EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb1033*
SENATE BILL 1033
C7 5lr3506
By: Senator Benson
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2025
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Gaming – Online Sports Wagering – Repeal 2
FOR the purpose of repealing online sports wagering; requiring the State Lottery and 3
Gaming Control Commission, notwithstanding a certain provision of law, to refund 4
the application fee submitted by certain applicants for and holders of mobile sports 5
wagering licenses under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the repeal 6
of online sports wagering. 7
BY repealing 8
Article – State Government 9
Section 9–1E–01(e) through (g) and (k) and 9–1E–10 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY renumbering 13
Article – State Government 14
Section 9–1E–01(h) through (j) and (l) through (p) and 9–1E–11 through 9–1E–17 15
to be Section 9–1E–01(e) through (l) and 9–1E–10 through 9–1E–16, respectively 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Business Regulation 20
Section 11–818(e)(3) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2024 Replacement Volume) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – State Government 25
Section 9–1E–04(b)(1), 9–1E–05(a), (c)(2)(ii), and (d)(3), 9–1E–06(a), (b), and (c)(3), 26
9–1E–07(a)(2)(v), (c), (d)(2), and (i), and 9–1E–09 27 2 SENATE BILL 1033
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – State Government 4
Section 9–1E–10, 9–1E–11(b), 9–1E–13(c), and 9–1E–14(f) and (h) 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
(As enacted by Section 2 of this Act) 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That Section(s) 9–1E–01(e) through (g) and (k) and 9–1E–10 of Article – State Government 10
of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section(s) 9–1E–01(h) 12
through (j) and (l) through (p) and 9–1E–11 through 9–1E–17 of Article – State Government 13
of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 9–1E–01(e) through (l) 14
and 9–1E–10 through 9–1E–16, respectively. 15
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 16
as follows: 17
Article – Business Regulation 18
11–818. 19
(e) The Commission may waive all or any portion of the review that it determines 20
to be appropriate for any applicant that is: 21
(3) a sports wagering [facility] licensee under Title 9, Subtitle 1E of the 22
State Government Article. 23
Article – State Government 24
9–1E–04. 25
(b) In accordance with this subtitle, the Commission shall adopt regulations that 26
establish: 27
(1) subject to [§ 9–1E–15] § 9–1E–14 of this subtitle, the form and content 28
of an application for any license required under this subtitle; 29
9–1E–05. 30
(a) The following persons shall be licensed under this subtitle: 31
(1) a person that operates sports wagering; 32 SENATE BILL 1033 3
(2) a person that operates sports wagering on behalf of a sports wagering 1
licensee[, including an online sports wagering operator]; 2
(3) a person not licensed under item (1) or (2) of this subsection that 3
manages, operates, supplies, provides security for, or provides service, maintenance, or 4
repairs for sports wagering equipment and devices; and 5
(4) an individual directly employed in the operation of sports wagering by 6
a sports wagering licensee if the individual does not otherwise hold a valid license under 7
Subtitle 1A of this title. 8
(c) (2) Except as provided under this subtitle or in regulation, the Commission 9
may not waive a requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection that relates to: 10
(ii) a requirement of the Sports Wagering Application Review 11
Commission under [§ 9–1E–15] § 9–1E–14 of this subtitle. 12
(d) (3) Except as provided under this subtitle or in regulation, the Commission 13
may not grant an exemption or a waiver of a licensing requirement adopted by the Sports 14
Wagering Application Review Commission in accordance with [§ 9–1E–15(h)(2)] § 15
9–1E–14(H)(2) of this subtitle to implement remedial measures based on the findings of 16
a study of the sports wagering industry and market. 17
9–1E–06. 18
(a) (1) On an award of a license by the Sports Wagering Application Review 19
Commission established under [§ 9–1E–15] § 9–1E–14 of this subtitle, the Commission 20
shall: 21
(i) issue a Class A–1 sports wagering [facility] license to an 22
applicant that meets the requirements for licensure under this subtitle who is: 23
1. a video lottery operator with more than 1,000 video lottery 24
terminals; or 25
2. A. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a 26
stadium in Prince George’s County that is primarily used for professional football (NFL); 27
B. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a professional 28
football (NFL) franchise that is a lessee of a stadium in Baltimore City; 29
C. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a professional 30
major league baseball franchise that is a lessee of a stadium in Baltimore City; 31
4 SENATE BILL 1033
D. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a professional 1
hockey league (NHL) franchise, that is a lessee of a stadium in the State; 2
E. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a professional 3
basketball association (NBA) franchise, that is a lessee of a stadium in the State; or 4
F. the owner, or the designee of the owner, of a professional 5
soccer league (MLS) franchise, that is a lessee of a stadium in the State; 6
(ii) issue a Class A–2 sports wagering [facility] license to an 7
applicant that meets the requirements for licensure under this subtitle who is: 8
1. a video lottery operator with 1,000 or fewer video lottery 9
terminals; or 10
2. a horse racing licensee; 11
(iii) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, issue a Class 12
B–1 sports wagering [facility] license to any applicant who meets the requirements for 13
licensure under this subtitle and who is not eligible for a Class B–2 sports wagering 14
[facility] license; AND 15
(iv) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, issue a Class 16
B–2 sports wagering [facility] license to any applicant who is a person with less than: 17
1. 25 full–time equivalent employees; or 18
2. $3,000,000 in annual gross receipts[; and 19
(v) issue not more than 60 mobile sports wagering licenses to any 20
applicant who meets the requirements for licensure under this subtitle]. 21
(2) (i) The Commission shall issue a Class B–1 or Class B–2 sports 22
wagering [facility] license to an applicant that meets the requirements for licensure under 23
this subtitle who is: 24
1. the holder of a license issued by the State Racing 25
Commission under § 11–524 of the Business Regulation Article, including a subsidiary of 26
the license holder; 27
2. a person who is the owner or lessee of a facility approved 28
for satellite simulcast betting before January 1, 2021, unless the satellite simulcast facility 29
is located at a video lottery facility or a racetrack; and 30
SENATE BILL 1033 5
3. a person who holds a commercial bingo license, if the 1
facility at which the person operates commercial bingo was permitted to operate at least 2
200 electronic bingo machines or electronic tip jar machines on January 1, 2021. 3
(ii) In addition to the Class B–1 and B–2 sports wagering [facility] 4
licenses issued in accordance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Commission may 5
issue not more than 30 Class B–1 and Class B–2 sports wagering [facility] licenses under 6
paragraph (1) of this subsection. 7
(3) (i) The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission 8
established under [§ 9–1E–15] § 9–1E–14 of this subtitle may not award a Class B–1 or 9
B–2 sports wagering [facility] license to an applicant: 10
1. who is eligible to apply for a Class A–1 or A–2 sports 11
wagering [facility] license under paragraph (1) of this subsection; 12
2. who holds a Class A–1 or A–2 sports wagering [facility] 13
license; or 14
3. whose sports wagering facility will be located: 15
A. except as provided under subparagraph (ii) of this 16
paragraph, within a 15–mile radius of a Class A–1 or A–2 sports wagering facility located 17
in Allegany County, Cecil County, or Worcester County; 18
B. with respect to an application for a sports wagering 19
[facility] license submitted before June 1, 2025, within a 15–mile radius of a Class B–1 or 20
B–2 sports wagering facility licensed to a person described under paragraph (2)(i) of this 21
subsection and located in Charles County; 22
C. with respect to an application for a sports wagering 23
[facility] license submitted before June 1, 2025, within a 10–mile radius of a Class B–1 or 24
B–2 sports wagering facility licensed to a person described under paragraph (2)(i) of this 25
subsection and located in Carroll County; 26
D. with respect to an application for a sports wagering 27
[facility] license submitted before June 1, 2025, within a 5–mile radius of a Class B–1 or 28
B–2 sports wagering facility licensed to a person described under paragraph (2)(i) of this 29
subsection and located in Frederick County; or 30
E. within a 1.5–mile radius of a Class A–1 or A–2 sports 31
wagering facility located in a county not described under item A, B, C, or D of this item or 32
any other Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering facility. 33
6 SENATE BILL 1033
(ii) 1. The prohibition under subparagraph (i)3A of this 1
