First Maryland Sports Betting License Applications Are Now Open – Legal Sports Report

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission opened license applications Tuesday for the 17 locations named in Maryland sports betting legislation.

The locations can apply for retail licenses on the MLGCC website.Maryland sports betting legislation allows for more than100 sports betting licenses. In addition to the 17 named entities, there can be 30 additional Class Bretail locations.

Applications for the competitive licenses, including the 60 mobile licenses, will open at a later date.

Legislators named 17 establishments in enacting legislation to receive sports betting licenses earlier this year. Those businesses include casinos, horse racing tracks and off-track betting facilities, as well as bingo halls.

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission approved all 17 businesses at its very first meeting in August. Now, the MLGCC must issue the licenses.

Future NBA, NHL or MLS franchises that lease a stadium in Maryland can also qualify for an A-1 license.

As the 17 licenses are approved, they can begin to open retail sportsbooks in Maryland.

Online sportsbook operators can partner with the Class A and B licensees to offer retail sportsbooks.The 17 named retail establishments can also apply for online sports betting licenses.

The Baltimore Ravens, which play at M&T Stadium, have announced three separate sports betting partnerships. None of those partnerships BetMGM, DraftKings and Caesars announcements mention a retail sportsbook at the stadium.

The Washington Football Team has a Virginia sports betting license. FanDuel has access to the Old Dominion through the WFT.

There are still up to 23 unnamed retail licenses up for grabs. The MLGCC will open those applications, and online licenses, later.

The SWARC must still establish rules to evaluate applicants before they can award licenses and pass them on to the MLGCC for background investigations before licenses can be issued. Legislation requires the SWARC to give preference to minority- and women-owned businesses.

There are potentially 60 mobile licenses available, by far the most in any US online sports betting jurisdiction.

Maryland voters approved sports betting in November 2020.

Legislators got to work earlier this year to enact those wishes. Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill in May, with hopes the first sportsbooks would be open sometime during the NFL season, at least by MLBs World Series.

The MLGCC approved a set of regulations in July, which the Maryland Register then published in August, kicking off a 30-day public comment period. That period ends Sept. 27. The MLGCC will hold a public meeting on the regulations Sept. 22.

View original post here:

First Maryland Sports Betting License Applications Are Now Open - Legal Sports Report