Maryland officially opened its regulated sports wagering market yesterday (December 9) after state Governor Larry Hogan placed the first legal bet at MGM National Harbor.
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission’s (MLGCC) Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) last month issued five sports betting licenses to land-based casinos, with the aim of taking the first legal bets within the two months.
Penn National’s Hollywood Casino in Perryville; Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore; Cordish Companies’ Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover; the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill and Churchill Downs’ Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin all secured licenses.
The MLGCC had previously cleared the quintet to receive licenses earlier this year.
The MGM National Harbor was the first site to open its licensed retail sportsbook, with Governor Hogan marking the occasion by placing the state’s first bet on the Washington Football Team to face the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl in 2022 .
“Today marks the culmination of more than a year of effort to get sports betting up and running here in the State of Maryland,” Governor Hogan said. “In addition to allowing Marylanders to bet on football, basketball, and more, sports betting will also help to keep more dollars in-state and will provide another critical revenue source for public education without raising taxes on families and small businesses.”
The 8,000 square foot BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge features seven betting windows, 15 betting kiosks, stadium-style seating and video walls for customers to view live sports events.
BetMGM chief exectuive Adam Greenblatt said, “The BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge at MGM National Harbor is a key component to making the capital region one of the country’s premier sports betting hubs.
“In partnership with the MGM National Harbor team, we’ve designed a world-class destination for sports fans.”