House Bill 1087 has been introduced in Maryland as a piece of legislation that aims to prohibit online gambling on college campuses across the state. The bill, which had its first reading in the state’s Ways and Means and Appropriations Committee, would allow institutions to establish a virtual perimeter, “geofence,” around their campuses that would block cell phone access to online sportsbooks. Maryland, which went live with sports betting in November 2022 is home to over 10 operators, including FanDuel and ESPN Bet.
HB 1087 would require four-year public institutions, Baltimore City Community College, and local community colleges to secure contracts with geolocation service companies that have deals with licensed sports betting operators in the Old Line State. The bill anticipates higher expenses for institutions that land the contracts but expects no impact on revenue.
If implemented, colleg..