It’s no secret that Maryland has been a little slow to the online sports betting party. But with states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania leading the charge, it was only a matter of time before officials in The Free State started sorting out the details. That time may be coming sooner than most people expected due to the recent approval of the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission for the rolling basis of the sports betting licenses.
The question on everyone’s mind is who will be the first MD online sportsbook? The state has been struggling to get mobile sports betting up and running, but there are a few contenders who are in the running for the title. Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders!
Contenders for the First Maryland Sportsbook
As per the tweet of wagering writer Ryan Butler:
Director at Maryland Lottery and Gaming, John Martin stated in a webinar hosted by VIXIO GamblingCompliance, there are four contenders to be the first online sportsbook in the state. These are:
- BetMGM Sportsbook of MGM Resorts International;
- Caesars Sportsbook of Caesars Entertainment;
- Barstool Sportsbook of Penn National Gaming; and
- FanDuel Sportsbook of Flutter Entertainment
All of the said sportsbooks already have a physical location in Maryland. MGM National Harbor in Forest Heights is the home of BetMGM retail sportsbook while Caesars In-person sportsbook is located in Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore.
Moreover, Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover is hosting the FanDuel retail sportsbook while Hollywood Casino in Perryville features a Barstool Sportsbook.
The state has been working hard to get everything in order, and it seems things are finally taking shape. All of these brands are well-established in the online betting industry and offer a variety of markets for users to bet on.
Maryland Sports Betting Launch
On October 21st, the Commission is set to review different licenses. This could mean that sports betting platforms might launch before the end of the year. If this happens, it would be great for fans of local teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. They would be able to place bets on their teams more easily and conveniently.
This would likely lead to more people betting on these teams, which could increase viewership and support for them. In any case, it will be interesting to see how fast the Commission will be rolling out licenses in the next few months.
