Leading digital marketing agency MediaTroopers announced earlier this month that it successfully acquired a license to set up shop in Maryland.
Maryland opened its first retail sportsbook in December 2021. Legal online sports betting, however, does not exist. Maryland residents are restricted to placing bets in-person.
However, MediaTroopers being licensed is a sign online betting in Maryland may be a coming attraction. With more than 20 years of expertise, Philly-based MediaTroopers specializes in online sports betting, casinos and iGaming. It currently operates in 19 states and in Ontario, Canada.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency issued the license to operate. The casino/sports wagering vendor license allows MediaTroopers to offer both sports betting and casino services in the state.
Maryland bettors will have plethora of options
The hope is Marylanders won’t have to wait too much longer for online sports betting to begin, according to John Martin. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control director anticipates the market to open up in a few months.
However, the state is currently awaiting the completion of a disparity survey before launching mobile. There have been no updates at the latest Sports Wagering Application Review Commission meetings, leaving a potential timeline up in the air.
When Maryland does finally get online sports betting up and running, the number of sportsbook options will be plentiful. The state’s legislation allows up to 60 mobile licenses.
One will likely be Barstool Sportsbook, a subsidiary of Penn National, which acquired a retail casino in Maryland two years ago. FanDuel and DraftKings should also receive mobile licenses. Both companies contributed heavily to the effort to legalize sports betting in the state.
MediaTrooper’s portfolio already boasts more than a dozen leading US gambling operators and sportsbooks, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet and UniBet. Its long-standing partnerships with these big-brand companies will ultimately help it promote them in Maryland once online betting begins.
MediaTroopers expanding at a brisk pace
Already licensed in 10 states that require a license, MediaTroopers operates in a total of 19 states where online gambling is legal, plus Washington D.C. It also recently launched operations in Ontario following the opening of Canada’s regulated market in April.
MediaTroopers is operational in a number of Maryland’s neighbors, including Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It’s been successful in those states and hopes to replicate that model in Maryland.
By bringing its quality marketing services to Maryland, MediaTroopers intends to expand its online gambling audience. MediaTrooper’s CEO Sam Segal said being licensed in Maryland is key.
“We are beyond thrilled to have received a Casinos/Sports Wagering Vendor License with the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. While we already hold valid licensing and regulation in over a dozen US states, adding Maryland to our substantial portfolio enables us to continue providing our pioneering services to the Mid-Atlantic region of the US.”
Over the past year, the agency has grown exponentially. Just 18 months ago, MediaTroopers was operating in only seven states. Now, the pioneering marketing agency is live in more than 16 states, soon to be followed by Maryland.
MediaTrooper’s growth and expansion across the nation is primarily due to its knack for being the first marketing agency to secure gambling licenses and enter new states once they approve online gambling.
Future looks bright for online betting in Maryland
All indications point to a bright future for online sports betting in Maryland. The state could issue up to 60 mobile licenses. That means Marylanders will likely have a vast number of sportsbook operators available to them soon.
Segal also talked about future prospects in Maryland.
“With the potential for up to 60 mobile betting operators to gain a license in Maryland, the state has the possibility to become one of the US’s most significant online betting markets. Ultimately, Maryland is a state we here in MediaTroopers are really looking forward to working in. We highly anticipate bringing Maryland bettors even more fun and excitement with legal, safe and responsible sports betting.”