The Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency director is confident Maryland in-person sports betting can launch later this fall.

Three casinos are currently awaiting sports betting license approval from the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC). Once they receive approval from SWARC, the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) will work to verify the entities internal control systems before the licenses can be awarded.

SWARC was scheduled to approve licenses for Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, at their Oct. 14 meeting. The meeting was cancelled and has yet to be rescheduled.

Late fall Maryland sports betting still possible

John Martin, director of the MLGCA, told Saturday Tradition he is confident his agency can quickly verify the internal control systems and allow Maryland to launch in-person sports betting later this fall.

“I’m confident we’ll get many sportsbooks up and running before the end of the fall,” he said. “I’m very confident, because the applicants we sent to SWARC are ones that are already familiar with the process. They know they need to go through the internal control systems process, they need to go through the demonstrations and the signs offs. They’re very experienced with the whole process.”

Each casino has partnered with a sportsbook operator to run its in person and online sports betting programs.

  • Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore partnered with Caesars.
  • Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover partnered with FanDuel.
  • MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill partnered with BetMGM.

Even with their experience, Martin said it will likely take between 30 to 60 days for the agency to work with each casino to fully verify their internal control systems and be able to award the licenses.

More casino sports betting license approvals coming

The three casinos were among 17 entities designated in the approved sports wagering bill to conduct sports wagering operations. In August, SWARC voted unanimously that Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission’s qualification standards would be sufficient to award sports betting licenses to the 17 designated entities.

Martin said the MLGCA will likely approve the applications for two additional casinos to send to SWARC at its Thursday, Oct. 21 meeting.

The applicants are the Ocean Downs Casino and Hollywood Casino Perryville (Barstool Sportsbook). These will likely be approved and sent to SWARC, Martin said.

We know we’re anxious to start on our end. Our intention is to get 17 named entities up and running as soon as we can. That’s our mission here at the lottery, to get them vetted, approved, handed to SWARC and issue licenses so the people of Maryland can get what they want,” Martin said.