Maryland senators have approved a sports betting bill that will allow as many as 60 online operators and 30 retail sportsbooks to operate within the state.
The bill has gained momentum after it was approved by The House Ways & Means Committee in early March. Senators passed the bill by 47-0 before the house of delegates passed it by 112-16-1.
It will now go to Gov. Larry Hogan’s office to be signed into law.
The original bill had placed a cap on the number of online and retail licenses, but senators wanted to remove these limits completely. However, a compromise was reached that capped the online licenses at 60 and retail licenses at 30.
Speaking of the compromise on the higher cap Sen. Craig Zucker said:
“By Dec. 1, 2025, we’ll revisit it to see if there’s more licenses that need to be issued to meet demand.”
The senate also amended the bill to create four categories for retail licenses making it easier and more affordable for small businesses to apply.
Maryland’s six full-scale commercial casinos are almost certain to receive both online and retail licenses and will likely be the first to launch. All operators, both online and retail will pay a 15% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR).
The Maryland Gaming Commission will create a committee that will manage the license application and issuance process and have been informed to prioritize applications by minority and women-owned businesses.
The entire process is expected to take anywhere from 3 – 18 months before the first sportsbooks can launch.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.