Sports Wagering - Licenses and Application of Minority Business Enterprise Program Requirements

HB 797 extends the deadline for submitting sports wagering license applications to January 1, 2027, requiring the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to accept and consider applications received before that date. It also delays the termination of minority business enterprise (MBE) program requirements for sports wagering from 2024 to July 1, 2026, meaning licensees must still develop MBE participation plans within six months of receiving a license. The bill directly affects sports wagering operators, minority-owned businesses seeking contracts, and the Commission managing license approvals. It modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 9-1E-07 and 9-1E-15) to extend these specific timelines without creating new requirements.