Online Maryland sports betting took a recent step forward, but there is still no timeline for launch.
At its meeting last week, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission advanced Maryland online sports betting draft regulations and applications. The drafts move on to a legislative review committee and a 30-day public review period.
The SWARC has met monthly since August 2021 and has held up the mobile sports betting launch mainly under the guise of working toward making the industry inclusive. However, the regulations and application drafts advance without race and gender criteria.
“Over the past year, we’ve heard extensive legal advice regarding constraints upon us in so managing a licensing process,” SWARC Chairman Thomas Brandt said. “To avoid further delays, we’ve asked the staff and professional team to draft regulations which exclude race- and gender-based license criteria.”