After more than two years of waiting, gamblers in Maryland can finally place legal sports bets online.
Maryland online sports betting launches with seven sportsbooks
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Seven sportsbooks kicked off the start of online sports betting in Maryland at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Who is taking online sports bets in Maryland?
The brands taking legal bets first are:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
Everybody’s ‘excited’ about online sports betting in MD
The sportsbook operators are clearly looking forward to offering action in Maryland.
Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital:
“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.”
Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM
“This is a significant milestone that elevates our vision to deliver world-class entertainment to sports fans in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region. The convenience of our best in-class mobile app connects directly to the engaging atmosphere we’ve created in our retail sportsbooks at MGM National Harbor and Nationals Park.”
Paul Hannon, PointsBet executive
“Along with The Riverboat team, which is the only minority-owned facility in the state, we’re proud to bring the renowned PointsBet mobile product to the state of Maryland. The Maryland sports betting industry is poised to be one of the most active in the nation, and to be able to take part in that momentum while also working closely with The Riverboat to enhance its equity and inclusion in the space is monumental.”
Benjie Levy, Penn Interactive executive
“We are excited to debut Barstool Sportsbook in Maryland and expand our online footprint to our fourteenth state. We already enjoy a solid retail presence in Maryland and engage with a large base of fans through our property as well as Barstool Sports and theScore’s powerful digital content offerings.”
More Maryland online sportsbooks are coming
Three additional sportsbook apps — Betfred, BetParx and Fanatics — are licensed but “the timing of their launches has not been determined,” state gaming officials said Wednesday.
Regulators will continue reviewing and approving license applications on a rolling basis. A total of 11 other operators have applied for a Maryland online sportsbook license.
The state’s sports betting law, signed by Gov. Larry Hogan in May 2021, permits up to 60 online licenses.
First ‘milepost’ on a long road
Voters approved in-person and online sports betting in November 2020. Maryland casinos began taking sports bets in December 2021.
Online sports gambling, however, took longer to implement due to Maryland’s unique licensing requirements. State officials and the general public bemoaned the lengthy process leading up to launch day.
Even before Wednesday morning’s start of online sports betting, the state’s top gaming regulator said there was more to do. Maryland Lottery & Gaming Director John Martin issued the following statement:
“We’re excited to reach this milepost and have mobile wagering available to everyone with Thanksgiving Day football games coming up tomorrow. But at the same time, this is only a milepost. There are additional mobile sports wagering entities in the pipeline, and our work is ongoing as we guide them across the finish line.”
Simple math: more gambling = more tax revenue
The governor is among those who lamented the slow process of getting online sports betting up and running. More than once, Hogan characterized the delays as “unacceptable.”
Part of the frustration likely has to do with the potential tax revenue online sports betting is projected to bring the state. Maryland’s in-person sports betting market is healthy, generating slightly more than $5.4 million in tax revenue since last year.
Online sports betting will add that much to state coffers in a month.
The state estimates around $27-$30 million in 2023 and as much as $100 million by 2027. PlayMaryland is forecasting even greater potential, with online sports betting generating almost $70 million in its first full year.
The first glimpse of online sports betting’s fiscal impact will come next month. State regulators say November sports betting financial data for both retail and online will be released on Dec. 12.
Top events to bet on after launch
Meanwhile, Marylanders have plenty of sports to bet on in the coming days.
The NFL has a trio of Thanksgiving games, and both the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders play Sunday.
A World Cup match featuring the United States versus England is on Friday.
College football rivalry weekend, plus a full slate of NBA and NHL games, are also on the betting sheet.
