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SB 708

State Immigration Enforcement Action Database

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lori Berman

Sports wagering advertisers in Maryland must contract with licensed independent evaluators to rate their wagering content, experts, influencers, and partners.

Died in Criminal Justice
#(vetoed)
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Bill Summary · SB 708

SB 708 — Sports Wagering: Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering Content — Required

Status: House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Atterbeary, Ebersole, Patterson)
Introduced: February 21, 2025
Companion / Cross-file: HB 922 (Delegate Ebersole)
Effective date (if contingency met): July 1, 2025

Purpose / Intent

SB 708 changes current Maryland law to require — rather than merely authorize — sports wagering licensees and sports wagering operators that advertise in Maryland to engage licensed independent evaluators to evaluate and rate their sports-wagering content, experts, influencers, and content partners. The intent is to ensure third‑party review and rating of wagering-related content that reaches Maryland consumers.

Key provisions

  • Replaces permissive language (“may contract”) with mandatory language (“shall contract”) in Article — State Government §9–1E–17(d).
  • Requires any sports wagering licensee or operator that advertises in Maryland to contract with an independent evaluator licensed under §9–1E–17(b) to evaluate and rate:
    • Sports wagering content produced or distributed by the licensee/operator,
    • Sports wagering experts,
    • Sports wagering influencers, and
    • Content partners.
  • The Act’s effectiveness is contingent on the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (SLGCC) issuing licenses to at least three independent evaluators; only if that contingency is satisfied will the bill take effect on July 1, 2025.

Related regulatory / licensing rules (existing framework)

  • Chapter 638 of 2023 already requires SLGCC to license independent evaluators and sets qualifying criteria.
  • Independent evaluators and their principals/employees are prohibited from wagering on sporting events.
  • Evaluators may not be compensated by a licensee solely for marketing uses of evaluations, but may be paid for conducting evaluations and issuing ratings.
  • Under COMAR for Tier 1 contractors (applicable to independent evaluators): application fee $1,500; license fee $2,500; background investigation deposit $2,000.

Who is affected

  • Sports wagering licensees and operators that advertise in Maryland (including small businesses that advertise) — they must contract with a licensed independent evaluator if the licensing contingency is met.
  • Independent evaluators — may see increased demand; must meet SLGCC licensing criteria and maintain the non‑wagering restriction.
  • State agencies — SLGCC will continue to administer licensing; minimal administrative/fee revenue impacts may occur.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Department of Legislative Services: no material effect on State finances. If SLGCC licenses at least three independent evaluators, licensing revenues could increase minimally starting FY2026.
  • Local government: none.
  • Small businesses: potentially meaningful costs for those required to contract with an evaluator to continue advertising.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill conditions its effective date on SLGCC issuing at least three independent evaluator licenses. Absent that licensing threshold, the statute would not take effect.
  • Current status: conference committee appointed after differences between chambers; ongoing reconciliation required before final enrollment.

Background

This measure builds on 2023 legislation creating a licensing framework for independent evaluators to address concerns about the nature and influence of sports wagering content (experts/influencers). SB 708 moves from optional to mandatory contracting for advertisers in Maryland, increasing regulatory reach into how wagering-related content is vetted and rated.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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