Maryland Becomes Second State to Consider New Ban on Sports Betting

Some lawmakers in the Free State have second thoughts on legal sports betting. 

Maryland became the second state to see a bill proposed to shut down legal sports betting in two weeks. Senator Joanne Benson has proposed Senate Bill 1033 to close down the state’s market. It would re-enact a ban on the industry as supporters hope to protect residents struggling with gambling addiction.

While the bill doesn’t seem to have enough support to pass, it will open up a discussion on problem gambling in the state legislature. The hope is that it will help push lawmakers to add increased regulations on the industry, but the opposition is expected to be fierce.

The state is home to 11 online sportsbooks, making it a crowded market despite its small size. Operators have fought hard against any attempts to scale back the industry, and Maryland won’t be an exception. 

If SB 1033 gains momentum, expect to see the industry threaten to water down odds and offer fewer promos. The industry has used these tactics successfully to prevent regulations and tax hikes, helping to win over public support from bettors. 

Vermont Considering Similar Bill

Maryland’s SB 1033 comes just a week after a similar bill was proposed in Vermont. The state’s sports betting market thrived in its first year but has also experienced a significant spike in problem gambling. The Vermont bill is also expected to fail, especially since the sponsors have not been vocal about the issue in the past.

The question now is whether similar bills will be proposed in other states. Many lawmakers are beginning to grow more concerned about the industry's impact and could decide to follow the lead of these two northeastern states. That leaves sportsbooks with the option of risking fighting the movement or adding new regulations and tools to help ease their concerns.