The Washington Commanders appear to be among a handful of applicants for a retail sports wagering license, either as a facility or operator, who will be voted on by the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission at its next meeting on Aug. 10.
An application came from Maryland Stadium Sub, LLC, listed as the same address as Washington’s stadium, FedEx Field, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Commanders were one of 17 designated entities within the Maryland sports betting law for a “sports wagering facility” license – better recognized as a retail or in-person sportsbook.
The Commanders are not specified on the Aug. 10 agenda as seeking approval for a sports wagering facility license from the Lottery & Gaming Control Commission.
Maryland Sports Betting Process
The Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency informs the commission on whether an applicant meets the qualifications for a gaming license. If the commission then approves the applicant, that information is shared with the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC), which then decides whether to issue a license. If issued a license, the new licensee still must complete final phase of preparations before Lottery & Gaming lets the business start taking wagers.
In addition to Maryland Stadium Sub, LLC, the Lottery & Gaming Control Commission is also scheduled to decide on Chesapeake Gaming, LLC, a sports wagering facility license applicant connected to an OTB (off-track betting facility) in Boonsboro, in Washington County, south of Hagerstown.
A third applicant, this one for a sports wagering operator’s license, is BetFred Sports. In July, BetFred was announced in a news release as the operating partner for an OTB that already has been issued a facility license, Long Shot’s in Frederick.
Check with BetMaryland.com for the top Maryland sportsbook promo codes when online sports betting launches in the state.
Other Applicants for Maryland Wagering
Long Shot’s is expected to open a temporary sportsbook in time for 2022 NFL betting season and a permanent sportsbook early next year. Betfred Group, a United Kingdom-based sportsbook company, operates more than 1,400 betting shops in the UK and is currently a licensed operator in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Louisiana and Arizona. The company expects to be in Nevada, Washington and, possibly as of next week, in Maryland, pending regulatory approval.
Following the Lottery & Gaming Control Commission’s meeting next Wednesday, the SWARC is scheduled to meet Aug. 17.
So far, there are six operating retail sportsbooks in Maryland, five in casinos and one in a bingo facility. Bingo World started taking sports bets this week. Besides Long Shot’s, two other OTBs have also been issued licenses but are not yet taking bets.
Online sports gambling has been approved in the state but a complex and lengthy application process has delayed the launch of Maryland sports betting apps.
There are also as of yet no legal online casinos in Maryland.
