Maryland sports betting enthusiasts will be getting a look at some of business entities that will be players in the online sports gambling industry on Thursday, when the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission conducts qualification hearings for both Mobile Sports Wagering license applicants and Online Sports Wagering Operator licenses.
In some cases, the applicants are familiar local gambling operators as a result of casino operations in the state, or they are national-brand operators already taking wagers in other jurisdictions. You already can get a FanDuel Maryland promo code, for instance.
Meanwhile, as other smaller gambling operators, such as OTBs and a bingo hall, have announced and launched retail sportsbooks along with larger partners, it became apparent that they likely would be entrants into the state’s online betting industry.
What Happens Next?
Assuming the applicants are approved by the state Lottery & Gaming Control Commission as a result of recommendations from the Lottery & Gaming Control Agency, those qualified entities will be passed on to the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC), which then decides whether to “award” a license. The SWARC’s next scheduled meeting is Nov. 21.
The awardees then return to the Lottery & Gaming Control Agency for final phase approvals, such as passing a controlled demonstration of operations and procedures. Then, once a license is “issued,” an operator can begin taking wagers.
Depending on a variety of factors - including the speed with which the SWARC can act - online sports gambling could launch by some operators as soon as the end of November but more likely in early- to mid-December.
Which Companies Get Thursday Hearings?
These are the applicants that will be receiving qualification hearings Thursday, according to information supplied along with an agenda for the meeting.
Mobile Sports Wagering License applicants:
- Arundel Amusements (Bingo World in Anne Arundel County)
- Crown MD Online Gaming LLC (DraftKings)
- CZR Maryland Mobile Opportunity LLC (Caesars Entertainment/Horseshoe Casino Baltimore)
- Greenmount OTB LLC (Greenmount OTB in Hampstead, Md.)
- Long Shot’s LLC (OTB in Frederick, Md.)
- MGM Maryland Sports LLC (BetMGM Maryland/MGM National Harbor)
- PENN Maryland OSB, LLC (PENN Entertainment/Hollywood Casino Perryville)
- PPE Maryland Mobile LLC (Live! Casino & Hotel)
- Riverboat on the Potomac (OTB at Colonial Beach, Va., but floating in Maryland waters)
Online Sports Wagering Operator License applicants:
- American Wagering (Caesars Entertainment)
- Betfair (FanDuel, Live! Casino already has a FanDuel sportsbook)
- BetFred (partnered with Long Shot’s)
- BetMGM (BetMGM Maryland already has a sportsbook in MGM National Harbor)
- Crown MD Online Gaming LLC (DraftKings)
- FBG Enterprises Opco, LLC (Fanatics, known as sports gear retailer)
- Parx Interactive Maryland Inc (Greenwood Racing, partner with Greenmount OTB)
- Penn Sports Interactive (PENN Entertainment)
- PointsBet Maryland (online company partnered with Riverboat on the Potomac)
- RSI MD LLC (Rush Street Interactive partnered with Bingo World)
In addition to the qualification hearings for those businesses looking to launch online sports betting operations, the Lottery & Gaming Control Commission also will consider an application from Long Shot’s Hagerstown for a B-2 sports wagering facility license that would be located in Hagerstown.
As you can see, the state will be crawling in Maryland sports betting apps in 2023.
To follow the action, stay close to BetMaryland.com, which also will provide the top Maryland sportsbook promo codes.