paragraph does not apply in Allegany County prior to the issuance of a Class A–1 or A–2 2
sports wagering [facility] license in Allegany County. 3
2. A Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering [facility] license 4
issued within a 15–mile radius of a Class A–1 or A–2 sports wagering facility in Allegany 5
County may be renewed if the license was initially issued prior to the issuance of the Class 6
A–1 or A–2 license. 7
(4) A for–profit entity, nonprofit organization, or public–private 8
partnership operating at the racing location described under Title 11, Subtitle 7 of the 9
Business Regulation Article located on lands owned by the Department of Natural 10
Resources may apply for a Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering [facility] license. 11
(5) If an applicant designates an entity to hold the license under paragraph 12
(1)(i)2 of this subsection, the designee shall be considered the applicant and subject to the 13
requirements of the application process. 14
[(6) In addition to any other person, an applicant for or holder of a Class 15
A–1, A–2, B–1, or B–2 sports wagering facility license may apply for a mobile sports 16
wagering license under this subsection.] 17
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an applicant for 18
a sports wagering license shall pay to the Commission an application fee of: 19
(i) $2,000,000 for a Class A–1 sports wagering [facility] license; 20
(ii) $1,000,000 for a Class A–2 sports wagering [facility] license; 21
(iii) $250,000 for a Class B–1 sports wagering [facility] license; AND 22
(iv) $50,000 for a Class B–2 sports wagering [facility] license[; and 23
(v) $500,000 for a mobile sports wagering license]. 24
(2) The requirement to pay an application fee to the Commission under 25
paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to an applicant for a Class A–2 sports 26
wagering [facility] license that is a horse racing licensee described under § 11–510(b)(3) of 27
the Business Regulation Article. 28
(c) (3) The license renewal fee is equal to 1% of the licensee’s average annual 29
proceeds from sports wagering for the preceding 3–year period less any proceeds remitted 30
by the licensee in accordance with [§ 9–1E–12] § 9–1E–11 of this subtitle. 31
9–1E–07. 32
SENATE BILL 1033 7
(a) An applicant for a license under this subtitle shall submit to the Commission: 1
(2) if the applicant is applying for a sports wagering license, an affidavit 2
attesting to: 3
(v) any other information considered necessary by the Commission 4
or the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission established under [§ 9–1E–15] § 5
9–1E–14 of this subtitle. 6
(c) (1) This subsection does not apply to the application or license renewal fees 7
for a sports wagering license required under § 9–1E–06 of this subtitle. 8
(2) [(i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the] THE 9
Commission shall adopt regulations that establish an application fee and license renewal 10
fee for a license under this subtitle. 11
[(ii) The application fee for an online sports wagering operator license 12
may not be less than $5,000.] 13
(3) An applicant shall submit the application fee with the application. 14
(4) The term of the license is 5 years. 15
(d) On a properly approved transmittal prepared by the Commission, the 16
Comptroller shall pay the following amounts from the application fees and license renewal 17
fees collected by the Commission under this section and § 9–1E–06 of this subtitle: 18
(2) 5% of the fees collected for each Class A–1 and A–2 sports wagering 19
[facility] license to the Small, Minority–Owned, and Women–Owned Business Sports 20
Wagering Assistance Fund established under [§ 9–1E–16] § 9–1E–15 of this subtitle; and 21
(i) (1) The holder of a Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering [facility] license [or 22
a mobile sports wagering license] may only sell or transfer ownership of the license if the 23
licensee was actively engaged in operating sports wagering in the State for at least 3 years 24
immediately preceding the sale or transfer of the ownership of the license. 25
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be construed to limit 26
the ability of the Commission to enforce this subtitle. 27
9–1E–09. 28
(a) A sports wagering [facility] licensee may accept wagers on sporting events 29
that are made: 30
(1) by an individual physically present: 31
8 SENATE BILL 1033
(i) at a video lottery facility, if the sports wagering licensee is a video 1
lottery operator; 2
(ii) at Pimlico Race Course or a race track located at Laurel Park, if 3
the sports wagering licensee is a horse racing licensee; 4
