Future of Online Sports Betting
Is online sports betting allowed in Maryland? Unfortunately, it isn’t right now. Although the Maryland Lottery has taken a step in the direction, there are still regulations and limitations in place. Are online sports betting legally available in Maryland?
“Yes, online sports betting is legal in Maryland, but not right now,” says Patrick Swayzer, Executive Vice President of the Maryland Office of the Comptroller of Public Land Development (OPLD). “We’ll see what the future brings, but for now we’re satisfied with the status quo.” In July of 2021, Maryland legalized online gambling, but placed a moratorium on all online gambling legislation until the Gaming Commission took further action. The General Assembly is expected to pass a bill allowing online gambling by 2021. How long will the moratorium last?
“You never know what’s going to happen in Maryland, but we feel that it’s premature to introduce sports betting legislation to the Maryland gaming public before there is reliable and practical online sports betting software in place,” said Maryland State Senator John K. Kowall, Chair of the House Rules Committee. “We recognize that casinos can be an important source of revenue for communities across the country, but there is no doubt that online sports betting represents a significant risk to the profitability of existing casinos.” In order for online gambling to succeed in Maryland, the Maryland Lottery and Maryland Gaming Control Board must have effective controls in place over the casinos. However, no current plans have been made to control the Maryland casinos as of this time.
The Future of Online Sports Betting in Maryland
“What we do know is that Maryland is going to continue to be a state that does not open sports betting casinos,” said Patrick Swayzer, Executive Vice President of the Maryland Society of Casino Business, which is responsible for regulating the state’s casinos. “The legislature needs to take action and protect the interest of the citizens of Maryland who want to enjoy wagering and gaming on games of chance.” Mr. Swayzer went on to say that he believed it was unrealistic to project that there would not be casinos in Maryland in the next ten years, and that the Maryland Gaming Control Board should allow for a moratorium on new licenses for such services. He also indicated that if a casino is established in Maryland, it will need to be licensed by the state.
There are currently three online sports betting sites that are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): BettingDime, Betfair, and sportsbookswithrights. All three sportsbooks have applied for legal sports betting with the state of Maryland. If approved, these online sports betting sites will be able to operate as internet casinos with live online sports betting.
While many residents in Maryland may still be unfamiliar with open sportsbooks, or how online sports betting works, they are undoubtedly fascinated with the idea. One thing’s for sure: even though online sports betting remains only a small portion of the overall sports betting market, it’s growing at a rapid pace. Maryland may very well be the next state to open sportsbooks. More people than ever before are starting to take advantage of the convenience, safety, and flexibility that online sports betting presents.