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Bill

SB 708

Working Families Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Gale Adcock and 17 co-sponsors

Requires Maryland sports wagering advertisers to contract with licensed independent evaluators to rate their content, experts, influencers, and partners.

Passed 1st Reading
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
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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