Regulation .03 Requirements.
Regulation .03 Requirements.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Definitions.
(1)
In this regulation, the following terms have the meaning indicated.
(2)
Terms Defined.
(a)
“Advertisement” means any material that is:
(i)
Disseminated to the public through broadcasting, publication, mail, or any other means; and
(ii)
Intended to encourage sports wagering.
(b)
“Billboard advertisement” means a roadside sign, aviation banner, or event banner that is intended to encourage sports wagering.
(c)
“Gambling assistance message” means a phrase approved by the Commission to encourage responsible play.
(d)
“Printed advertisement” means an advertisement that appears in or on a sign, direct mailing, poster, brochure or other written material and is intended to encourage sports wagering.
(e)
“Online advertisement” means an advertisement that appears on a website, an application in social media, or otherwise on the internet that is intended to encourage sports wagering.
(f)
“Responsible gambling awareness materials” means a sticker, a brochure, a wallet card, or other material that conveys only problem gambling resource information.
(g)
“Underage warning message” means the phrase: No bettor under the age of 21 is permitted to participate in sports wagering.
B.
A sports wagering licensee shall:
(1)
Post signage approved by the Commission that prominently bears the gambling assistance message and the underage warning message at each customer entrance;
(2)
Include banners or other notifications on the sports wagering websites that bear the gambling assistance message and the underage warning message;
(3)
Include the gambling assistance message on an advertisement that is intended to encourage sports wagering;
(4)
Ensure that a printed advertisement bears the gambling assistance message and meets requirements of COMAR 36.10.13.43 and 36.03.03.08;
(5)
Ensure that a billboard bearing a printed advertisement bears the gambling assistance message and meets requirements of COMAR 36.10.13.43 and 36.03.03.08;
(6)
Ensure that a radio, television, video, online, or social media advertisement bears the gambling assistance message and meets requirements of COMAR 36.10.13.43 and 36.03.03.08;
(7)
Ensure that the gambling assistance message is printed on a paper product that is associated with bettor consumption of food or beverage if the paper product is:
(a)
Special ordered; and
(b)
Branded with the sports wagering licensees logo;
(8)
Ensure that the gambling assistance message is printed on a sports wagering ticket or sports wagering voucher;
(9)
Place in the sports wagering facility and sports wagering platform responsible gambling awareness information according to its responsible gaming plan required under COMAR 36.10.10.02;
(10)
Ensure that an advertisement for sports wagering, video lottery terminal, or table game play does not include language that suggests an outcome is guaranteed or without risk; and
(11)
Ensure that advertisements for sports wagering includes a gambling assistance message that complies:
(a)
For signs, direct mail materials, posters, and other printed advertisements the font height of the gambling assistance message shall be the greater of:
(i)
The same size as the majority of the text in the advertisement; or
(ii)
Three percent of the height or width, whichever is greater, of the advertisement;
(b)
For billboards, the font height of the gambling assistance message shall be at least 5 percent of the height or width, whichever is greater, of the face of the billboard;
(c)
For video and television advertisements:
(i)
The gambling assistance message shall be visible for the entire duration of the advertisement, with a font size at least 3 percent of the image height or width;
(ii)
The gambling assistance message shall appear from the first instance sports wagering or a licensed operator is displayed or mentioned for not less than 3 seconds, and again on a final screen for the final 3 seconds of the advertisement;
(iii)
The font height shall be at least 3 percent of the height or width, whichever is greater, of the image during the advertisement; or
(iv)
The font height shall be at least 8 percent of the height or width, whichever is greater, of the image on the final screen; and
(d)
For websites and social media:
(i)
The gambling assistance message shall be posted on each webpage or profile page, and on any gaming-related advertisement posted on those pages;
(ii)
The font height of the gambling assistance message shall be at least the same size as the majority of the text used on the webpage or profile page; and
(iii)
For advertisements posted on the webpage or profile page, the font height shall comply with the requirements in §B(11)(a) of this regulation.