(iii) subject to subsection [(d)] (B) of this section, at a stadium 5
primarily used for professional football (NFL), professional major league baseball, 6
professional hockey (NHL), professional basketball (NBA), or professional soccer (MLS), if 7
the sports wagering licensee is the owner or a lessee or the designee of the owner or lessee 8
of the stadium; 9
(iv) at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, if the sports 10
wagering licensee is the holder of a license issued by the State Racing Commission under § 11
11–524 of the Business Regulation Article, or a subsidiary of the license holder; 12
(v) at a satellite simulcast facility, if the sports wagering licensee is 13
the owner or lessee of a satellite simulcast facility described under § 9–1E–06(a)(2) of this 14
subtitle; 15
(vi) at a commercial bingo facility with at least 200 electronic bingo 16
machines or electronic tip jar machines, if the sports wagering licensee is a commercial 17
bingo operator described under § 9–1E–06(a)(2) of this subtitle; or 18
(vii) subject to subsection [(e)] (C) of this section, at the facility 19
identified in the application approved by the Sports Wagering Application Review 20
Commission, if the sports wagering licensee is a holder of a Class B–1 or B–2 sports 21
wagering [facility] license; or 22
(2) on a self–service kiosk, device, or machine, approved by the 23
Commission, located in a facility or at a location identified under item (1) of this subsection. 24
(b) [A mobile sports wagering licensee may accept wagers on sporting events that 25
are made through online sports wagering by an individual physically located in the State. 26
(c) To participate in online sports wagering under this section, an individual shall 27
register: 28
(1) in person at a facility or location identified under subsection (a)(1) of 29
this section; or 30
(2) online using a website or mobile application approved by the 31
Commission. 32
(d)] (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a sports wagering [facility] 33
licensee may contract with any other sports wagering [facility] licensee to provide sports 34 SENATE BILL 1033 9
wagering services on behalf of the licensee at a location where the licensee is authorized to 1
accept wagers on sporting events. 2
(2) If a sports wagering licensee authorized to accept wagers at a stadium 3
under subsection (a)(1)(iii) of this section contracts with a video lottery operator, or an 4
affiliate or a subsidiary of that video lottery operator, to provide sports wagering services 5
at the stadium, the licensee may contract only with a video lottery operator, or an affiliate 6
or a subsidiary of that video lottery operator, that operates a video lottery facility located 7
in the same county as the stadium. 8
[(e)] (C) A sports wagering [facility] licensee authorized to accept in–person 9
wagers at the racing location described under Title 11, Subtitle 7 of the Business Regulation 10
Article located on lands owned by the Department of Natural Resources may only accept 11
wagers in the special event zone. 12
9–1E–10. 13
(a) An individual may not wager on a sporting event and a sports wagering 14
licensee may not accept a wager from an individual on a sporting event if the individual: 15
(1) is under the age of 21 years; 16
(2) is not physically present in the State; 17
(3) is an athlete, a coach, a referee, or a director or an employee of a sports 18
governing entity or any of its member teams; 19
(4) is the direct or indirect legal or beneficial owner of 10% or more of a 20
sports governing entity or any of its member teams if any member team of that sports 21
governing entity participates in the sporting event; 22
(5) has access to certain types of exclusive information on any sporting 23
event overseen by that individual’s sports governing entity; 24
(6) holds a position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence 25
over the participants in a sporting event, including coaches, managers, handlers, or athletic 26
trainers; 27
(7) is identified on a mandatory or voluntary sports wagering exclusion list 28
maintained by the Commission; 29
(8) is the operator, director, officer, owner, or employee of the sports 30
wagering licensee [or online sports wagering operator] or any relative of the licensee [or 31
operator] living in the same household as the licensee [or operator]; 32
(9) has access to nonpublic confidential information held by the sports 33
wagering licensee [or online sports wagering operator]; or 34 10 SENATE BILL 1033
(10) is a category of individuals prohibited by the Commission under 1
subsection [(e)] (D) of this section from wagering on a sporting event. 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) the use of geolocation technology to verify a bettor’s geographic 9
