Maryland encouraged to consider sports betting

Casino advocates have recommended legislators to consider sports betting ahead of the Supreme Court’s resolution.

Casino industry advocates have said that Maryland lawmakers should consider sports betting during the upcoming legislative session as the Supreme Court resolution could open the doors to a fully legalized modality nationwide. The Court will hear New Jersey’s oral arguments on December 4.

Earlier this week it was revealed that the date to hear oral arguments in New Jersey’s appeal of the national federal betting ban on sports betting was scheduled by the Supreme Court for December 4 after it updated its calendar. The case is primarily centered around the fact that there is a US$150 billion illegal sports betting market in the United States each year. PASPA, a sports protection act that was passed in 1992, prevents states from offering gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were granted special exemptions, as all four of those states were offering some variation of sports lotteries back in 1992.

Sara Slane, a lobbyist for the American Gaming Association unveiled that the decision in the case Christie versus the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) could be achieved between April and June 2018.

“Right now, there’s more momentum for repealing [the sports betting restrictions] than ever before. I would urge you and other legislators to get out in front of this, because when it does happen you’re going to have states ready to go in first position… to open up sports books,” said Slane to members of the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight.

Maryland has tried to push for a sports betting legislation in recent sessions but all bills failed to get the necessary approval from both chambers. Joe Weinberg, CEO of Cordish Global Gaming, owner of the biggest facility in Maryland, Live Casino, said that his company is interested in adding sports betting to its offerings if it comes to a legalisation in Maryland.

Weinberg believes that sports betting could bring thousands of new jobs and larger audiences to casinos in the state. Live Casino estimated that sports betting could generate up to 1.5 million more visits every year.