Two well-known casino operators are on deck to join Maryland’s stable of online sports betting apps before the end of the year.
During a Thursday morning hearing, the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission deemed the digital divisions of Bally’s Corporation and Wynn Resorts qualified to operate online sportsbooks. Pending licensure and final regulatory approval, Bally Bet and WynnBet could be live in Maryland as soon as late December.
The day before Thanksgiving, seven Maryland online sportsbooks launched in the state. As such, Maryland became the 22nd entity (and Washington D.C.) to regulate and tax online sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal ban in 2018.
Maryland grants initial approval to Bally’s, WynnBet
Now that Maryland regulators have deemed Bally Bet and Wynnbet qualified, the two operators must go through additional steps before being officially granted a license and approved for launch. Bally’s and Wynn will begin working closely with Maryland regulators to ensure that all internal control procedures and requirements have been met.
The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission will hold a meeting on Dec. 14, where conditional licenses will be awarded if appropriate, according to the latest Maryland Gaming release. A subsequent MLGCC meeting will then be held Dec. 15.
Once granted conditional approval, each operator will conduct a final controlled demonstration period. There, wagers can be placed while regulators observe the operators’ operations.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin expects the rollout of these two sports betting apps to progress quicker than the original launch. Martin eagerly noted:
“Fingers, toes and eyes crossed — we should get both of them up and running if not before the Playoffs, certainly well before the Super Bowl.”
Sportsbook apps in Maryland
The seven online sportsbooks currently available in the Old Line State are:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
Betfred, BetParx and Fanatics have already been awarded mobile sports betting licenses, but “the timing of their launches has not been determined,” state officials said.
Maryland’s sports betting law allows for as many as 60 online sports gambling licenses to be awarded.
Lottery & Gaming officials say they will continue reviewing and approving online sportsbooks on a rolling basis.
