Maryland grants sports betting licenses for two more casinos

Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan issued a statement Thursday after the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission determined that two additional entities qualify for sports wagering licenses.

The two properties now licensed to offer sports betting in the state are Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Oceans Downs Casino in Berlin. Hollywood Casino has partnered with Barstool Sportsbook to run its sports betting operation. The regulator determined that both casinos are qualified because they have gaming licenses in Maryland.

In his official Twitter account, Hogan shared his full statement with his followers, which reads: “No one is pushing harder than I am to get sports betting up and running here in the State of Maryland. Our administration has now cleared five licenses for sports betting, implementing the referendum approved by voters and the law passed by the General Assembly”. 

“With Marylanders looking forward to betting on the NFL and March Madness, we now expect the legislature’s Sports Wagering Applicant Review Commission to swiftly approve these licenses”, he concluded. 

No one is pushing harder than I am to get sports betting up and running here in the State of Maryland. My full statement following @MDLottery determining that Hollywood Casino and Ocean Downs Casino qualify for sports wagering licenses: pic.twitter.com/fkG7sLFc61

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) October 21, 2021

Last week, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission cancelled its Thursday 14 meeting in which three casinos’ licenses were to be discussed. 

After the meeting call-off, the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency director John Martin expressed that he is confident that “in-person sports betting can launch later this fall”. However, casinos must first be licensed to open their sportsbooks to the public. 

The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill all met the qualification requirements to hold a sports wagering license. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission approved their applications and were forwarded to SWARC. The commission intended to approve them at its Thursday 14 meeting. 

The approval of the state’s sports betting bill was signed back in May, thus legalizing online and in-person sports betting in Maryland, with its market having officially launched on June 1. However, progress has been slow since then, and in-person sports betting still does not have a concrete date for launch. 

The slow launch has led Hogan to take to his Twitter account and urge Maryland residents to email SWARC to allow football season betting to begin as soon as possible. 

Our administration recently approved the first three locations for sports wagering in Maryland.

Tell the legislature’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to allow football season betting to begin: [email protected]https://t.co/lV7MUxgSkQ

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) October 8, 2021

Maryland has named, upon the bill’s passing, 17 entities as sports gaming sites and three stadiums. Sports gambling companies in the state will pay a 15% tax on their proceeds, which will go largely to public education. 

The bill will grant nearly 100 licenses in total to the state’s six casinos, racing tracks, stadiums, off-track betting facilities, as well as to mobile and online sports betting apps. Nonpartisan analysts estimate that the state could bring in about $17 million per year.