Governor Larry Hogan has thrown down the gauntlet—he wants mobile gaming taking bets by the start of the upcoming NFL season.
That undertaking falls at the feet of the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (MSWARC),which met June 29 and made some progress discussing draft regulations and applications. The commission expects to award licenses in the coming months, according to Sports Handle.
Thomas Brandt, the MSWARC chairman, has offered a loose timeline. The agency hopes to approve the regulations and applications in the next few weeks.
After MSWARC approves the regulations, they need consent from the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review. A 30-day public comment period follows, which may trigger tweaks before implementation.
“I’m sharing this information to help us all adjust expectations as we proceed with our responsibilities,” Brandt said. “It’s our continued hope that we may be able to begin accepting applications in late summer.”
If the timeline holds, mobile sports betting can be launched in the fall and Hogan will be a happy man, especially if the betting goes live by week 1 of the NFL season.
Some commission members believe the application materials may prove too daunting to small business applicants.
“Are we overdoing it?” Brandt said. “Are we making it too hard with all the stuff we’re asking for? … It’s a lot for a restaurant or a startup.”
Commissioner Frank Turner agreed.
“Just listening to what is required to get a license, for the average person it’s going to be overwhelming,” Turner said. “Let’s not fool ourselves. I mean, that is a lot of information.”
Lawyers working on the preparations said the complications form a needed barrier to entry. There will likely be Maryland businesses interested in sports betting that lack the funds or experience to launch their own sportsbooks.
Maryland sports betting legislation includes language designed to foster involvement from women and minorities. To that end, MSWARC waits for the results of a disparity study that will help determine what measures it can legally implement to generate increased minority and women involvement.
“We still want to encourage the partnerships, but we want them to be true partnerships with equity positions, if you will, as opposed to in name only,” said Rosie Allen-Herring, a MSWARC commissioner.
