Maryland sportbetting hopefuls get the nod

In the eastern American state of Maryland and a trio of facilities could reportedly launch retail sportsbetting from as soon as next week after having their applications approved by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission regulator.

According to a Wednesday report from the online news domain at CBS.com, the hopeful threesome includes Maryland Stadium Sub LLC, which is owned by the same man behind the recently-renamed Washington Commanders franchise of the National Football League (NFL), Daniel Snyder (pictured). This American billionaire businessman has hopes of opening a sportsbook within his football side’s 82,000-seat FedEx Field home in Landover, Maryland, and has additionally applied for a related sportsbetting employee license.

Legislative largess:

Maryland lawmakers reportedly passed measures early last year that saw the small state become the latest to take advantage of the 2018 revocation of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and this legislation’s partial prohibition on sports wagering. This resulted in every one of the jurisdiction’s six land-based casinos being given the right to host a retail sportsbook in exchange for agreeing to pay a 15% gross revenues tax.

Existing enterprises:

CBS.com reported that the Horseshoe Baltimore, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland, Hollywood Casino Perryville, Ocean Downs Casino and MGM National Harbor facilities launched retail sportsbetting from December 9 and subsequently went on to rack up over $16.5 million in combined January handle. Maryland Stadium Stub LLC will now purportedly be able join this club, which furthermore embraces Bingo World in Anne Arundel County, so long as its application receives the required definitive green light from the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission at this body’s next meeting on Wednesday.

Promising pair:

Chesapeake Gaming Group, which runs an off-track betting parlor in the small western Maryland city of Boonsboro, as well as the BetFred Sports subsidiary of British sportsbetting giant BetFred have reportedly furthermore had their sports wagering license applications approved by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission and are now awaiting a final determination from the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission. This latter entity is purportedly responsible for the Long Shot’s restaurant and bar in the community of Frederick and wants to complement its current offerings via the premiere of an in-house sportsbook.

Expansive ends:

The legislation ratified by Maryland lawmakers in 2021 could eventually see officials in ‘The Old Line State’ license up to 47 retail sportsbooks in addition to as many as 60 online sportsbetting domains. A non-partisan analysis published last summer forecast that all of these entities could eventually combine to generate a massive $100 million in annual tax revenues that Maryland has already earmarked for the funding of its public school system.