<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 36.10.14.07" title_num="36" subtitle_num="10" chapter_num="14" heading="Complaint by an Interested Party.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Definitions. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Interested party” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A sports wagering licensee;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A professional sports team, or its:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>League;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Association; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Governing entity; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An institution of higher education.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Public hearing” means the portion of a Commission meeting during which the Commission will consider an interested party’s complaint about a matter described in State Government, §9-1E-11(e)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Complaint.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An interested party may submit a complaint to the Commission requesting the Commission to prohibit a:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Type or form of sports wagering; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Category of individuals wagering on a sporting event.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Time for Submission.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The complaint shall be submitted at least 15 days before commencement of the wagering activity that is the subject of the complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Except for recurring events, the Commission shall immediately dismiss, and may not consider, a complaint that is submitted less than 15 days before commencement of the wagering activity that is the subject of the complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The complaint shall be in writing, and specifically describe the type, form, or category of wager, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A description of the sporting event for which the wager is offered, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Date;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Time;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Place; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Participants in the sporting event;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The name and contact information for the licensee or person offering the wager;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The specific reasons why the complainant believes that the type, form, or category of wager:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is contrary to public policy;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Is unfair to consumers;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Affects the integrity of a particular sport; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Affects the integrity of the sports wagering industry; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any other information the Commission requires.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Review of Complaint.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Commission staff shall review the complaint for compliance with §B of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Missing Information.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Commission staff shall notify the complainant if the complaint is missing information required in §B of this regulation, or if additional information is required to review the complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The complainant shall provide Commission staff with any missing or required information within 5 days of the notice in §C(2)(a) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Commission staff shall dismiss the complaint if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The complainant fails to timely provide information as required in §C of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The person that is allegedly conducting the wagering activity that is the subject of the complaint is not a licensee;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The wagering activity is a prohibited wager under COMAR 36.10.14; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The wagering activity occurs before the next scheduled Commission meeting.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Public Hearing.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The portion of the Commission meeting pertaining to the agenda item of the complaint shall be conducted as part of a Commission open meeting under COMAR 36.01.02.03.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A public hearing on the complaint of an interested party is not a hearing under COMAR 36.01.02.06.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the complaint has not been dismissed under §C of this regulation, Commission staff:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall place the complaint on the agenda item of the next Commission meeting and post notice of the meeting in the ordinary course of business;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Shall attempt to contact the complainant and the licensee or person offering the wager of the meeting; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>May notify any interested party of the complaint and meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An individual who wishes to speak during the portion of the Commission meeting pertaining to the agenda item of the complaint:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Is encouraged to contact the Commission staff who notified the individual of the meeting to advise, in advance of the meeting, whether they plan to attend; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is limited to the time limit established by the Chair.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If the Commission meeting will be held virtually:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The individual shall contact the Commission staff who notified the individual of the meeting to advise, in advance of the meeting, the telephone number, or other means acceptable to the Commission, by which they will join the virtual meeting; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual who has not contacted Commission staff as required in §E(5)(a) of this regulation may not participate in the meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>During discussion of the agenda item pertaining to the complaint, the Commission shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Receive a report from Commission staff;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Hear the views if interested parties, or individuals who have arranged to join the meeting under §E(5)(a) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Decide whether good cause is shown to prohibit the wagering activity that is the subject of the complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>If good cause is shown, the Commission shall notify the complainant and licensee of the decision and take appropriate action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>If good cause is not shown, the Commission shall notify the complainant and licensee of the decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Commission’s decision on a complaint under this regulation does not give rise to an appeal right under State Government Article, Title 10, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>