After months of waiting games and blame games, Maryland sports betting apps officially launched Wednesday morning.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced the full launch for mobile sports wagering in the state would begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday during a Tuesday press conference at the State House.
Hogan noted the impatience sports fans, including himself, had felt regarding the long delays for mobile sports wagering.
Retail sports betting did begin last December, “but then it seemed like there was one excuse and one obstruction after another when it came to getting mobile sports betting up-and-running,” Hogan said.
Seven Sites Available on Opening Day
Seven Maryland online sports betting sites were scheduled to launch Wednesday morning.
- Barstool Sportsbook (operator for PENN Maryland/Hollywood Casino)
- BetMGM (operator for BetMGM Sportsbook Maryland/MGM National Harbor)
- BetRivers (operator for Arundel Amusements/Bingo World in Brooklyn Park)
- Caesars Sportsbook (operator for CZR Maryland Mobile Opportunity/Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore)
- DraftKings Sportsbook Maryland (operator for Crown MD Online Gaming)
- FanDuel (operator for PPE Maryland Mobile/Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover)
- PointsBet (operator for Riverboat on the Potomac in Charles County)
Another three mobile sportsbooks were awarded licenses, but informed Maryland Lottery and Gaming they would not be prepared to launch this week:
- Betfred (operator for Long Shot’s in Frederick)
- BetParx (operator for Greenmount Station in Hampstead)
- Fanatics (operator for Maryland Stadium Sub/Washington Commanders in Landover)
With the online sports betting launch underway, BetMaryland.com is the place to be for Maryland sportsbook promo codes.
SWARC Takes Brunt of Criticism
Hogan’s criticism was public, and it seemed mostly aimed at the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, which considers the suitability of applicants who are found qualified by the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission.
“They allowed the process to get bogged down in bureaucratic political and legal delays that threatened to push back the launch of mobile sports betting all the way past the Super Bowl next year,” Hogan said.
Hogan called it inexcusable and went through a laundry list of measures that he encouraged to get mobile going.
“Marylanders had waited long enough,” Hogan said.
More Operators Should Eventually Launch
The wait ended at 9 a.m. Wednesday in time for betting on Thanksgiving Day NFL games, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders games, the World Cup, college football rivalry games, NBA games and other sports events.
Maryland Lottery & Gaming Director John Martin said the required controlled demonstrations for the mobile operators were held Monday and reviews and audits were successfully completed.
Martin also said that, in the future, he anticipated as many as 21 mobile sports wagering operators and 15 to 20 facility licenses would be operating in the state. That should produce as much as $25 million to $30 million for education in Maryland, Martin said.
Also, on Dec. 1, the Lottery & Gaming Control Commission will hold a qualification hearing for five more mobile sports wagering entities. Those applicants are:
- Bally’s Interactive Maryland, LLC — Mobile Sports Wagering License Applicant
- WSI US, LLC d/b/a WynnBet — Mobile Sports Wagering License Applicant
- Digital Gaming Corporation (DGC) MD LLC — Mobile Sports Wagering License Applicant
- Bally’s Interactive, LLC — Online Sports Wagering Operator License Applicant
- WSI US, LLC d/b/a WynnBet — Online Sports Wagering Operator License Applicant
