The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission deemed 10 applicants for mobile sports wagering licenses qualified Thursday. The move represents an important step toward a legal mobile sportsbook launch in the state.
“There is still a flurry of activity ahead of us over the next couple of weeks, but we’re going to see the
first mobile wagers placed in Maryland soon,” Maryland Lottery Director John Martin said in a press release. “We know sports fans have been eagerly awaiting that opportunity, and we’re almost there.”
Another entity, Long Shot’s Hagerstown (Long Shot’s in Frederick is expected to launch a retail sportsbook before the end of 2022) was deemed qualified for a sports wagering facility license.
The lottery shared other notable retail sports betting news in the state. A retail sportsbook is expected to launch at FedEx Field, home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, before the end of 2022. The entity has yet to announce a partnership with an operator, although previous reports suggest Fanatics could be the facility’s partner. In-stadium NFL sportsbooks can’t be open during home games due to league rules.
Additionally, Greenmount OTB’s retail sportsbook (betPARX) is expected to launch by the end of this week. The entity is located in Hampstead.
10 qualified mobile operators
The list of 10 mobile operator license applicants includes a handful of some of the most well-known national operators in the sports wagering space. Here’s the full list of 10 applicants:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Betfred
- BetMGM
- betPARX
- BetRivers
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- PointsBet
Marylanders should be familiar with the list of applicants, as Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, and PointsBet all have retail sportsbooks in the state. betPARX will soon be available at a retail location as well. FanDuel’s retail sportsbook at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover often leads the state’s retail sportsbooks in monthly handle.
When will mobile books launch?
The 10 entities are qualified for mobile licenses, but they aren’t yet approved to launch. Each of the 10 will move to the next stage of the approval process, which is handled by the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission. The SWARC is expected to meet on Nov. 21 to award licenses to the qualified entities.
Updated Maryland mobile sports betting launch timeline:
Today – Lottery deemed 10 mobile license applicants qualified
Nov. 21 – SWARC meets to award licenses to mobile applicants
Late Nov./early Dec. – After final checks from the lottery, mobile sportsbooks can launch
— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) October 27, 2022
Following that Nov. 21 meeting, the approved operators will go through final technical checks with the lottery. Once those are complete, the mobile sportsbooks can go live.
“We’re pleased that we advanced the process today, but of course the work continues,” Martin said.
It’s expected that mobile sportsbooks will launch in the state in late November or early December. Marylanders have about a month left to go before they can legally wager on their mobile devices.
