Maryland regulator warns bettors off illegal platforms ahead of NFL season
With week 1 of college football starting this weekend and the NFL kicking off on September 4, Maryland Lottery and Gaming officials have urged residents to stick with licensed sportsbooks when wagering.
The regulator has posted a list of 11 legitimate sportsbooks to wager with on a page called ‘Legal vs. Illegal Online Gaming’ on its website. The list includes the likes of DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel.
The page also highlights 13 registered fantasy sports sites.
This warning follows the issuance of 11 cease-and-desist letters by Maryland Lottery and Gaming to illegal offshore entities, including operators like High 5 Casino and Stake.US, earlier this year.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin has warned that these illegal operators do not have the same level of player protection safeguards in place as licensed sportsbooks.
In a statement, Martin said, “Illegal operators don’t have resources to assist with problem gambling, there’s no way to be sure that they will pay your prize if you win, and there is no customer protection if you have a dispute with them because they have no regulatory oversight.”
As football season appears to be a busy betting period for Marylanders, state officials have stressed the urgency of betting legally to ensure player safety and state benefits.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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