The Maryland Legislature is attempting to expand commercial gaming by legalizing sports betting within the state. The proposed bill seeks to authorize the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue a license to offer sport and event wagering in the State.[1] With the enactment of this Bill the State’s shares of revenues generated by sports and event wagering shall primarily be used for the funding of public education.[2]

In 2018, the United States Supreme court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which was the federal law that barred states from legalizing sports betting. [3] This decision allowed Maryland the freedom to make their own decisions about the legalization of sports gambling.

S.B. 4, was first introduced in January 2020 and subsequently passed by both the house and senate in May of 2020.[4] However, the enacted bill has been stripped-down from its original form.[5] The bill took effect July 1, 2020, with provisions of the bill contingent on passage of a referendum by voters in the November 2020 general election.[6] If approved at referendum, legislation would still be needed to implement sports wagering in the State.[7]

With the enactment of this bill, Maryland could see significant increase in its share of gaming revenues. Under the proposal, the sports betting license holders would keep 75% of the profits and the rest would be turned over to the state and dedicated almost entirely to the Maryland Education Trust Fund, which pays for public school.[8] According to an estimate from The Maryland Department of Legislative Services, sports betting could bring the state about $20 million each year for public schools.[9]

Maryland officials have been calling for educational reform for years. With the passage of this bill and subsequent legislative change we could see this needed reform come to fruition.

Christopher Ruyter is third-year day student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. During his time at UB, he was involved in the Civil Advocacy Clinic as a Rule-19 attorney and Law Forum as an Associate Editor. In August 2021, he will begin his clerkship with the Circuit Court of Calvert County. Following the clerkship he wants to pursue a further career in Business/Corporate law.

[1] S.B. 4, 441st Gen. Assemb., Reg Sess. (Md. 2020).

[2] Id.

[3] Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletics Ass’n, 138 S.Ct. 1461 (2018).

[4] S.B. 4, supra note 1.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Pamela Wood, Maryland Voters Would Get a Say on Sports Betting, BALT. SUN (Mar 4, 2020).

[9] Id.