Horseshoe Casino Baltimore puts diversity as one of its primary priorities as it seeks a mobile sports betting license. To that end, the company will include significant ownership among local women and minority partners.
The applicant, going by CZR Maryland Mobile Opportunity, LLC, indicated women and minorities will control 40 percent of the ownership. The operator will be Caesars Sportsbook. In January of 2021, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and Horseshoe Baltimore committed to 25 percent ownership at the least, according to WJZ-TV.
“This is a true hometown application. We’re very pleased to have structured our application in a way that not only reflects our corporate mission to promote diversity, equity and inclusion but is consistent with the spirit of Maryland sports betting legislation, which seeks to create business ownership opportunities that otherwise might not exist,” said Caesars Digital President Eric Hession. “We look forward to working with our exceptional local partners and state regulators in hopes of soon providing Marylanders with a world-class online sports betting experience through the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app.”
Partners include:
- PRT 2-Digital, a Baltimore-based partnership group including local businesspeople Eddie Brown, Cecil Flamer, Maria Beckett and James Scott, Jr;
- Letha Christian, a local information technology professional; and
- Caesars Entertainment, majority owner and operator of Horseshoe Baltimore.
“Caesars’ success in bringing on significant minority ownership in their sports wagering program is tangible proof that the General Assembly’s intentional pursuit to create diversity in new markets can be successful,” said Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne A. Jones.
Caesars Sportsbook is anchored by an easy-to-navigate app that integrates mobile sports betting with the company’s industry leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards. Pending regulatory approval, Caesars Sportsbook will provide fans with a mobile sports wagering platform in addition to operating the Las Vegas-style sportsbook located on the first floor of Horseshoe Baltimore.
