Bill > HB465

This bill introduces several key provisions to address problem gambling and protect consumers in Maryland's gaming and sports betting landscape. The bill requires the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to adopt regulations to reduce the effects of problem gambling, including establishing voluntary exclusion lists that allow individuals to self-exclude from various gambling activities like state lottery, video lottery, fantasy competitions, and sports wagering. Individuals can request to be placed on these lists for a specified time period, and the Commission will provide their contact information to the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling, unless the individual specifically declines. For online sports wagering, the bill mandates several consumer protection measures, such as age and identity verification, prominent display of gambling help hotline information, requiring users to set deposit limits, allowing temporary account suspensions, and prohibiting credit card usage. The bill also introduces restrictions on sports betting, such as prohibiting player-specific proposition bets on collegiate athletes and preventing individuals under 21 from participating in fantasy competitions. Additionally, sports wagering licensees must provide quarterly anonymized transactional data to specific universities for research purposes, focusing on identifying problematic gambling behaviors while protecting personal information. The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0465?ys=2025RS