Maryland brings forward sportsbook licensing meeting as 10 set for application review
BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, and PENN among qualified applicants to be scrutinized as regulators admit they are “eager to enable” Free State sports betting
Maryland’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) has advanced a scheduled meeting to discuss sports betting license applications, throwing open the chance of a regulated Free State sportsbook market by the end of November.
The meeting, which was initially scheduled for November 21, will take place at the SWARC headquarters on November 16, five days earlier.
Officials from SWARC have confirmed they will consider sports betting applications from as many as 10 qualified operators in the meeting.
The operators previously qualified as applicants by the Maryland State Lottery & Gaming Control Agency (MLGC) include BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, PENN Entertainment, as well as the Washington Commanders and Long Shot’s LLC, which is partnered with Betfred.
After a review of each applicant is presented, SWARC may vote to award a license, deny a license, or hold the applicant for future consideration.
However, the award of a license by SWARC does not allow an applicant to immediately begin taking wagers.
All applicants are currently working with staff from MLGC to complete outstanding operational requirements before its approval to launch is given.
The last step for each applicant is the successful completion of a controlled demonstration of its systems and procedures.
Information on the timing of controlled demonstrations and the earliest date when mobile sportsbooks will be permitted to launch is set to be confirmed after SWARC has awarded licenses.
In a statement concerning the accelerated meeting timetable, SWARC hailed the contribution of external agencies recruited as part of the drive to launch a sports betting market by 2023.
“We had originally planned our next meeting to be November 21, but we’ve been working with our consultants from Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Spectrum Gaming Group to accelerate the pace and hold it earlier,” SWARC chair Tom Brandt said.
“We thank them for their diligence and professionalism through this process. Our focus for this meeting will be the mobile applicants who have been qualified by MLGC.
“We will have additional award consideration meetings as SWARC and our advisors continue to review applications, and our next scheduled meeting is December 14.
“Mobile wagering will account for the bulk of the revenue from sports wagering, and we’re eager to enable Maryland to enter that market,” Brandt concluded.