Maryland mobile sports betting commission seeking to speed up licensing process, but launch date still uncertain

Maryland is inching closer to launching online sports betting in the state after the Sports Wagering and Application Review Commission (SWARC) approved Wednesday a slate of regulations and applications needed to this end. However, the market may potentially miss the NFL kickoff and first weeks, instead being up and running by mid-season. The SWARC has now reworked its licensing criteria in an effort to expedite launch.

Governor Larry Hogan has been critical of the much-delayed process, saying the more the state takes to get mobile betting off the ground, the more money Maryland is missing out on. He wants the committee to approve mobile betting by the start of the NFL regular season in September, but this goal may be difficult to achieve.

In a letter to the SWARC last month, Hogan said Marylanders have grown frustrated seeing mobile betting launches in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., but not in their state. He urged commissioners to speed up the process, which they are now seeking to achieve.

Today I called on the legislature’s Sports Wagering and Application Review Commission to take immediate actions to launch mobile sports betting in Maryland for the NFL season.

Read my full letter: https://t.co/uUWRRlonoR pic.twitter.com/VrqWaOzimS

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) June 15, 2022

The SWARC has cited many bumps on the road in making mobile sports betting a reality. These include accommodating the needs of female and minority-owned businesses that may need help should they choose to enter the mobile betting space.

But the commission is now seeking to bring the sought speed to the process by not initially considering race and gender. The SWARC has approved emergency regulations governing the awarding of 60 mobile licenses.

The commission will meet again on August 17 for updates and additional information regarding moving forward. The new criteria decision will allow prospective applicants for licenses for physical locations and the more lucrative mobile licenses to prepare for the application process, according to Maryland Reporter.

By eliminating the standards, SWARC will move more easily with licensing by identifying entities already qualified and regulated by other state minority laws. However, excluding race and gender from the criteria now will not prevent the state from achieving diversity among licensees in the future.

Sports betting in the state is currently available on a retail basis

SWARC Chair Tom Brandt said that this will still be accomplished as the state issues additional mobile and small business sports betting licenses once the disparity analysis is completed. The commission is legally required to conduct industry analysis to determine whether there is a legal basis to implement race or gender-conscious measures.

Even though online sports wagering is not yet available in the region, bettors can bet on a retail basis at five casinos in the state. These venues include MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino, the Horseshoe Baltimore, Ocean Downs and the Hollywood Casino Perryville. 

These properties have contributed nearly $2.7 million to the state’s coffers in the current fiscal year, according to figures released by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. However, some estimates show that 90% of sports betting revenue will come from those using their phones.