A years-long delay in the launch of Maryland’s mobile sports betting industry could end as soon as next week.
While an official launch date has not been announced, online wagering could go live by late November with the expedited review of 10 mobile betting sportsbooks this week. State officials will consider applications for 10 mobile betting licenses on Wednesday, ahead of their previously scheduled Nov. 21 consideration period.
Some of the nation’s most popular sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel, could be available to state residents by Thanksgiving Day.
The announcement is a long time coming for the state’s bogged-down mobile sports betting industry. Marylanders passed a referendum in 2020 to allow sports betting in the state.
In 2021, Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill to allow in-person and mobile sports betting. But while in-person sports betting launched last year, setting up the online industry has taken longer.
The state’s sports betting industry profits are expected to balloon once mobile options launch – as the majority of sports fans place bets on their mobile devices in states around the country.
In a statement Monday, Hogan praised the forthcoming launch of mobile betting in the state. The governor said he was “cautiously optimistic” that Maryland residents will have the opportunity to bet on sports using their mobile devices by Thanksgiving day.
“To reach this point, we have had to overcome countless legal, political, and bureaucratic delays that threatened to push back the launch past the Super Bowl next year,” Hogan said. “After repeated interventions by our administration, we now anticipate the launch of mobile sports betting this month.”
Today we are proud to report that sports fans can finally plan for the official launch of mobile sports betting in the State of Maryland.
Read my full statement: pic.twitter.com/N2nHv5aIv5
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) November 14, 2022
