The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) has determined that Riverboat on the Potomac and Long Shot’s have 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, according to an MLGCC press release.

Maryland sports betting to launch in December

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 will now be forwarded to SWARC, which is responsible for awarding the licenses.

“We’re extremely happy to see these two locally owned businesses move forward, and we’re eager to continue working with them in the coming weeks to launch their sports wagering operations,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin.

SWARC recently approved sports betting licenses for five Maryland casinos and their sportsbook partners:

  • Barstool Sports, partner of Hollywood Casino in Perryville
  • Caesars Sportsbook, partner of Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore
  • FanDuel Sportsbook, partner of Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover
  • BetMGM, partner of MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill
  • TwinSpires, partner of Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin

Several regulatory hurdles need to be cleared before the casinos can begin to offer in-person sports betting, but the launch is on schedule for sometime in December, Martin said.

Controlled demonstrations are next

The five facilities will need to schedule dates for controlled demonstrations. As the last step prior to their public openings, all sports wagering facilities must successfully complete two days of controlled demonstrations, during which guests invited by the facilities will participate in live wagering under the observation of Maryland Lottery and Gaming staff, according to the MLGCC.

“Controlled demonstrations are an important final step before sports wagering opens to the public,” Martin said. “They serve as a dress rehearsal for the facilities and their staffs, and they allow Maryland Lottery and Gaming to assure the public that these operations are ready to go.”

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.