# COMAR Title 36 — Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency

## Subtitle 10 — Sports Wagering Provisions

### Chapter 10 — Enforcement of Voluntary Exclusion Program

#### Regulation .03 Requirements.

*COMAR 36.10.10.03*

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.