One of the most diverse states in America, Maryland features a variety of cultures. With its variety of climates and also eclectic population, Maryland has earned the moniker of being called. “America in Miniature”. With the state’s culture and geography combining elements of Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, and Southern regions, there is certainly a lot going on in the Old Line State, including gambling. In 2020, the voters of Maryland legalized sports betting and the state has continued to expand on this industry.
Below, SBS will go over the latest gaming updates in Maryland, what it could mean for the state in the short and long term.
With sports betting just becoming legal in Maryland, the state has made a lot of headway in the gaming arena. Per a recent article in the Legal Sports Report, Maryland rolled out retail sports betting back in December of 2021 and the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency said that sports betting will not start until later in 2022.
One of the more interesting developments related to gaming in the state has been the process of rolling out mobile sports betting in the state. Earlier this month, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) did not take any action to push mobile gaming forward in the state. In Maryland, SWARC is responsible for establishing the state’s sports betting licensing standards and awards retail and mobile licenses up for a competitive bid. In this case, the Assistant Attorney General has told SWARC that they might need to make a special effort to include minority and women-owned businesses in the gaming industry in Maryland.
Until this disparity analysis is completed, mobile sports betting is on hold for the foreseeable future in Maryland.
In the middle of 2021, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) encountered 17 different new gambling entities up for legislation in Maryland. Recently, the MLGCC approved the sports wagering facility license for Bingo World which was one of the entities named in the initial legislation.
In addition to Bingo World, there are three other retail facilities making their way through the regulatory process to open in Maryland. Per the Legal Sports Report, they are Greenmount Station, Long Shot, and also the Riverboat on the Potomac. The Maryland commission also approved Rush Street Interactive as the sports wagering facility operator for Bingo World.
With retail sports betting growing in Maryland, the aforementioned new casinos have a great case study to look forward to in the Live! Casino. Opening just two months ago, the FanDuel Sportsbook at Live! received 14.4 million in bets during the month of January according to the FanDuel fact sheet for the month. In fact, the five active retail sportsbooks in Maryland handled a total of $32.5 million in January, which was nearly a 97% jump from December’s $16.5 million total. With the retail sector growing in Maryland, there are already case studies from other states that show how mobile sports betting can complement and grow the industry.
When you are preparing to place your final bets, make sure to check out the best resources available to you in Maryland. Lucky for you, SBS has you covered with the best online sportsbooks in the state. Another great idea is to check out the most utilized payment methods and how you can access them. By doing your homework on these two pages, you will be able to prepare and place your bets in a strategic and efficient manner.
For veteran gamblers, another great page to utilize is where you can find the best bonuses at any given time. Having this useful page on hand will give you a premium return on your investment and at a minimum – bonus cash! SBS’ bonus page has the most up-to-date information regarding new programs for each of our partner sites so make sure to check them all out to find the best fiscal return for your wagers.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
