HB 3232, initially proposed by Representative Clay Riley from West Virginia, has officially been unsuccessful as it did not receive approval from the Senate. The primary objective of this bill was to ensure the accountability of handicappers and sports betting touts, aiming to safeguard consumers.
The bill’s intent seemed unclear, causing delays in its progress towards passage. Ultimately, it did not survive the last West Virginia legislative session, concluding on March 11.
Maryland bill is similar to HB 3232
Since 2018, both in-person and online sports betting in West Virginia have been legal. West Virginia bettors have access to eight online sportsbooks.
Riley stated that the purpose of his failed legislation was to safeguard the sports betting industry. He emphasized that his bill aimed to provide protection for this sector.
Those individuals who excel in their acting abilities, perform commendable actions, and exhibit exceptional handicapping skills deserve to be acknowledged and rewarded. Conversely, those who manipulate outcomes and fail to uphold honesty are detrimental to the industry and should not be encouraged.
Maryland’s potential passage of a similar bill raises hope for West Virginia to potentially follow suit in the upcoming legislative session.
The Maryland bill, SB 261, is being sponsored by Sen. Craig Zucker and is currently awaiting review by the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. During the committee hearing, Zucker conveyed the purpose and objective of the bill.
In all honesty, this bill is designed to protect consumers.
The proposed legislation entrusts the Maryland Lottery with the responsibility of selecting evaluators for independent audits, thereby ensuring a fair and impartial process. The Lottery’s role would involve examining sports betting handicappers and touts to verify the accuracy of their credentials and success rates. Touts, who operate on the premise that if novice bettors win a few bets, they will be inclined to continue betting at the same sportsbook rather than seeking alternatives, would be subject to scrutiny.
The goal is to eliminate bad actors
The shared objective of content creators, affiliates, handicappers, and touts is to attract a large customer base for various mobile sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook.
HB 3232 aimed to guarantee that individuals who have strong motivations to endorse these sportsbooks and encourage betting are operating with genuine intentions. An audit will be conducted to verify or dismiss the assertion made by touts regarding a 70% success rate for their picks.
Provided that a handicapper remains truthful regarding their success rates, they would be allowed to keep providing their services within the state.
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