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No room for manoeuvre with Maryland sports betting deadline approaching | MD sports betting deadline will not budge
Neil is a gambling industry veteran with over 15 years experience as a content writer, editor and speaker at events. He has a Masters degree in English Literature and Philosophy and has combined this analytical inquisitiveness with a passion for sports betting and casino gaming. Neil started his career with Bettingpro.com and helped build not only that site but various others such as LiveTennis.com, LiveDarts.com and numerous other sports informational sites, including GG.co.uk and RacingTips.com He then made the transition to the North American market, working both in the UK and in New Jersey to launch various sports betting and casino sites, including AmericanBettingExperts and NewAmericanCasinos. Working with regulators, Neil has helped to review sports betting sites and also test the regulated betting apps in a professional capacity. He now works almost exclusively in the US market and is one of the main reviewers and fact checkers on SportsLens gambling content. He also speaks at various gambling conferences including ICE, iGB Live and SBC Americas and has contributed to GamblingInsider, EGR Magazine and a number of others in a consulting capacity.
All posts by Neil RoartyUpdated10 hours ago on April 19, 2024
Further progress has been made in Maryland towards the launch of MD online sports betting, with the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (“SWARC”) meeting in Baltimore to gather and discuss opinions on the latest proposed legislation pre-launch.
The meeting was the last opportunity for businesses and industry stakeholders to make in-person queries around the published legislation, with written questions still permitted until September 26th. The meeting was moderated by Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency‘s chief of staff and assistant deputy director James Butler, and he indicated that a number of questions received by the regulator were in regards to flexibility on the 21st October application deadline.
His response was staunch in that there is no space for the deadline to move, saying the deadline is firm and adding “The establishment of any additional application is at SWARC’s discretion and will require approval of the SWARC members”.
The application tender process opened by Maryland suggested 60 online sports betting licenses were up for grabs, with 30 for Class B facilities who wish to offer sports betting on premises. Previously, analysts have suggested that those operators who have historically been vetted by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency would potentially receive benefits in an accelerated application process, although this remains unverified by the regulator.
Butler also said: “If SWARC does not award the maximum number of licenses, SWARC may, but is not required to create additional license application windows for any portion of the remaining mobile or Class B Facility licenses”. Thus, hope for those unable to meet the deadline is not completely lost.
What’s the cost of an application?
One priority area of concern, other than the deadline date, is the cost of the application process. The cost of an application for a mobile license stands at US$500k, with it reducing to US$250k for Class B and US$50k for smaller Class B-2 premises. This fee is completely unrefundable should a license not be granted, which many would argue prices small businesses out of the application – given the hefty sum to not be refunded should an application be unsuccessful.
With the application process set to shut on October 21st, there’s hope amongst applicants that online sports betting will be launched before the close of the year, albeit ambitious. With the NFL now back underway and the NBA to follow shortly, the forthcoming half year is undoubtedly the most important for gross gaming revenue and contribution to the state. The regulator’s stubborn attitude towards moving the deadline date will provide optimism amongst operators with the financial firepower and resource to meet the deadlines, but concerns for smaller business will remain.
