Bill > SB982

This bill modifies Maryland's sports wagering laws to authorize wagers on historical horse races under specific, carefully regulated conditions. The bill expands the definition of "sporting events" to include historical horse races and permits certain sports wagering facility licensees, specifically those at thoroughbred or standardbred racecourses, the Maryland State Fairgrounds, and satellite simulcast facilities, to accept such wagers. Wagers on historical horse races must be conducted through pari-mutuel betting, with a maximum of 4,000 specialized terminals available. These terminals have unique requirements, such as not revealing race details before wagering and providing past performance information. The races can be of any breed, but betting is restricted to specific locations approved by the state Commission. Before offering historical horse race wagering, licensees must obtain Commission approval for the types of wagers, and they cannot operate in a way that allows them to wager against bettors. The bill also specifies that payouts come from the money wagered by bettors, and sets minimum wager and payout standards. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing time for implementation and regulatory preparation.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0982?ys=2025RS