EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0465*
HOUSE BILL 465
C7 5lr0945
CF 5lr1488
By: Delegates Palakovich Carr, Allen, Ebersole, Feldmark, Miller, Mireku–North,
Stewart, Wilkins, Wu, and Young
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Gaming – Problem Gambling and College Athlete Protections 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to adopt 3
certain regulations to reduce or mitigate the effects of problem gambling; requiring 4
the regulations to establish a voluntary exclusion list; requiring the Commission to 5
provide contact information of certain individuals to the Maryland Center for 6
Excellence on Problem Gambling under certain circumstances; prohibiting an 7
individual under a certain age from participating in fantasy competitions and 8
prohibiting a fantasy competition operator from offering certain fantasy 9
competitions or services to individuals under a certain age; prohibiting an individual 10
from wagering on and prohibiting a sports wagering licensee from offering or 11
accepting a wager on certain player–specific proposition bets; requiring a sports 12
wagering licensee to provide certain transactional and metrics data to certain 13
universities for certain purposes; and generally relating to problem gambling 14
protections and player–specific proposition wagers. 15
BY adding to 16
Article – State Government 17
Section 9–109(d), 9–1E–04(b)(7) and (8) and (d), 9–1E–09(f), 9–1E–11(f), (g), and (h), 18
and 9–1E–18 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – State Government 23
Section 9–1A–24(e), 9–1D–02, 9–1D–05, 9–1E–04(b)(6)(xiii) and (7), and 9–1E–11(b) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 27 2 HOUSE BILL 465
Article – State Government 1
Section 9–1E–11(a)(7) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
Article – State Government 7
9–109. 8
(D) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS THAT ARE 9
INTENDED TO REDUCE O R MITIGATE THE EFFEC TS OF PROBLEM GAMBLI NG. 10
(2) THE REGULATIONS SHALL : 11
(I) ESTABLISH A VOLUNTARY EXCLUSIO N LIST OF INDIVIDUAL S 12
WITH GAMBLING PROBLE MS WHO HAVE REQUESTE D TO BE EXCLUDED FRO M THE 13
STATE LOTTERY , A GAME, OR A FACILITY THAT O FFERS A GAME AUTHORI ZED UNDER 14
THIS SUBTITLE; AND 15
(II) PROVIDE A SIMPLE MEC HANISM FOR AN INDIVI DUAL WHO IS 16
SOBER AND INFORMED T O REQUEST PLACEMENT ON THE VOLUNTARY EXC LUSION 17
LIST FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. 18
(3) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE 19
COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE THE CONTACT INFO RMATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO 20
REQUESTS TO BE PLACE D ON THE VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION LIST TO THE MARYLAND 21
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR THE PURPOSE OF 22
PROVIDING THE INDIVI DUAL INFORMATION ABO UT FREE AND CONFIDEN TIAL 23
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING ASSISTANCE. 24
(II) IF AN INDIVIDUAL AFFI RMATIVELY DECLINES TO HAVE THE 25
INDIVIDUAL’S CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR 26
EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, THE COMMISSION MAY NOT PR OVIDE THE 27
CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE CENTER. 28
9–1A–24. 29
(e) (1) By regulation, the Commission shall adopt measures that are intended 30
to reduce or mitigate the effects of problem gambling. 31
(2) (I) The regulations shall: 32
HOUSE BILL 465 3
[(i)] 1. [include establishment of] ESTABLISH a voluntary 1
exclusion list of individuals with gambling problems who have requested to be excluded 2
from any video lottery operation licensed under this subtitle; and 3
[(ii)] 2. provide a simple mechanism for an individual who is sober 4
and informed to request placement on the voluntary exclusion list for a specified period of 5
time. 6
(II) 1. SUBJECT TO SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS 7
SUBPARAGRAPH , THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE THE CONTACT INFO RMATION 8
OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO REQUESTS TO BE PLACE D ON THE VOLUNTARY E XCLUSION 9
LIST TO THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR 10
THE PURPOSE OF PROVI DING THE INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION ABOUT FR EE AND 11
