In the United States, there are two primary industries: sports and betting. It was only in recent years that these two activities (sports betting) were intertwined (i.e., legalized). In spite of the many online and mobile choices accessible, sports betting might still be severely limited or even prohibited based on where in the United States you are trying to wager. Nevertheless, we are here to compare the two most-talked-about states’ legislation: Tennessee and Maryland. Here’s everything you need to know about their sports betting regulations.
Understanding Sports Betting in the US
Predicting and betting on the outcomes of contested physical activities is at the heart of sports betting. Athletic contests, including basketball or football, as well as non-athletic activities such as car races, are all examples of sports betting (i.e., horse racing). The outcomes of political elections or entertainment events can be gambled on at certain online sports betting services, even if these activities are not considered sports in the conventional sense.
Bets on sports come in a variety of forms, with the most popular being spread, prop, and money line wagers. Bets placed on a team to win by or to cover a certain amount of points are known as spread bets. The term “prop bets” refers to bets placed on certain events, such as sporting events (i.e., who bests the toss or scores the only touchdown). Both sides’ total scores must fall within or below a predetermined total for a “total” bet to pay off. If a team is expected to win or lose, the amount of money gained is determined by the money line bet amount (i.e., bets on underdogs pay better). Prop betting is the only one of these four that is legal in all fifty states, making it a special case.
Companies or people who take bets on sporting events are known as sportsbooks. Sportsbooks can be located in stores that allow customers to make bets in person, or they can be accessed online or through mobile devices. Prior to this change, sportsbooks in the United States were restricted to Nevada for legal reasons. Numerous states have passed laws to allow sportsbooks and, by implication, sports betting in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling from earlier this year.
Gambling Legislation in Tennessee
It’s been a great success for sports betting in Tennessee. Tennessee authorized online sports betting in the spring of 2019 and plans to offer mobile betting systems in full on November 1, 2020. This was perfect for NFL bettors in the middle of the season, as well as NHL and NBA enthusiasts. A measure to legalize sports betting in Tennessee was signed into law by the state legislature on April 30, 2019. Finally, the measure was ratified in June, paving the way for legal sports betting. In spite of the fact that mobile sportsbooks are legal in the state, you cannot presently place a wager on a retail sportsbook. It’s the exact reverse in neighboring North Carolina: authorized retail sports betting, but no online sports betting apps. Many of the most popular online sports betting platforms entered Tennessee after the November 1, 2020, debut of the state’s sports betting industry. Some of the earliest online gambling alternatives for bettors in Tennessee were BetMGM Sportsbook Tennessee, DraftKings Sportsbook Tennessee, and FanDuel Sportsbook Tennessee.
Gambling Legislation in Maryland
Maryland has legalized sports betting, and on December 9, the retail Maryland sports betting apps will open their doors to the public. Both the Live! Casino and Hotel, as well as the Horseshoe Casino, debuted its retail sportsbooks on December 10. Ocean Downs Casino debuted its retail TwinSpires Sportsbook a week later, on December 16, and Hollywood Casino launched its sportsbook the following day, on December 23. Online sportsbooks are most certainly a year away. On November 17, MLGCA Director John Martin said that internet sports betting will not begin until at least the autumn of 2022, if not later. Legislators supported the decision of the people in 2021 by enacting legislation that made it possible. Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill authorizing sports wagering in Maryland, but little action has been taken since then.
To Sum Up
If we compare, Maryland has the upper hand over Tennessee in terms of gambling legislation, clearly. Nonetheless, more states in the US are introducing legal online gambling recently, and this is happening for all good reasons.
