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Gov. Larry Hogan officially launches Maryland sports betting

Robert Linnehan

By Robert Linnehan

Published:

There’s still work to be done, but Maryland sports betting took its first official steps this afternoon as Gov. Larry Hogan placed the first ever sports bet in the state at MGM National Harbor.

Maryland in-person sports betting is now open to the public. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission still needs to clear several hurdles before online sports betting can be ushered into the state.

Maryland online sports betting is next

Nearly 90% of all sports betting revenue is brought in through online sportsbooks in states where both methods are legal.

“Today marks the culmination of years of effort to get sports betting up and running here in the State of Maryland,” said Gov. Hogan in a release. “In addition to allowing Marylanders to bet on the NFL, March Madness, and more, sports betting will also help to keep more dollars in-state and will provide another critical revenue source for public education without raising taxes on families and small businesses.”

Hogan puts futures bets on both the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Football Team to reach the Super Bowl.

“This is a win win for Maryland. This is a big day in MGM here in Maryland. This is a long shot, but could be a big win. It’s the Washington (Football Team) to win the NFC and the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC. An all Maryland Super Bowl out in LA,” Hogan said at the event.

If both tickets cash it would result in over a $20,000 win.

Maryland continues its in-person sports betting rollout

MGM National Harbor officially opens Maryland sports betting, but several other casinos are right behind. Maryland Live! Casino and Hotel will launch sports betting tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. and Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore has noted it will likely launch sports betting on Friday as well.

Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Ocean Downs will likely launch in-person sports betting soon as well.

Two additional casinos, Riverboat on the Potomac and Long Shot’s, recently met the qualifications for a Maryland sports betting license. The two entities were among the 17 initial venues included in the Maryland sports betting bill. Riverboat on the Potomac is located in Colonial Beach, Va., and its planned sports wagering area will be located in Maryland, on the banks of the Potomac River. Long Shot’s is located in Frederick.

Both entities are minority and women owned, so they fit the profile of businesses the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) hopes to include in the state’s sports betting program.

The applications have been forwarded to SWARC, which is responsible for awarding the licenses.

All seven of the mentioned casinos were among 17 entities designated in the approved sports wagering bill to conduct sports wagering operations. In August, SWARC voted unanimously that Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission’s qualification standards would be sufficient to award sports betting licenses to the 17 designated entities.

There is currently no roadmap for Maryland online sports betting.

Robert Linnehan

Regulatory Writer and Editor for XLMedia. Sports. Gambling. Not necessarily in that order. Follow him on Twitter @rlinnehanxl