With the statewide launch of sports betting looming, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland unveiled a new sports bar Thursday, offering fans a unique way to watch — and soon bet on — their favorite events.
Described as the “ultimate fan experience,” Sports & Social Maryland is a combination of sports bar, restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge.
In the near future, it will also serve as the casino’s sportsbook.
Through a partnership between FanDuel and Cordish Gaming Group, a division of Live! owner Cordish Companies, Sports & Social will seamlessly incorporate sports betting once the industry launches in Maryland. Guests will have multiple options for how to wager, including self-service kiosks and retail windows.
Sports & Social raising the bar at Live!
The $15 million Sports & Social venue replaces Live! Center Stage, a 500-seat performance area in the center of the casino. The key amenities at Sports & Social include:
- More than 40 television screens, including a 47-foot wide main screen
- Two main bars
- VIP lounges
- Tiered sports viewing lounge chairs
- Casino games that include blackjack and roulette
- Interactive social games, such as mini-bowling and oversized foosball
Anthony Faranca, general manager of the casino, said the new space will only enhance the experience at Live! Casino Maryland. He said:
“Sports & Social Maryland will extend the energy and excitement from the casino floor into this exhilarating space and take Live! to the next level as the state’s top gaming and entertainment destination.”
FanDuel, Cordish Gaming sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
The Maryland Live! location is the first Sports & Social to open in Maryland. A second is scheduled to open in Bethesda this fall.
Sports & Social is a division of Live! Casino & Hotel owner Cordish Companies. The group recently opened new locations in Pennsylvania, Live! Casino Pittsburgh and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, both of which boast a physical FanDuel Sportsbook in Maryland.
“Adding the nationally recognized Sports & Social to Live! is an extension of our commitment to providing our guests with unparalleled and unforgettable dining and entertainment,” said Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming Group.
“Everyone that comes in is blown away by the visual and audio sports viewing experience. Combined with the extensive culinary menu and variety of games, Sports and Social is a must-see for anyone living [in] or visiting this region.”
Maryland casinos preparing for sports betting launch
While the sports betting bill passed by the General Assembly is still awaiting the signature of Gov. Larry Hogan, that has not stopped casinos in Maryland from getting ready.
Just as Live! Casino Maryland is preparing to provide sports fans with new amenities to coincide with the launch of MD sportsbooks, MGM National Harbor is doing the same.
The property is in the process of working on a “sportsbook enhancement project” with Prince George’s County. The MGM Sportsbook will be near its National Market food court, with three National Market venues being removed to clear space for the new operation.
The expectation is that casino sportsbooks will be up and running by the start of the 2021 NFL season, although mobile offerings and sports betting at smaller venues may have to wait due to the proposed license selection process.
With the number of licenses on the table, Marylanders should eventually expect a majority of the major sportsbook operators to enter the market.
