Friday. Another trial run is anticipated to take place next week at Hollywood Casino in Perryville.
“Prior to their public openings, all sports wagering facilities must complete two days of controlled demonstrations, during which guests invited by the facilities will participate in live wagering under the observation of Maryland Lottery and Gaming staff, who ensure that all required procedures, systems and revenue reporting controls are in place and effective,” the release said.
