Maryland underwent a lengthy, arduous journey to bring end-to-end sports betting practices to the state. While sports betting activities were approved in the state following the 2020 election, it was mere weeks ago that online sports betting markets went live. Before the launch of this mobile-driven, online variant took place, punters could only bet on sporting events in person at casinos and approved locations in various regions of the state.
Now, following a full launch of Maryland’s mobile sports betting markets, it has been revealed that things are going remarkably well in-state. In a report published by Free State (and mirrored by EGR) it was stated that in just nine days, Maryland’s sports betting handle topped $186 million.
Epic Growth, But Not Across The Board
In recent months, more states have been opening their doors to the concept of sports betting. We’ve seen top-tier operators make their way into several new markets, bringing sports betting – including mobile and online sports betting – to new audiences that number in the millions. However, it isn’t a universal concept, as in some states, there’s a lot of resilience and reluctance to open up that door.
For instance, in November, it was revealed that California would not be opening up to sports betting practices, following the prompt shooting down of two propositions that would have legalised the industry in-state. At present, some more states are preparing to start trading, though – Ohio, for example, has approved a series of betting operators that can begin their operations in-state in January 2023.
On the 23rd of November, when sportsbooks went live across Maryland, the director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control, John A. Martin, said:
‘This process took longer than it should have, but we are excited that this launch is in time for fans to place their bets on all the Thanksgiving Day NFL action, college football rivalry weekend, this week’s slate of NBA games, the 2022 World Cup, and this Sunday’s Ravens and Commanders games.’
Like many other states, Maryland intends to use taxes and fees collected from betting operators to fund improvements within the state. It may be a morality concern for some, but money claimed back from betting activities will reportedly be used to fund Maryland’s school system.
When the markets opened up, seven of North America’s most powerful gambling organisations began trading in the state. This included the likes of BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings. As time goes on, these operators are finding more and more value in the expansion of the North American sports betting market.