location; 10
(2) include on its online sports wagering website a description of the 11
possible repercussions for an underage or out–of–state bettor, which may include 12
immediate stoppage of play, account closure, and forfeiture and confiscation of winnings; 13
and 14
(3) establish procedures to prevent prohibited individuals from wagering 15
on sporting events. 16
(c)] A sports wagering licensee shall: 17
(1) promptly report to the Commission: 18
(i) any criminal or disciplinary proceedings against the licensee or 19
its employees in connection with the licensee’s sports wagering operation; 20
(ii) any abnormal betting activity or patterns that may indicate a 21
concern about the integrity of a sporting event; 22
(iii) any other conduct with the potential to corrupt the outcome of a 23
sporting event for purposes of financial gain, including match fixing; and 24
(iv) any suspicious or illegal wagering activities, including the use of 25
funds derived from illegal activity, wagers to conceal or launder funds derived from illegal 26
activity, use of agents to place wagers, or use of false identification; and 27
(2) maintain records of sports wagering operations in accordance with 28
regulations adopted by the Commission. 29
[(d)] (C) The Commission is authorized to share any information under this 30
section with any law enforcement agency, sports team, sports governing entity, or 31
regulatory agency the Commission deems appropriate. 32 SENATE BILL 1033 11
[(e)] (D) (1) In this subsection, “interested party” means: 1
(i) a sports wagering licensee; 2
(ii) a professional sports team, league, association, or governing 3
entity; or 4
(iii) an institution of higher education. 5
(2) If an interested party believes that a type or form of wagering or a 6
category of individuals wagering on sporting events is contrary to public policy, is unfair to 7
consumers, or affects the integrity of a particular sport or the sports wagering industry, the 8
interested party may submit to the Commission, in writing, a request to prohibit the type 9
or form of sports wagering or the category of individuals from wagering on sporting events. 10
(3) After conducting a public hearing on a request submitted under 11
paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission may grant the request on a showing of 12
good cause by the interested party. 13
(4) The Commission shall respond to a request under this subsection 14
concerning a particular sporting event before the start of the sporting event to the greatest 15
extent feasible, or as soon as practicable. 16
9–1E–11. 17
(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in [subparagraphs] SUBPARAGRAPH (ii)[, 18
(iii), and (iv)] of this paragraph, all proceeds from sports wagering shall be electronically 19
transferred monthly into the State Lottery Fund established under Subtitle 1 of this title. 20
(ii) [A Class A–1 and A–2 sports wagering facility licensee shall 21
retain 85% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the locations described in § 22
9–1E–09(a) of this subtitle. 23
(iii)] A [Class B–1 and B–2] sports wagering [facility] licensee shall 24
retain 85% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the location described in the 25
licensee’s application. 26
[(iv) A mobile sports wagering licensee shall retain 85% of the 27
proceeds from online sports wagering received by the licensee.] 28
(2) All proceeds from sports wagering in the State Lottery Fund 29
established under Subtitle 1 of this title shall be distributed on a monthly basis, on a 30
properly approved transmittal prepared by the Commission to the Blueprint for Maryland’s 31
Future Fund established under § 5–206 of the Education Article. 32
12 SENATE BILL 1033
9–1E–13. 1
(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before December 1, 2
2025, the Commission shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 3
of [the State Government Article] THIS ARTICLE, on the racial, ethnic, gender, and 4
geographic diversity of holders of Class B–1 and B–2 sports wagering [facility] licenses 5
[and mobile sports wagering licenses] under this subtitle, the level of market saturation of 6
sports wagering in the State, and whether the number of Class B–1 and B–2 sports 7
wagering [facility] licenses [and mobile sports wagering licenses] that may be issued under 8
this subtitle should be increased in order to address the demand for sports wagering in the 9
State. 10
(2) Before the Commission submits the report described under paragraph 11
(1) of this subsection, the Commission shall provide the Legislative Policy Committee with 12
