S
ports betting in Maryland is seeing a delay, despite the General Assembly having passed the bill and the Governor signing it, as regulators still work to develop rules.
The Maryland Lottery Commission is finishing regulatory details, including terms on who can and can’t apply for gaming licenses, with their work having reportedly only starting this summer despite the bill having been signed into law for some time now, reports FOX5.
According to the news source, several fans in the state are disappointed at sports gambling not being yet available in Maryland with only one day to go until the NFL Season kickoff. The delay could see Maryland losing out to other states.
Finalizing regulatory details is essential to the proper launching of betting in the state. Moreover, it also means the state itself might not see any gambling revenue in the first few games.
According to Maryland Matters, the rules are critical to ensure winners get paid in time. In accordance to the local news website, as many of the companies stepping forward in Maryland are new, the obligation of part of the state regulators is further raised.
Maryland has named, upon the bill’s passing, 17 entities as sports gaming sites, including casinos such as Horseshoe Casino, Live! Casino, MGM, and Hollywood Casino. Three stadiums –Oriole Park, M&T Bank Field and FedEx Field– are also set for gaming.
Sports gambling companies in the state will pay a 15% tax on their proceeds, which will go largely to public education. The bill will grant nearly 100 licenses in total to the state’s six casinos, racing tracks, stadiums, off-track betting facilities, as well as to mobile and online sports betting apps. Nonpartisan analysts estimate that the state could bring in about $17 million per year.
The news of the delay comes as the American Gaming Association says, according to a new study, that a record 45.2 million Americans plan to wager on the 2021 NFL Season, figures that represent a 36% increase from the 2020 season.
“The enthusiasm of bettors for the upcoming NFL season highlights the remarkable growth of the industry over the past three years,” said Bill Miller, President and CEO of AGA. As of this new season, 111 million Americans will be able to wager in a legal way.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international//noticias/2021/09/08/59185-maryland-sports-betting-delayed-before-nfl-kickoff-as-regulators-craft-rules