CONFIDENTIAL RESPONS IBLE GAMBLING ASSIST ANCE. 12
2. IF AN INDIVIDUAL AFFI RMATIVELY DECLINES T O 13
HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL ’S CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MARYLAND 14
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, THE COMMISSION MAY NOT 15
PROVIDE THE CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE CENTER. 16
(3) A video lottery operation licensee may not permit an individual on the 17
voluntary exclusion list to enter into the video lottery facility or to play a video lottery 18
terminal. 19
(4) The Commission may impose sanctions on a licensee in accordance with 20
this subtitle if the licensee knowingly fails to exclude from the premises of the licensee an 21
individual on the voluntary exclusion list. 22
9–1D–02. 23
(a) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 12 of the Criminal Law Article 24
or any other title, and except as provided under [subsection (b) of this section] PARAGRAPH 25
(2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , the prohibitions against betting, wagering, and gambling do 26
not apply to participation in a fantasy competition. 27
[(b)] (2) A person may not operate a kiosk or machine that offers fantasy 28
competition to the public in a place of business physically located in the State. 29
(B) (1) A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS MAY NOT PARTIC IPATE 30
IN A FANTASY COMPETI TION. 31
(2) A FANTASY COMPETITION OPERATOR MAY NOT OFF ER A FANTASY 32
COMPETITION OR SERVI CES IN CONNECTION WI TH A FANTASY COMPETI TION FOR 33
WHICH THERE IS AN EN TRY FEE TO A PERSON THAT IS UNDER THE AG E OF 21 YEARS. 34
4 HOUSE BILL 465
9–1D–05. 1
(a) The Commission shall adopt regulations THAT ESTABLISH: 2
(1) (I) A VOLUNTARY EXCLUSIO N LIST OF INDIVIDUAL S WITH 3
GAMBLING PROBLEMS WH O HAVE REQUESTED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM 4
PARTICIPATING IN ANY FANTASY COMPETITION AUTHORIZED UNDER THI S 5
SUBTITLE; AND 6
(II) A SIMPLE MECHANISM F OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SOBER 7
AND INFORMED TO REQU EST PLACEMENT ON THE VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION LIST FOR 8
A SPECIFIED PERIOD O F TIME; AND 9
(2) ANY OTHER REGULATION NECESSARY to carry out the provisions of 10
this subtitle. 11
(b) (1) [The regulations adopted under this section may include requirements 12
for the establishment of a voluntary exclusion list] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 13
SUBSECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE THE CONTACT INFO RMATION OF 14
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RE QUESTS TO BE PLACED ON THE VOLUNTARY EXC LUSION LIST 15
ESTABLISHED BY REGULATION UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(I) OF THIS SECTION TO 16
THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR THE 17
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE INDIVIDUAL INFOR MATION ABOUT FREE AN D 18
CONFIDENTIAL RESPONS IBLE GAMBLING ASSIST ANCE. 19
(2) IF AN INDIVIDUAL AFFI RMATIVELY DECLINES T O HAVE THE 20
INDIVIDUAL’S CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR 21
EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, THE COMMISSION MAY NOT PR OVIDE THE 22
CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE CENTER. 23
9–1E–04. 24
(b) In accordance with this subtitle, the Commission shall adopt regulations that 25
establish: 26
(6) standards, procedures, and rules that govern the conduct of sports 27
wagering, including: 28
(xiii) establishing a list of individuals who are to be mandatorily 29
excluded or ejected by a sports wagering licensee from any facility or website operated by a 30
sports wagering licensee; [and] 31
HOUSE BILL 465 5
(7) A VOLUNTARY EXCLUSIO N LIST OF INDIVIDUAL S WITH GAMBLING 1
PROBLEMS WHO HAVE RE QUESTED TO BE EXCLUD ED FROM PARTICIPATING IN 2
SPORTS WAGERING AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE ; 3
(8) A SIMPLE MECHANISM F OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SOBER AND 4
INFORMED TO REQUEST PLACEMENT ON THE VOL UNTARY EXCLUSION LIS T FOR A 5
SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME; AND 6
[(7)] (9) any other regulation necessary to carry out the provisions of this 7
subtitle. 8
(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 9
COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE THE CONTACT INFO RMATION OF AN INDIVI DUAL WHO 10
REQUESTS TO BE PLACE D ON THE VOLUNTARY E XCLUSION LIST REQUIRED UNDER 11
SUBSECTION (B)(7) OF THIS SEC TION TO THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR 12
EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR THE PURP OSE OF PROVIDING THE 13
INDIVIDUAL INFORMATI ON ABOUT FREE AND CO NFIDENTIAL RESPONSIB LE 14
GAMBLING ASSISTANCE . 15
(2) IF AN INDIVIDUAL AFFI RMATIVELY DECLINES T O HAVE THE 16
INDIVIDUAL’S CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR 17
EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, THE COMMISSION MAY NOT PR OVIDE THE 18
CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE CENTER. 19
9–1E–09. 20
(F) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “PROPOSITION BET” MEANS A WAGER ON AN 21
INDIVIDUAL ACTION , STATISTIC, OCCURRENCE , OR NONOCCURRENCE , WHETHER 22
RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL PLA YER OR TEAM , THE OUTCOME OF WHICH IS NOT 23
DIRECTLY CONNECTED T O THE FINAL OUTCOME OR FINAL SCORE OF A SPORTING 24
EVENT. 25
(2) (I) A SPORTS WAGERING LICENSEE MAY NOT OFF ER OR 26
ACCEPT A WAGER ON A PLAYER–SPECIFIC PROPOSITION BET ON A PARTICIPANT IN 27
A COLLEGIATE SPORTS OR ATHLETIC EVENT . 28
(II) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT PLACE A WAGER ON A 29
PLAYER–SPECIFIC PROPOSITION BET ON A PARTICIPANT IN A COLLEGIATE SPOR TS 30
OR ATHLETIC EVENT . 31
9–1E–11. 32
(a) An individual may not wager on a sporting event and a sports wagering 33
licensee may not accept a wager from an individual on a sporting event if the individual: 34 6 HOUSE BILL 465
(7) is identified on a mandatory or voluntary sports wagering exclusion list 1
maintained by the Commission; 2
(b) For online sports wagering, a mobile sports wagering licensee shall: 3
(1) have in place technical and operational measures to prevent access by 4
individuals who are underage or physically located outside the State, including: 5
(i) age verification procedures, which may require the use of a 6
reputable independent third party that is in the business of verifying an individual’s 7
personally identifiable information; [and] 8
(ii) AGE AND IDENTITY VERIFICATION PROCEDU RES, THAT 9
REQUIRE THE VERIFICA TION OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S AGE AND IDENTITY A T THE TIME 10
THE INDIVIDUAL ESTAB LISHES A SPORTS WAGE RING ACCOUNT AND PER IODICALLY 11
REQUIRES REVERIFICATION OF TH E INDIVIDUAL’S IDENTITY; AND 12
(III) the use of geolocation technology to verify a bettor’s geographic 13
location; 14
(2) include on its online sports wagering website a description of the 15
possible repercussions for an underage or out–of–state bettor, which may include 16
immediate stoppage of play, account closure, and forfeiture and confiscation of winnings; 17
[and] 18
(3) establish procedures to prevent prohibited individuals from wagering 19
on sporting events; 20
(4) CAUSE THE WORDS “IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A 21
GAMBLING PROBLEM AND WANTS HELP , CALL 1–800–GAMBLER” OR SOME 22
COMPARABLE LANGUAGE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION TO BE DISP LAYED 23
PROMINENTLY AT LOG –ON AND LOG–OFF TIMES TO ANY IND IVIDUAL VISITING OR 24
LOGGED ONTO AN ONLIN E SPORTS WAGERING PL ATFORM; 25
(5) REQUIRE AN ONLINE SP ORTS WAGERING ACCOUN T HOLDER TO 26
ESTABLISH A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSI TED WITHIN A SPECIFI ED 27
PERIOD OF TIME AND T HE LENGTH OF TIME TH E ACCOUNT HOLDER WIL L BE UNABLE 28
TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS WAGERING AND MAKE ADDITIONAL DEPOSITS IF THE 29
ACCOUNT HOLDER REACH ES THE ESTABLISHED D EPOSIT LIMIT; 30
(6) PROVIDE A MECHANISM BY WHICH A N ONLINE SPORTS WAGE RING 31
ACCOUNT HOLDER MAY E STABLISH A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ONLINE SPORTS 32
WAGERING ACTIVITY TH ROUGH THE ACCOUNT FO R ANY NUMBER OF HOUR S OR 33
DAYS; 34 HOUSE BILL 465 7
(7) PROHIBIT THE USE OF CREDIT CARDS FOR ANY ONLINE SPORTS 1
WAGERING–RELATED TRANSACTIONS ; AND 2
(8) (I) CAUSE THE DISPLAY OF A PROBLEM GAMBLING 3
DISCLOSURE CONCERNIN G THE RISKS ASSOCIAT ED WITH GAMBLING AND THE 4
SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO PROBLEM GAMBLERS AT ACCOUNT LOGIN ; 5
(II) REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUA L TO CERTIFY THAT TH E 6
