Maryland Online Sports Betting Passes Next Step in Launching This Fall
- The state of Maryland is hoping to launch sports betting in the Fall of 2021
- Members of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency approved rules for sports betting on July 15th
- Read below to find out the movement made in the state of Maryland as they inch closer to legalizing sports betting
As movement heats up in the online sports betting world across the United States, Maryland finds themselves in the mix. The state of Maryland unanimously approved sports betting rules as the state prepares to go live this fall.
Members of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency were seamlessly guided through a 223-page draft of event wagering rules for Maryland sports betting. With the quick approval, it’s safe to say Maryland is ready to open its doors to sports betting into its state as soon as possible.
Maryland Sports Betting on the Way
The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission will be the first line of defense when it comes to approving licensing applications. It will then go through the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency as they have the final word.
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According to Senator Craig J. Zucker, in-person betting at casinos and horse tracks in Maryland will be ready to roll in the fall. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Maryland is anticipating 60 mobile sports betting licenses throughout the state. That is almost 20 more licenses than what Arizona approved just a few weeks ago.
Licensing Breakdown
Like most states that have approved online sports betting, the top-tier licenses will be given to the large casinos, sports franchises, and horse racetracks. However, they are splitting the different licenses into “A” licenses and “B” licenses.
Members of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency unanimously approved event wagering rules for the state this morning, taking another step towards a possible in-person betting launch by the fall. https://t.co/EsTqFJK5b3
— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) July 15, 2021
There are A1, A2, B1, and B2 licenses. A1, being the most coveted license, will go to the biggest casinos and sports franchises but will also cost the most initially and sustain. As you go down the license list to B2 the institutions and casinos are smaller and offer less, however, they cost less. 10 A licenses and seven B licenses were already named in the initial bill, with 30 more B licenses set to become available.
So, B1 and B2 licenses will be more advantageous to smaller organizations with fewer employees and less to spend.
Current Partnerships
There has already been some eager movement in the partnership landscape across the state. PointsBet, FanDuel, and others have already locked up partnerships with retail locations as they await the final bell:
- PointsBet: The Riverboat on-the-Potomac
- Penn National Gaming: Hollywood Casino Perryville
- FanDuel: Maryland! Live Casino & Hotel
- BetMGM: MGM National Harbor Casino
- Caesars: Horseshoe Baltimore Casino
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has an immediate opening for a ticket writer at its William Hill sportsbook. Safe to say they'll be among the first to take a bet when Maryland sports betting goes live later this year https://t.co/pi6Kn812gK
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) July 15, 2021
Some of these partnerships are active, however not for online sports betting. It is also unclear on what type of licenses these sportsbooks will apply for. That being said, Penn National Gaming’s partnership will most likely fall into a Class A license. DraftKings has yet to make a move in Maryland, but with this news coming out today don’t be surprised to see them make a splash soon.
See a list of the top Maryland sportsbooks below:
With 5+ years of sports journalism under his belt, Ryan Sura may be young, but he's already making his mark. Ryan is the lead NHL editor at SBD, along with managing content for MMA, Boxing, and Racing. He is also the commercial manager, highlighting the best promos at online sportsbooks across US.
