Maryland mobile sports betting plans take giant step forward with regulation approval
Draft rules given SWARC approval as regulator faces race against time to be ready by next NFL season
Maryland’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) has approved the first draft applications and regulations for mobile sports betting in the Free State after concerns were expressed about delays.
SWARC released the first draft application and regulations last week ahead of an internal vote, something which took place on Wednesday.
Under current procedures, these regulations must now be approved by the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review before passing to the next stage.
Should the committee approve said applications and regulations, they will become effective on an emergency basis for 180 days, during which time a 30-day consultation process will be triggered.
After this point, Maryland SWARC will be free to open the licensing window for operators.
Aside from the $500,000 fee payable on application, details on license terms and any annual fees payable have been left out of the draft regulations, with SWARC aiming to add these details in at later stages of the process while allowing for the fulfilment of necessary regulatory requirements.
Legislation enabling sports betting in the Free State was signed into law in May 2021, with retail sportsbooks launching in the state in December. However, to date, no mobile sportsbooks operate in the state, despite the law allowing for them to operate.
It is this disparity which led Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to launch a stinging attack on SWARC last month, claiming the delays were inexcusable and making bettors in the state “angry and discouraged” about whether the state would do so.
In the letter, the Maryland governor called for regulators to get the mobile sportsbook market up and running, suggesting that a target date should be the new NFL season, which would create a very challenging timeframe for SWARC.
Hogan’s intervention has led to shift in SWARC’s previously slow stance to a more active one.
Regulations in Maryland provide for the licensing of 30 retail sportsbooks and up to 60 online operators, with the state currently playing host to 17 retail sportsbook operators.
Hogan has asked that these 17 operators have their mobile licensing applications prioritized, with many of these establishments already partnered with online sportsbooks.
Outside of this exchange, the governor has suggested that SWARC should be looking to create an environment of diversity and inclusion, as provided for under the enabling legislation.
Operators including PointsBet, Betfred and Rush Street Interactive have also inked partnerships with Maryland-facing businesses over the last 12 months.
The new NFL season begins on September 8.