At long last, online Maryland sports betting is live and it is in time for the Thanksgiving NFL games.
You can learn more about all the Maryland sports betting apps here.
Maryland sportsbooks could start taking online bets 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, more than two years voters in the state approved it. There are seven online operators to start the market, but at least 14 are in line in the coming months.
Which Maryland online sports betting apps are going live
Here are the sportsbooks that are going live on Wednesday, with their corresponding casinos that are the vehicle for licensure:
- Barstool Sportsbook (Penn Maryland OSB/Hollywood Casino)
- BetMGM (BetMGM Maryland Sports)
- BetRivers Sportsbook (Bingo World)
- Caesars Sportsbook (CZR Maryland Mobile Opportunity)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (Crown Maryland Gaming)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (Live! Casino and Hotel)
- PointsBet (Riverboat on the Potomac)
Three of the operators opted out of the Thanksgiving week launch and will look toward 2023:
- Betfred (Long Shot’s)
- Fanatics Sportsbook (Maryland Stadium Sub)
- Parx Interactive (Greenmount Station)
There are another 11 mobile sportsbook applicants waiting for their regulatory process to begin.
The end of a long road for MD online sports betting
Retail sports betting in Maryland started in December 2021, but in states with both mobile and retail wagering, online generally makes up more than 90% of the overall handle.
“This process took longer than it should have, but we’re excited that this launch is in time for fans to place their bets on all the Thanksgiving Day NFL action, college football rivalry weekend, this week’s slate of NBA games, the 2022 World Cup and this Sunday’s Ravens and Commanders games.
“This marks the culmination, of literally years of effort, to get online sports betting up and running in the state of Maryland.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan during a press conference Tuesday.
What operators are saying about Maryland
“The much-anticipated launch of online and mobile sports betting in Maryland is here, and just in time for all the NFL and College football action over the Thanksgiving. We are thrilled to give Maryland’s NFL and college football fans an exciting sports betting experience to enjoy all the holiday action at the touch of their fingertips. In addition to football, BetRivers offers them endless entertainment with countless other sports and betting options available for their pleasure, including exciting single game parlays on the NBA and college basketball and bets on the World Cup.”
Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz
With an active sports season currently underway, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to launch our top-rated sportsbook app in Maryland. Our product delivers fans an exciting sports betting experience, and we would like to thank the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, Governor Hogan and the General Assembly for bringing online sports wagering to Maryland.”
DraftKings Co-Founder and President Matt Kalish
“The launch of the Caesars Sportsbook app in Maryland strengthens our offering for customers in the state. With a historically jam-packed sports calendar, customers can now enjoy access to the same unmatched rewards they’ve experienced when betting at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, in the palm of their hands.”
President of Caesars Digital Eric Hession
Maryland sports betting potential
Sports betting in Maryland is not new with eight retail sportsbooks open. Since December 2021, the eight open operators have taken nearly $280 million in 10 months of operation.
In terms of what a full online market could achieve, it could be around the size of Michigan or Colorado. A May 2022 Eilers & Krejcik report projects mobile MD wagering could product up to $123.3 million in sports betting revenue in its first year.
Maryland is surrounded by states with sports betting, albeit not necessarily ideal markets like the retail lottery situation in Delaware and an odd District-wide monopoly for DC sports betting.
Not an easy path in Maryland
Maryland voters approved sports betting in November 2021. The journey has been anything but smooth despite retail sports betting starting last year.
Regulations for the up to 60 competitive online sports betting licenses took time as they went through the legislatively-created Sports Wagering Application Review Commission. The SWARC was required to ensure a diverse industry.
Gov. Larry Hogan was displeased at times with the SWARCs lengthy process. Ultimately, the SWARC decided it could not use race or gender-conscious questions on its applications.
Once that was determined in August, the application period opened and applicants and regulators worked to get mobile sports betting off the ground as quickly as possible. There was a soft launch of sports betting Monday.
Operators conscious of MD legislator wishes
Rather than use race or gender-based criteria, the SWARC opted for a net worth requirement: At least 5% of an ownership group for the license has to have a net worth of less than $1.847 million.
Still, multiple operators in Maryland are complying with the General Assembly’s desire to have a diverse sports betting industry. Those efforts include:
- Caesars (CZR Maryland Mobile Opportunity includes 40% diverse ownership)
- Long Shot’s (100% women-owned)
- Live! Casino (incorporating its employee base as 10% of its ownership group)
- Riverboat on the Potomac (minority-owned)
Maryland teams offer sports betting partnerships
The professional sports landscape in Maryland offered up an array of opportunities for sportsbooks. While legislation granted retail sportsbooks for professional sports venues, only the Washington Commanders opted for that route with their Fanatics partnership.
Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles partnered with SuperBook, but will forego a retail sportsbook for now.
The Baltimore Ravens have three partners:
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- DraftKings
Retail Maryland sports betting continues growth
The first five retail sportsbooks in Maryland opened in December 2021, with three others starting to open in Q3 2022. There are two more preparing to open, with several more applications awaiting regulatory action.
Since sports betting began in Maryland, bettors have wagered nearly $280 million. October hit a record $39.7 million handle.
Operators have generated $36.6 million in sports betting revenue, while the state has collected $5.4 million in taxes.
