Even though Maryland governor Larry Hogan has been a big proponent of it, it appears that mobile sports betting in the state still needs a bit more juice to cross the finish line. According to a recent report from CBS News in the state, sports fans in Maryland will probably not see mobile betting for months. Per an update from Maryland’s legislative panel on the topic, the Sports Wagering and Application Review Commission (SWARC), the group just released an updated timeline for approval which indicates an extended date for getting the green light. According to SWARC, the panel laid out what needs to happen before mobile betting can be approved in a meeting mid-last week and it would appear that chances are slim for approval by the end of the year.
For this update, SBS will go over some of the high points of this update, along with some more thoughts and notes about gaming in Maryland.
According to the update from CBS News, Governor Hogan has not been shy about his frustrations regarding the mobile sports wagering delay. Back in June, he implored the SWARC committee to grant approval of the measure by the NFL regular season kick-off in September. Members of the committee, including Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency COO Jum Nelson even mentioned that they “hoped Marylanders could bet on the Super Bowl on a mobile platform.”
However, the roll out of mobile sports betting has been much slower in Maryland and gaming experts have taken notice. For instance, Robert Linnehan, who is a sports betting regulation expert and editor at XL Media noted that Maryland has had the slowest launch of online sports betting of any state. In the CBS News report, Linnehan noted that the process has been deleted in Maryland many times and also that the timeline has been changed numerous times. In addition to a changing timeline, there are still several obstacles to clear before final mobile betting approval in the state. The SWARC group is still waiting on a required sports wagering industry analysis, which the panel needs to review. After that, a legislative committee would then need to approve its regulations.
Per the same update article from CBS News, there is still the possibility that mobile sports wagering could be approved by the end of the year. However, this is all contingent on the required analysis and reports being submitted and reviewed. Even with the governor of the state pushing for approval on a consistent basis, there still has been more roadblocks for the measure. Linnehan noted in the article that this long delay in online sports betting is resulting in a lot of missing tax revenue for the state. Moreover, with Governor Hogan pushing for “a firm and transparent timeline” for the state’s residents to follow, there appears to be some more work to be done.
As you are learning more about the sports gambling scene in the Old Line State, SBS has you covered with a plethora of different resources. This includes our Maryland sports betting overview which tells you all you need to know about betting in the state. In addition to that great guide, make sure to peruse the SBS best bonus betting sites breakdown which gives you a ton of different bonus offers to get the most out of your wagers. This page has a catalog of fantastic bonus promotions that will give your wagers that extra boost. On a final note, if you are unsure about how you would like to make your deposits and withdrawals then our payment methods guide is exactly what you need to stay on top of the action.
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.
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