One Maryland sportsbook jumped the gun, accepting bets before receiving a license, and the penalty it received will be the largest the state lottery and gaming commission has ever imposed.
BetMGM will pay the state $146,000 after the sportsbook was found to have accepted 146 mobile sports wagers totaling more than $2,000 prior to its acquisition of a proper gambling license from the state. The sportsbook at MGM National Harbor is operated by BetMGM, but the group’s mobile sportsbook operates statewide — it is unclear where the early bets were placed.
BetMGM was one of seven companies awarded mobile sports gambling licenses on Nov. 23, however, officials said some individuals were able to place wagers through the sportsbook prior to its official launch at 9 a.m. that day.
Randolph Marriner, chair of the commission, said BetMGM’s error “appears to be an inadvertent mistake” but added that the commission was taking the violation seriously. The chair added that the $146,000 settlement agreement is the largest such payment for a violation of state gambling regulations, dwarfing the previous largest fine of $5,000.