INDIVIDUAL HAS READ THE DISCLOSURE DESCR IBED UNDER ITEM (I) OF THIS ITEM 7
BEFORE ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE SPORTS WAG ERING ACCOUNT ; AND 8
(III) REQUIRE EACH USER TO CERTIFY ON A MONTHLY BASIS 9
THAT THE USER HAS RE AD THE DISCLOSURE DE SCRIBED UNDER ITEM (I) OF THIS 10
ITEM. 11
(F) IF A SUSPENSION OF SP ORTS WAGERING ACTIVI TY UNDER SUBSECTION 12
(B)(6) OF THIS SECTION IS I MPOSED BY THE ACCOUN T HOLDER FOR AT LEAS T 72 13
HOURS, THE SPORTS WAGERING LICENSEE MAY NOT SEN D 14
SPORTS WAGERING –RELATED ELECTRONIC M AIL TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER UNTIL 15
THE SUSPENSION EXPIR ES. 16
(G) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 17
SPORTS WAGERING LICENSEE SHALL PROVI DE A MECHANISM BY WH ICH AN 18
ACCOUNT HOLDER MAY P ERIODICALLY CHANGE T HE CONTROLS ON SPORTS 19
WAGERING ACTIVITY IMPOSED BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDE R UNDER THIS SECTION . 20
(2) IF THE ACCOUNT IS SUS PENDED BY THE ACCOUN T HOLDER 21
UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(6) OF THIS SECTION , THE ACCOUNT HOLDER M AY NOT 22
CHANGE THE CONTROLS ON SPORTS WAGERING A CTIVITY UNTIL THE SUSPENSION 23
EXPIRES. 24
(3) IF AN INDIVIDUAL SEEKS T O INCREASE THE LIMIT ON THE 25
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MAY D EPOSIT WITHIN A PERI OD OF TIME 26
SPECIFIED UNDER SUBS ECTION (B)(5) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE SPORTS 27
WAGERING LICENSEE MAY NOT REFLECT THE INCREASED LIMIT FOR AT LEAST 24 28
HOURS OR UNTIL AFTER THE T IME PERIOD OF THE PR EVIOUS LIMIT HAS EXP IRED, 29
WHICHEVER IS LATER . 30
(H) NOTWITHSTANDING A TEM PORARY SUSPENSION OF SPORTS WAGERING 31
ACTIVITY IMPOSED BY AN ACCOUNT HOLDER UN DER SUBSECTION (B)(6) OF THIS 32
SECTION, THE ACCOUNT HOLDER M AY CONTINUE TO HAVE ACC ESS TO THE ACCOUNT 33 8 HOUSE BILL 465
AND IS AUTHORIZED TO WITHDRAW FUNDS FROM THE ACCOUNT ON PROPE R 1
APPLICATION TO THE S PORTS WAGERING LICEN SEE. 2
9–1E–18. 3
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, “TRANSACTIONAL DATA AND METRICS ” MEANS 4
DATA AND METRICS RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATE. 5
(2) “TRANSACTIONAL DATA AN D METRICS” INCLUDES: 6
(I) ACCOUNT BANS AND SUS PENSIONS; 7
(II) COMPLAINTS BY SPORTS WAGERING PARTICIPANT S; 8
(III) DEMOGRAPHICS OF SPOR TS WAGERING PARTICIP ANTS; 9
(IV) THE GEOLOCATION OF SPORT S WAGERING PARTICIPA NTS; 10
(V) THE USE AND UTILIZATION OF A SPORTS WAGERING 11
PLATFORM BY SPORTS W AGERING PARTICIPANTS ; AND 12
(VI) FINANCIAL INFORMATIO N OF SPORTS WAGERING 13
PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING: 14
1. BALANCE STATEMENTS ; 15
2. BET LEVEL OR AMOUNTS ; 16
3. BONUS USAGE ; 17
4. DEPOSITS; AND 18
5. WITHDRAWALS . 19
(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, A SPORTS WAGERING 20
LICENSEE SHALL PROVI DE ALL TRANSACTIONAL DATA AND METRICS REL ATED TO 21
SPORTS WAGERING COND UCTED IN THE STATE AND ACQUIRED BY AN ONLINE 22
SPORTS WAGERING OPERATOR OF THE LICE NSEE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO 23
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF 24
MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. 25
(2) THE INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 26
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 27 HOUSE BILL 465 9
(I) THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THAT THE SPORTS 1
WAGERING LICENSEE HA S IDENTIFIED AS ENGA GING IN ERRATIC OR I NCREASED 2
GAMBLING BEHAVIOR ; AND 3
(II) THE NUMBER AND LENGT H OF ANY BANS OR SUS PENSIONS 4
IN RESPONSE TO THE B EHAVIOR DESCRIBED UN DER ITEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 5
(C) THE TRANSA CTIONAL DATA AND MET RICS PROVIDED IN ACC ORDANCE 6
WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION: 7
(1) SHALL EXCLUDE ANY PE RSONALLY IDENTIFIABL E INFORMATION ; 8
(2) ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE PUBLIC 9
INFORMATION ACT; AND 10
(3) MAY BE DISCLOSED BY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOWIE 11
STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: 12
(I) ONLY AS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ; OR 13
(II) AS PART OF A PREVALE NCE STUDY OR PEER –REVIEWED 14
REPORT. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 16
1, 2025. 17