The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency found its first batch of 10 Maryland online sports betting operators qualified to hold online sports betting licenses in the state.

The approved operators will now have their applications sent to the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) for license approval at its upcoming Nov. 21 meeting. If approved for licenses by SWARC, the Maryland Lotter and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) will then have to approve each operator’s internal control before Maryland online sports betting can begin.

The online sports betting launch window remains the same, with the state still expecting to take its first bet in late November or early December.

Maryland online sports betting on its way

The following 10 online sports betting operators were found qualified by the MLGCA this morning:

If approved by SWARC, Barstool Sportsbook will operate online sports betting at the Hollywood Casino in Perryville; BetFred will operate betting at OTB parlor Long Shots; BetMGM will operate betting at MGM National Harbor Casino; Caesars Sportsbook will operate betting at Horseshoe Baltimore Casino; DraftKings will operate betting at the Maryland State Fairgrounds; FanDuel will operate betting at the Maryland Live! casino; Parx Interactive will operate betting at Greenmount OTB; PointsBet will operate betting at Riverboat on the Potomac; and Rush Street Interactive will operate betting at Bingo World.

“We’re pleased that we advanced the process today, but of course the work continues,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin in a press release. “We’re also very happy to see such a varied group of businesses become part of this emerging market in Maryland.”

The Fanatics Sportsbook did not have an official sports betting partner listed in its application to the MLGCA. However, earlier in the meeting the agency found Maryland Stadium Sub LLC qualified for an online sports betting license. Maryland Stadium Sub LLC is an LLC for the Washington Commanders and FedEx Field, which had been awarded a retail sports betting operator license in August, also did not list a sports betting partner in its application.

There have been rumors that Fanatics Sportsbook and the Washington Commanders will partner for sports betting in Maryland.

Regulatory approvals and testing still needed

Once licenses are awarded by SWARC, operators must then complete regulatory testing requirements and a successful controlled demonstration for Maryland Lottery and Gaming before they can receive the license and launch online sports betting in the state.

Rolling approvals of the online sports betting licenses will be allowed, as the MLGCA received less than 60 applications.

This will likely allow SWARC to quickly approve licenses for sportsbooks such as Barstool, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, and PointsBet, as they’ve already been vetted by the commission and Maryland Lottery and Gaming for their retail sports betting services.