Lawmakers in Maryland are diving into the sports betting issue in an effort to legalize sportsbooks through a referendum in November’s election. Last week, a key state House committee held a packed hearing on two separate sports betting bills before the chamber.
The state’s House Ways and Means Committee held the public hearing on HB 169, which would send the choice to legalize sports betting to the voters through a ballot question in November; and HB 225, which lays out a framework for how legalized sports betting would operate. According to a report on the SportsHandle news sites, the bills are likely being considered as companion measures, although they’re not officially linked.
Maryland requires an amendment to the state constitution to legalize sports betting. HB 169 would create the language for a ballot question in a referendum, and would place it on the November ballot.
According to SportsHandle, there were more than 40 requests from people to testify on the bills, and some testified twice in the hearing, once on each bill.
HB 225 would legalize mobile sports betting and retail sports betting at existing casinos and horse racetracks. Each retail licensee would be entitled to two online “skins” or brands. According to the bill, potential licensees would be charged a $2.5 million application fee with a $250,000 per year renewal while being taxed at 20 percent on gross sports betting revenue. Several people testifying at the hearing said those taxes and fees are too high.
There also was debate about where sports betting will ultimately take place. The legislation would license casinos and horse racetracks, but some casino operators argued that sports betting should be legal at casinos only.
Justin Ross of the Washington Redskins testified that his team should have the opportunity to offer sports betting at FedEx Field, which is located in Landover. “We’re asking that FedEx Field be included in this legislation, and be treated like any other licensee is being treated,” he said. “We would build a year-round facility. We think of this as an amenity. This is how people are going to bet.”
The Redskins are the only Washington professional team not already planning sports betting facilities. Since the District of Columbia has legal sports betting, the NHL’s Washington Capitals and MLB’s Washington Nationals are both planning sportsbooks, with Capital One Arena poised to be the first professional sports stadium to offer legal sports betting.
“We are competing eight miles away from three arenas that will be able to offer this,” the Redskins’ Ross said.
