Maryland allows application submissions for mobile gambling platforms
Mobile sports betting in Maryland is officially underway, with the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) initiating application processes for mobile sportsbooks on Tuesday. This comes shortly after the Joint Committee on Administrative, Legislative, and Executive Review approved SWARC's emergency sports betting regulations.
What's the skinny on this timeline? Well, up to 60 mobile sports betting licenses are up for grabs, and applicants have 45 days to submit their applications, with the deadline set for October 21. After the application period closes, the SWARC may take up to 45 days to review these applications, with final approval to be granted by the Maryland Lottery.
The Lottery's Director, John Martin, has expressed keen enthusiasm, stating, "We're focused on expediting our part of the process so mobile betting can start as soon as possible." Given this speedy process, it appears likely that mobile licenses could be awarded by the end of 2022. If that happens, some of the finest mobile sportsbooks for NFL betting could potentially be operational before the end of the 2022-23 NFL season, which culminates with the Super Bowl on February 12.
Martin also shared his excitement, adding, "We know sports fans are eager to have mobile wagering, and we also know that it will substantially increase the contributions to education funding, so we're eager too."
There's a public comment meeting scheduled for Friday at the Montgomery Park Business Center Auditorium in Baltimore, where citizens can voice their opinions on the emergency regulations. Comments will also be accepted through September 26, with the potential for adjustments to the regulations. While major changes seem unlikely given the current progress, they could still be implemented.
A diversity plan requirement has also been included in the application process. Applicants must submit a plan detailing their strategies for promoting diversity within their ownership, employees, investors, and more within 30 days of being awarded a license. Although non-compliant diversity plans won't lead to license cancellation, the SWARC will work with licensees to improve their diversity measures, with the aim of enhancing diversity within Maryland's sports betting industry.
Let's hope this diversity plan helps cultivate a more diverse industry and paves the way for a successful and inclusive mobile sports betting market in Maryland. Keep your eyes peeled for mobile sportsbooks in the coming weeks, football fans, as Maryland could be sitting on more than $10 million worth of tax revenue if legal online betting apps are delayed. #mobilebetting #sportsbooks #Maryland #NFL #diversityplans #legalbetting
Applicants for mobile sports betting licenses in Maryland have 45 days to submit their applications, and the SWARC may wager some of these licenses by the end of 2022, potentially allowing for the operation of fine mobile sportsbooks for NFL betting before the end of the 2022-23 NFL season. The SWARC has included a diversity plan requirement in the application process, and applicants must submit a plan detailing their strategies for promoting diversity within their ownership, employees, investors, and more within 30 days of being awarded a license.
