The constant push for mobile sports betting in Maryland will finally come to fruition. According to the Maryland Lottery, a full-scale launch will take place on November 23rd.
Online Sports Betting Will Start Next Week
Before the full operation begins, the mobile sportsbook operators will go through several controlled demonstrations. This is to ensure that everything is up to date while making sure no problems arise when the day is here.
The demonstrations will last from 2 to 10 pm on Monday. As of right now, there is no time frame as to when the first wagers will be accepted online. The bookmakers will go offline on Tuesday before Wednesday arrives. However, this is a major step forward for the Old Line State, as bettors have waited for quite a while.
Maryland has certainly outpaced a lot of other jurisdictions that will be entering the sports betting industry. Massachusetts will launch at a later date, while a universal launch date will take place on January 1st, 2023, in Ohio.
Earlier this year, the goal was to launch mobile sports wagering by December or early next year. With the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission meeting pushed up a week, this was the key window of opportunity to get the job done as Thanksgiving week is approaching.
Numerous Sportsbooks Will go Live in Maryland
Gov. Larry Hogan’s persistence worked in Maryland as he was a major advocate for a sports betting market since its retail-only days. At this stage, the SWARC has awarded ten mobile licenses in the state. These platforms include Barstool Sportsbook Betfred, BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
Betfred, betPARX, and Fanatics will not launch during the week. Betfred and Fanatics are expected to go live in early 2023. This is a common thing as only four sportsbook operators went live on the first week of New York’s launch earlier this year.
This is significant for Fanatics, as the company is working towards gaining more market access around the country. Fanatics look to enter more states as California’s market will be up for grabs again in 2024.
Several bookmakers are running pre-launch promotions in order to get as many customers as possible. Many are offering promotions of anywhere between $100-$200 in free bet credits when one signs up.
Bettors in Maryland will have some time to wager on the NFL regular season anywhere in the state. Before, bettors had to go to casinos or other gaming facilities to place wagers throughout the year.
Mobile Sports Betting Will Bring New Record Handle and Revenue Numbers
The retail sports betting locations have done an incredible job in the Old Line State. For several months, these brick-and-mortar locations have registered double-digit hold rates and solid revenue numbers.
However, mobile sports betting will bring new records due to its comfort and accessibility for consumers. In some jurisdictions, online sports wagering makes up 99 percent of the handle. It will be interesting to see the numbers that will be reported during the last two months of 2022.
