Maryland voters approved sports betting in 2020, and this year, retail sportsbook licenses are still being granted, and the state’s casinos have already handled more than $132 million in wagers. As far as the much more lucrative online and mobile sportsbooks, officials doubt a plan will be implemented by the end of this year, or even by next February’s Super Bowl.
What’s holding it up is an effort by multiple state agencies to comply with the sports betting law’s requirement that women- and minority-owned businesses be represented in the sports betting industry.
The Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Committee (SWARC) is currently awaiting results of a disparity study by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.
State officials now say online and mobile sports betting are not likely to go live until late 2023.
Meanwhile, the retail licensing process continues. Cumberland’s mayor and City Council voted last week to adopt zoning guidelines to permit sports gambling within the city limits. A final reading of the ordinance was conducted during the council’s regular meeting held at City Hall. The vote was unanimous to implement the guidelines which permit fantasy competitions and sports wagering.
So far, 17 of the retail licenses were awarded to large gambling houses, but 30 licenses remain unfilled.
