Maryland’s Mobile Sports Betting Market May Begin Just in Time for the Super Bowl
Maryland has taken a step in the right direction in pushing for mobile sports betting, but the operation’s launch is very unlikely in 2022. However, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency are on the lookout for adding more retail locations for the time being.
The Next Target Date is the Super Bowl
Gov. Larry Hogan has been pushing for the mobile sports betting market to start just in time for the NFL season. The start of the NFL season is when the average wagering volume skyrockets. In addition, the NBA and NHL also help bring the numbers up throughout the industry.
It’s safe to say that the Old Line State has yet to reach its full potential as retail sports betting doesn’t bring doesn’t generate nearly as much revenue as online sports betting.
The Baltimore Ravens open up their season against the New York Jets on the road on September 11th. The Maryland Terrapins will also face the Buffalo Bulls at home on September 3rd.
Throughout the process, the Sports Wagering and Application Review Commission has laid out the requirements for the launch. Still, there are too many obstacles and issues to launch before the end of the year.
Just like Ohio, the Old Line State is planning to launch the online sports betting market next year. The Buckeye State will most likely launch sooner as the state’s start date will take place on New Year’s Day. Both retail locations and mobile sportsbooks will launch on the same day.
Regardless of the situation, Maryland has a few in-person betting locations throughout the state. DraftKings Sportsbook has also cleared the first step before officially joining the state’s market.
Is DraftKings Next in Line for Maryland?
It was filed under the name Crown Maryland Gaming LLC, which is owned by DraftKings. The goal is to allow DraftKings to set up shop at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
In addition to the racetrack, a sportsbook will be located beneath the grandstand at the racetrack. The agreement will last up to ten years, with both Crown and the facility dating back to 2020. The next step is to get approval for the application and licensing side of things.
Once that is done, Crown will need to go back to the MLGCA for the last step of approval. Among its efforts to get traction in Maryland, DraftKings has already signed an agreement with the Baltimore Ravens to become the official Daily Fantasy Sports, sports betting, and Free-to-Play partner of the team.
DraftKings has stayed busy in the sports betting and gaming industry. The brand has extended several partnerships and has continued to gain market access throughout the country. The company has also focused its efforts in places like California to bring mobile sports gambling to the state.
Maryland Looks to Expand its Reach in the Next Few Months
Sportsbook operators in Maryland have had strong monthly win rates since the operation began. However, the overall handles have been way down compared to other markets that have both retail and online markets.
If Maryland’s mobile sports betting market does start just in time for the Super Bowl, the Old Line State will be able to capitalize towards the end of February and the whole month of March. March Madness also brings in a ton of revenue for the whole industry.
