Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering
Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Sponsor
Senators Zucker and Ferguson
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
In the House - Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-07-01
Plain English Breakdown
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering
Requiring, rather than authorizing, certain sports wagering licensees and sports wagering operators that advertise in the State to contract with certain independent evaluators to evaluate and rate the sports wagering licensee's sports wagering content, sports wagering experts, sports wagering influencers, and content partners; and making the Act contingent on the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission issuing licenses to at least three independent evaluators.
What This Bill Does
Requiring, rather than authorizing, certain sports wagering licensees and sports wagering operators that advertise in the State to contract with certain independent evaluators to evaluate and rate the sports wagering licensee's sports wagering content, sports wagering experts, sports wagering influencers, and content partners; and making the Act contingent on the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission issuing licenses to at least three independent evaluators.
Limits and Unknowns
This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 970
(First Reading File Bill)
On page 1, in the sponsor line, strike “ Senator Zucker ” and substitute
“Senators Zucker and Ferguson”.
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 970
(First Reading File Bill)
On page 1, in the sponsor line, strike “ Senator Zucker ” and substitute
“Senators Zucker and Ferguson”.
Text - First - Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Budget and Taxation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering
Official Summary Text
Requiring, rather than authorizing, certain sports wagering licensees and sports wagering operators that advertise in the State to contract with certain independent evaluators to evaluate and rate the sports wagering licensee's sports wagering content, sports wagering experts, sports wagering influencers, and content partners; and making the Act contingent on the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission issuing licenses to at least three independent evaluators.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0970*
SENATE BILL 970
C7 6lr3635
SB 708/25 – B&T CF HB 1612
By: Senator Zucker Senators Zucker and Ferguson
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Rules
Re–referred to: Budget and Taxation, February 22, 2026
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Sports Wagering – Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering 2
FOR the purpose of requiring, rather than authorizing, certain sports wagering licensees 3
and sports wagering operators that advertise in the State to contract with certain 4
independent evaluators for certain purposes; and generally relating to the evaluation 5
of sports wagering content. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – State Government 8
Section 9–1E–17(d) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – State Government 14
9–1E–17. 15
(d) A sports wagering licensee or sports wagering operator that advertises in the 16
State [may] SHALL contract with an independent evaluator licensed under subsection (b) 17
of this section to evaluate and rate the sports wagering licensee’s sports wagering content, 18
sports wagering experts, sports wagering influencers, and content partners. 19
2 SENATE BILL 970
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is contingent on the 1
State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission issuing licenses as required under § 2
9–1E–17 of the State Government Article to at least three independent evaluators. 3
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENA CTED, That, subject to Section 2 of this 4
Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.