In Maryland, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) is under duress again, this time in relation to recent public comments published by the committee. One article highlighting SWARC’s pointed out that much of the public input submitted has scolded the agency for its seemingly long deliberating process. As many familiar readers of this space are aware, Marylanders approved amending the state constitution to allow state lawmakers to pass legislation to allow betting on sports during the November 2020 election cycle. However, SWARC has battled criticism over time and deflected critiques regarding its lethargic path to getting online sportsbooks up and running per the same report.
For this article, SBS will go over what the latest gaming news in Maryland looks like along with some other thoughts and notes about wagering in the Old Line State.
After these recent incendiary comments, SWARC has deflected the blame by pointing to different mitigating circumstances hindering their progress according to one report. In the same article, SWARC pointed to the fact that the sports betting bill included equity requirements in the licensing process. Moreover, the law proposed that a thorough “disparity analysis” be completed by an independent third-party research firm to determine if Maryland’s gaming industry previously discriminated against minority groups per the analysis. With that in mind, In July, SWARC amended its application process to remove race and gender-based licensing criteria. Now the commission is requiring that each sportsbook applicant tell the state how the company plans to improve diversity within 30 days of a sportsbook license per sources.
Nonetheless, Maryland sports fans who have been pining to have a legally approved online gaming channel are running out of patience with the committee per the same report.
“Yesterday, it cost me $7 in gas and one hour and 20 minutes of my time to drive to the nearest casino to make a sports bet,” Bel Air resident Tom Rothschilds told SWARC in an email dated September 7, 2022. “How much money and time has SWARC cost Maryland residents of all ethnicities and income levels because they are forced to drive to a casino to make sports bets? When is SWARC going to do their job?”
“What in God’s name is taking so long?” asked Marylander Kris Sankar in the article. “No one will use an unknown book to wager, because there is no credibility. So, give out the licenses already and stop wasting time and money.”
According to one update article about the lack of progress from the commission in Maryland, outside companies looking to participate in the Maryland gaming scene were disappointed at some language SWARC had proposed. Per sources, attorneys representing one outside company, bet365, panned SWARC’s recommendation that mobile applicants have at least one direct or indirect owner controlling 5% or more of the applicant entity to be held by a person who has a personal net worth of less than $1.847 million. Attorneys for the company stated that SWARC risks severely restricting who may participate in the market without having a corresponding benefit to Maryland and its residents.
After you are done getting all up to speed regarding the latest gaming news in Maryland, make sure to also check out the variety of different resources SBS has set up for you. Of course, the first page you need to check out is our Maryland sports betting rundown which goes over all the updates coming from the state and the latest bonuses as well. On the topic of bonuses, there is no better page to check out than SBS’ best bonus betting sites overview which lays out all the most fantastic ways to juice up your bets and maximize your wagers. On a final note, if you are perhaps unsure how to make deposits and withdrawals with your bets, then do not worry as we have a page for you. With our payment methods guide, you can see a variety of different ways to make your deposits and also place your withdrawals as well.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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