The amendments included removing details on initial licensing fees. Previous versions of the bill called for the state’s three full-scale casinos \u2013 MGM National Harbor, Maryland Live!, and Horseshoe Baltimore \u2013 to pay $2.5 million each for their sports betting permit. The three smaller resort casinos, plus the state’s three horse racetracks, would have paid $1.5 million.<\/p>\n
The suggested 20 percent tax on sports betting gross gaming revenue (GGR) was also removed.<\/p>\n
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The lawmakers favored a stripped down version, with specific regulations to be decided at a later point should the ballot referendum pass. However, SB 4 maintains that mobile sports betting would be permitted, and college games, including those involving state schools, would be allowed with voter backing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mobile betting is critical to a robust sports gambling market. For instance, of the more than $4.58 billion wagered on sports in New Jersey last year, over $3.8 billion \u2013 or nearly 84 percent \u2013 was placed remotely.<\/p>\n
Maryland’s six casinos won a record $1.757 billion last year. But Horseshoe Baltimore has struggled since the introduction of MGM National Harbor. A legal sportsbook at the Caesars-owned property near the Ravens and Orioles stadiums could help lure fans to the casino.<\/p>\n
Referendum Odds<\/b><\/h2>\n
Sports betting is operational in 16 states, including Maryland’s neighbors Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Five additional states have passed sports gambling regulations, but operations haven’t yet commenced.<\/p>\n
Maryland’s casinos and horse racetracks hope to join that expanding bunch. But the odds of Old Line State voters approving the gambling activity are relatively even.<\/p>\n
A poll released last month from Goucher College found that 49 percent of respondents opposed allowing casinos and racetracks to incorporate sportsbooks into their venues. Forty-five percent were in support, and six percent undecided.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Maryland sports betting referendum will likely go before voters this November during the 2020 general election. After major amendments to Senate Bill 4, the Maryland House on Tuesday voted 129-3 in favor of the legislation. Today, the Senate quickly and unanimously approved the edits, which now sends the bill to Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":130486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Maryland Sports Betting Buzzer-Beater: Bill Passes on Final Session Day<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n