at least 30 days to submit comments to the Commission. 13
9–1E–14. 14
(f) The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission: 15
(1) shall review applications for sports wagering licenses submitted in 16
accordance with § 9–1E–06 of this subtitle; 17
(2) shall award: 18
(i) a Class A–1 or A–2 [facility] SPORTS WAGERING license to any 19
applicant that meets the requirements for licensure under this subtitle; and 20
(ii) a Class B–1 or B–2 [facility] SPORTS WAGERING license to any 21
applicant that is described under § 9–1E–06(a)(2)(i) of this subtitle and meets the 22
requirements for licensure under this subtitle; and 23
(3) may not award a Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering [facility] license, 24
other than to an applicant described under § 9–1E–06(a)(2)(i) of this subtitle, [or a mobile 25
sports wagering license] until after the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission 26
adopts the regulations required under subsection (h) of this section. 27
(h) (1) This subsection applies only to Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering 28
[facility] licenses, other than licenses issued to an applicant described under § 29
9–1E–06(a)(2)(i) of this subtitle[, and mobile sports wagering licenses]. 30
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Sports Wagering 31
Application Review Commission shall adopt regulations governing the evaluation of 32
applications for Class B–1 or B–2 sports wagering [facility] licenses, other than licenses 33
issued to an applicant described under § 9–1E–06(a)(2)(i) of this subtitle, [and mobile sports 34
wagering licenses] submitted in accordance with § 9–1E–06 of this subtitle. 35 SENATE BILL 1033 13
(3) The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, in consultation 1
with the certification agency as defined in § 14–301 of the State Finance and Procurement 2
Article, the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, and the 3
Office of the Attorney General, shall: 4
(i) evaluate a study of the sports wagering industry and market to 5
determine whether there is a compelling interest to implement remedial measures, in 6
addition to the application of the State Minority Business Enterprise Program under Title 7
14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article or a similar program, to assist 8
minorities and women in the sports wagering industry; 9
(ii) evaluate race–neutral programs or other methods that may be 10
used to address the needs of minorities, women, and minority and women –owned 11
businesses seeking to participate in the sports wagering industry, including through the 12
ownership of entities licensed to conduct sports wagering under this subtitle; 13
(iii) consider whether an applicant for a Class B–1 or B–2 sports 14
wagering [facility] license intends to conduct sports wagering at a facility located in an 15
opportunity zone or an enterprise zone; AND 16
(iv) [consider allowing early access to the mobile sports wagering 17
market to entities with a meaningful partnership with minorities, wom en, and 18
minority– and women–owned businesses; and 19
(v)] adopt emergency regulations to implement remedial measures, 20
if necessary and to the extent permitted by State and federal law, based on the findings of 21
the study evaluated under item (i) of this paragraph. 22
(4) The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission shall: 23
(i) to the extent permitted by federal and State law, actively seek to 24
achieve racial, ethnic, and gender diversity when awarding licenses; and 25
(ii) encourage applicants who qualify as a minority business 26
enterprise, as defined in § 14–301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, or who 27
are small, minority, or women–owned business entities to apply for sports wagering 28
licenses under this subtitle. 29
SECTION 4. AND BE IT F URTHER ENACTED, That , notwithstanding § 30
9–1E–06(d)(2) of the State Government Article, the State Lottery and Gaming Control 31
Commission shall refund the application fee submitted in accordance with § 32
9–1E–06(b)(1)(v) of the State Government Article by: 33
(1) an applicant for a mobile sports wagering license whose application is 34
still pending on or after July 1, 2025, if the applicant rescinds the application; and 35
14 SENATE BILL 1033
(2) the holder of a mobile sports wagering license, if the licensee surrenders 1
the license before accepting any sports wagers under that license. 2
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this 3
Act shall take effect January 1, 2026. 4
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , except as provided in Section 5
5 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 6