Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission Advances 10 Online/Mobile Sportsbook License Applications

On Thursday, October 27, 2022, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) announced they have advanced the license applications of the following 10 online/mobile sportsbook operators:

  • American Wagering
  • Barstool
  • Betfred
  • BetMGM
  • Bet Rivers/Rush Street
  • Draft Kings
  • Fanatics
  • FanDuel/Bet Fair
  • Parx Interactive
  • PointsBet

In advancing license applications for these operators, the MLGCC is essentially confirming the operators have cleared the necessary background investigations into their “honesty, integrity, good character and financial suitability to be qualified for a sports wagering license.” The MLGCC’s decision to advance the operator license applications represents another step forward in a multi-phase mobile sportsbook licensing process involving three administrative agencies: the MLGCC, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC), and the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency (the Agency). The MLGCC’s decision is not equivalent to a final approval.  continue reading

NJ Legislators Introduce Bill to Classify Esports as Internet Gaming, Expand Esports Gambling Opportunities

In recent years, New Jersey lawmakers and gaming authorities have taken steps to establish the state as a major hub for the Esports industry in the United States. In 2021, the legislature amended New Jersey’s sports betting law to recognize Esports tournaments approved by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (“DGE”) as a type of “sporting event” upon which licensed sportsbooks can accept wagers. The 2021 amendment allowed the state’s retail and online/mobile sportsbooks to bring Esports wagering into the fold of their established sports betting operations. Earlier this year, the DGE also approved Esports Entertainment Group’s Esports-only online/mobile betting platform, Vie, which operates as an online/mobile sportsbook partner of Bally’s Atlantic City. continue reading

Here’s What Stricter Sportsbook Marketing Rules Might Look Like — And the Legal Challenges They Could Face

As the sports betting industry continues its unprecedented, rapid growth in the U.S., the competition for new bettors has increased dramatically. In the past year alone, sportsbook operators have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recruitment and brand recognition efforts, flooding the internet, television, and radio airwaves with star-studded advertisements promising “free money” andcontinue reading

One of Three Lawsuits Challenging Florida’s Online Sports Betting Compact Dismissed

As the Seminole Tribe’s anticipated November 15 online betting “launch” approaches, there has been a flurry of activity in the three lawsuits challenging the online sports betting provisions in the 2021 Seminole Tribal-State Gaming Compact (the Compact) and the corresponding state law ratifying the Compact (the Implementing Law). On Monday, October 18, a Florida federalcontinue reading