Proposal in Maryland to Prohibit On-site Gambling on College Campuses
Maryland Legislature Intends to Prohibit Betting on College Campuses with House Bill 1087
In a move to safeguard college students, a bill introduced earlier this month, House Bill 1087, is set to restrict sports betting on college campuses in Maryland. The legislation, proposed by Delegate Pamela Queen, will be discussed in the House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 22.
The bill envisions colleges in the state to establish geofences around their campuses, restricting access to legal online betting apps. This geofencing mechanism is slated to be established by August of this year.
The aim of this legislation is to shield college students, who are often vulnerable to problematic gambling behaviors. Last year, Maryland legislators passed a bill prohibiting universities from entering partnerships with sports betting operators where the arrangement includes compensating schools when students or alumni sign up through promotional codes.
The University of Maryland and PointsBet ended their marketing partnership last year. However, a representative from PointsBet informed Sports Handle that the university never received any promotional signup revenue.
While the legislation seeks to protect college-aged bettors, it presents a loophole. The geofencing would only prevent legal sports betting apps from being used on campuses. College students might still use unregulated offshore apps to bet on sports and play casino games online.
Regulation of Online Sports Betting on College Campuses:- Age Verification: Ensuring that only people above the legal betting age participate by implementing strict age verification processes.- Geolocation: Mandating the use of geolocation technology to prevent bets from being placed on campus if the law prohibits it.- Education and Awareness: Requiring educational programs to inform students about the risks associated with sports betting.
Potential Loopholes in Regulation:- Enforcement Challenges: Compliance with regulations on a college campus can be difficult due to the use of VPNs or other methods to circumvent geolocation restrictions.- Lack of Clear Guidelines: Without clear guidelines on what constitutes a "college campus" in the digital age, there might be confusion about the application of regulations.- Offshore Betting Sites: The legislation may not address offshore betting sites that operate outside U.S. jurisdiction, allowing them to continue accepting bets from students.
- Despite the efforts to restrict sports betting on college campuses with House Bill 1087, college students might still engage in sports betting using unregulated offshore betting apps.
- To prevent problematic gambling behaviors among college students, stricter regulations should be implemented, such as enforcing age verification, mandating the use of geolocation technology, and providing educational programs about the risks associated with sports betting.
