Legislative Round-Up: Delays in Missouri And A Mobile Repeal In Maryland?

Who says state government is boring? The legislative round-up sure doesn’t think so, and with good reason. Sports betting news and events continue apace across the country, including some longshots on both sides of the fence.

Show Me State’s show is delayed

The start date for legal sports wagering in Missouri was likely pushed back into the fall after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected emergency rules Tuesday. Proponents were hoping Hoskins, who was long a holdout against legalization while serving in the Missouri Senate, would approve the emergency rules to allow for a summer launch that would give operators runway ahead of the NFL season.

Hoskins cited state standards for emergency rule-making in rejecting them: Emergency rules must demonstrate that they prevent an immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare. The secretary of state ruled the emergency rules for sports betting did not meet that criterion.

“Missouri’s residents are asking for clarity, transparency, and a fair opportunity to contribute to the discussion on how sports betting will shape our state’s future. The public’s right to know and to participate in this process should not be sidelined in favor of expediency,” Hoskins said in a statement posted on the Secretary of State website.

Hoskins added sports wagering could be launched in Missouri by Sept. 30, well before the state-mandated Dec. 1 deadline. His rejection of emergency rules means the Missouri Gaming Commission must go through standard protocols for launch.

That starts with the rules being entered into the Missouri Register on March 17 and available for public comment until April 17. After public comment closes, the MGC files responses to public questions with the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). Once JCAR reviews the rules, they are held for 30 days and subject to request for changes or hearings.

After the public process, the final sports betting rules will be published and incorporated into the Code of State Regulations. It is uncertain if the rules would be entered effective Aug. 31 or Sept. 30.

An awfully big genie to put back in the bottle

Maryland became the second state this year to have legislation filed to repeal sports betting, but Sen. Joanne Benson is seeking to repeal only mobile wagering in the Old Line State via SB 1033.

If passed, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. It was referred to the Senate’s Rules Committee after first reading. Maryland, which launched mobile sports betting in November 2022 — nearly one full year after the retail launch — ranked 10th nationally in total handle in 2024 with $5.94 billion.

More than 97% of that amount, $5.78 billion, was generated via online betting. Maryland has collected $143.2 million in state taxes from sports betting, with $82.3 million coming last year.

Benson’s bill is part of a gaming-heavy focus for Maryland legislators this year. Lawmakers are currently debating legalizing internet casino gaming and historical horse racing, and it is unclear if either gaming vertical has enough support to move forward.

Vermont lawmakers filed legislation earlier this month to repeal both the lottery and sports betting. The latter launched in January 2024 and generated $6.3 million in state tax revenue its first 12 months.

Georgia on my mind once more

There is a second sports betting bill for Georgia lawmakers to consider after state Sen. Billy Hickman submitted SB 208 last week. Hickman’s bill differs from Senate Resolution 131, bypassing the need for a constitutional amendment by expanding the powers of the Georgia Lottery to offer sports betting.

Legalizing sports betting via constitutional amendment is the heavier lift of the two methods since it requires two-thirds majority in both chambers as well as a public vote. It has scuttled hopes for sports betting in Georgia previously, though Sen. Brandon Beach wrote an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in December claiming the public is in favor.

Hickman’s bill would authorize the Georgia Lottery to offer up to 18 licenses to the state’s professional sports teams as well as the PGA Tour, Augusta National — annual site of The Masters — NASCAR, or an entity approved by the National Steeplechase Association. The bill proposes a 25% tax on adjusted gross revenue for operators, which would be among the highest in the country.

Stitt still wants sports betting in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt renewed his efforts Monday to push his plan to legalize sports betting in the state, saying his 2023 proposal is a “solid, fair plan.”

Oklahoma’s Indian gaming community, however, has begged to differ. Stitt did not consult the tribes when crafting his proposal, and relations between the two sides remain strained. Stitt’s major point of contention regarding sports betting as it pertains to the tribes is that they cannot have exclusivity.

The governor’s proposal calls for taxing online sports betting operator revenue at 20%, while retail betting conducted at tribal locations would be subject to a 15% rate. There are three other sports betting-related bills currently filed in the Oklahoma legislature, with HB 1047 and HB 1101 co-sponsored by Rep. Ken Luttrell and Sen. Bill Coleman having passed through their first committee hearings this month.

Hawaii bill moves forward, but tweaks may be needed

The third and final committee to vote on HB 1308 to legalize sports betting in Hawaii voted to move the bill forward, but there likely will be amendments added before it is brought up on the House floor for a full vote.

Though their were 18 “Aye” votes to only three “No” votes, six representatives voted aye “with reservations.” Committee Chairman Kyle Yamashita proposed removing the tax rate — proposed at 10% — and licensing fees for further review. In written testimony submitted to the committee, the state’s Department of Taxation estimated $5.3 million in receipts for Fiscal Year 2026 with uniform increases to $6.3 million for FY 2031.

With 1.4 million residents, Hawaii has roughly the same population as two other states with sports betting: New Hampshire and Maine. The two states conduct sports betting quite differently, as DraftKings is the sole operator in New Hampshire via the state lottery, while Maine launched in November 2023 with DraftKings and Caesars as its online operators.

As a result, tax rates and revenue totals are also very different. New Hampshire taxes revenue at 51% for giving DraftKings exclusivity, while Maine taxes operator winnings at 10%. DraftKings totaled $79.1 million in revenue in New Hampshire in 2024, with the state collecting $34.9 million. Maine’s first full year of sports betting resulted in $55.4 million in adjusted gross revenue and $5.5 million in tax receipts.

The Senate companion bill to HB 1308 will be heard before the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.