Maryland in-person sports betting launch further delayed
Maryland sports betting is yet again in a holding pattern.
Three Maryland casinos were set to have their sports betting license applications approved today at the monthly Sports Wagering Application Review Commission meeting, but the commission canceled its scheduled meeting and has yet to reschedule the date.
A request for comment from SWARC on when the meeting would be rescheduled was not returned.
Meeting cancellation delays Maryland in-person sports betting
The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill all met the qualification requirements for sports wagering license. At its last meeting, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) approved the applications of the three casinos for licenses. The approved applications were forwarded to SWARC and the commission intended to approve license applications at its meeting today.
The three 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.
All three casinos have agreed to partnerships with qualified sportsbook operators to handle their in person and online sports betting programs. The partnerships are as follows:
- Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore partnered with Caesars.
- Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover partnered with FanDuel.
- MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill partnered with BetMGM.
Maryland’s sports betting bill signed in May
It’s been five months since Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed Maryland’s sports betting bill into law and it’s clear the governor is becoming frustrated with the slow launch.
Hogan took to his Twitter account and asked Maryland residents to email SWARC to allow football season betting to begin as soon as possible.
Our administration recently approved the first three locations for sports wagering in Maryland.
Tell the legislature’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to allow football season betting to begin: swarc@mlis.state.md.ushttps://t.co/lV7MUxgSkQ
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) October 8, 2021
Progress has been slow and the recent meeting cancellation will only further delay the launch.
MLGCC Director John Martin previously told Saturday Tradition he hoped the state can begin to accept in-person sports bets “by late fall,” but casinos must first be licensed to open their sportsbooks to the public.
The deadline is ticking on that late fall goal.
Additionally, no timeline for online sports betting has yet to be laid out by Maryland representatives.