Maryland: Queen Sportsbook qualifies for mobile sports betting license, awaits SWARC approval

Delaware-based Queen Sportsbook Maryland has been granted approval for a mobile sports wagering license by Maryland's Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC). The company was formed in October and is a subsidiary of The Queen Casino & Entertainment, which operates four casinos and is licensed for gaming in Illinois, Iowa and Louisiana.

The sports betting license is subject to approval from the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC), which is scheduled to meet in May to consider awarding the permit.

Under Maryland's sports wagering law, the MLGCC conducts background investigations to determine whether an entity is qualified for a sports wagering license while SWARC further evaluates applicants' suitability and determines whether awarding a license to an applicant is in the public interest.

While awaiting the mobile license award from SWARC, Queen Sportsbook Maryland is working with Maryland Lottery and Gaming staff to fulfill operational requirements. And once awarded a license by SWARC, the licensee will conduct a controlled demonstration to ensure that its systems and internal control procedures are functioning correctly.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin

“Sports wagering is a relatively new industry and its dynamics are still evolving,” Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin said in a statement to The Daily Record. “But we see a robust market taking shape in Maryland.”

Maryland legalized sports betting in May 2018, and its casinos began accepting sports wagers in November 2018. In November 2020, Maryland voters approved a sports betting referendum, allowing for the expansion of sports betting to online and mobile platforms.

Since then, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has received more than 40 applications for sports betting licenses and has awarded 18 of them. There are five mobile licenses left for SWARC to grant.

Other sports betting brands that have been approved for licenses in Maryland include BetMGM, William Hill, and FanDuel. The state's casinos are also expected to partner with major sports leagues and teams to offer sports betting services.

In March, Maryland’s 10 retail and eight mobile sportsbooks generated more than $5.3 million, up from $2.8 million in February and $2.1 million in January, marking the highest monthly revenue generated since Maryland’s sports wagering program began in December 2021.