Maryland’s Live! Casino & Hotel partnered with FanDuel to open a $12 million sportsbook late last year. At the same time, Live! created an adjacent Sports & Social sports bar to enhance the fan experience. In six months, Sports & Social has helped make Live! Maryland a powerhouse in sports betting.
For those entering the casino, it’s hard to miss. A massive FanDuel sign hangs overhead and the surrounding logos ensure it’s crystal clear where to place a wager. The giant semi-circle space, with screens against the back wall, also boasts a bar with dining tables centrally located.
On the sides are both betting kiosks and windows. The outer border, where Sports and Social meets the casino floor, is lined with recliners, chairs and more dining tables.
Betting on sports has been legal in Maryland since December 2021. Online betting is expected to be added soon.
On Dec. 10, 2021, the 13,775-square-foot Sports & Social opened at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Gov. Larry Hogan was on hand to place one of the first wagers at the FanDuel Sportsbook next to S&S.
A sports bar like no other
The layout at S&S is conducive to a dining experience. Tables for four occupy a large chunk of the best viewing spots. You can stand between the tables and the bar when it’s crowded.
Sit down with your group, place your order with the wait staff and enjoy your burgers, tacos and beer. The venue boasts an extensive beer selection. You can even get takeout.
You can also challenge your friends to bowling, foosball, skeeball and shuffleboard at S&S.
A viewing experience like no other
There is also a fair amount of theater-style seats. You can munch on food from S&S while relaxing in them or snag eats from one of the other restaurants in the casino.
These seats are on a first-come basis. That makes it tough to find seating for you and your friends. If there’s football on, come early.
S&S sports a 100-foot media wall with a 47-foot big screen and 40 HDTVs.
The screens are massive, so you won’t miss any action when you hit up the FanDuel Sportsbook. There are also banks of slot machines by the S&S entrance if you’re feeling lucky.
FanDuel Sportsbook can get busy
For those placing bets at the FanDuel Sportsbook next to S&S, there are both kiosks and retail windows available. There are also dedicated lines for big spenders (over $1,000).
On weekday mornings, you won’t need to wait in line to place your wager. But during football season, it can take more than 20 minutes just to reach the kiosk, according to representatives.
Sports & Social has made Live! Maryland a dominant force in Maryland sports betting. Last month, the FanDuel Sportsbook took in $10.9 million of sports bets. That represented nearly half of the action in the entire state. Its next closest competitor was MGM National Harbor at $6.2 million.
Since sports betting launched in December, Live! has brought in over $70 million of the state’s collective handle of $155.6 million.
