A group of sports betting bills in Maryland are headed to Gov. Wes Moore's desk after receiving approval Monday on the state legislature’s final session day.
The legislative efforts look to boost responsible gambling best practices in the state and add consumer protections, but the language in the bills leads to questions about how useful they will actually be. One of the bills addresses sportsbook operators’ partnerships with Maryland colleges, but the guidance under the legislation doesn't actually ban partnerships, it just prohibits one element of potential deals.
A second legislative effort attempts to audit handicappers and touts in the state, but the bill's language doesn't guarantee an audit across any level of the state's sports betting market. It certainly doesn't guarantee an audit of the most misleading touts across the mobile sports wagering market.'
College partnership bills toothless?
A pair of bills, SB 620 and HB 802, sent to Gov. Moore's desk would prohibit colleges from forming partnerships with sportsbook operators “if the sports marketing entity or the institution of higher education receives certain compensation for student participation in certain sports wagering.”