Ocean Downs Casino received a Maryland sports betting license from the Maryland Lottery Gaming Control Commission last week and officially launched in-person sports betting on Friday, Dec. 17.

Ocean Downs Casino is the fourth Maryland casino to offer live sports betting since its launch on Thursday, Dec. 9. The casino, and its sportsbook partner TwinSpires, joins Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore (Caesars), MGM National Harbor (MGM) and Maryland Live! Casino and Hotel (FanDuel) to offer sports betting.

Ocean Downs opens sports betting

Prior to receiving its license, Ocean Downs successfully completed two days of controlled demonstrations, during which invited guests participated in live wagering as Maryland Lottery and Gaming staff ensured the facility complied with all required procedures, and that its systems and revenue reporting controls functioned properly.

The casino is among the 17 entities that were designated in the sports wagering law to conduct sports wagering operations, pending a review of their qualifications to receive licenses.

Hollywood Casino in Perryville (Barstool Sports) will undergo controlled demonstrations this week and should also open its sports betting doors as well.

Three off-track-betting venues — Long Shot’s in Frederick, Riverboat on the Potomac in Colonial Beach, Va., and Greenmount Station in Hampstead — have been awarded licenses by the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) and are expected to open in early 2022, according to the Maryland and Gaming Control Commission.

Long Shot’s and Riverboat on the Potomac are minority and women owned, so they fit the profile of businesses SWARC hopes to include in the state’s sports betting program.

Maryland online sports betting far off

Maryland Lottery and Gaming’s Licensing investigators are in frequent contact with additional sports wagering facilities that were designated in the law, whose applications are in progress. State law requires that applicants “establish by clear and convincing evidence” that they are fully qualified before the MLGCC issues a license.

There is currently no roadmap to issuing online sports betting licenses in Maryaldn.