Sports betting company, DraftKings, edges nearer to launching a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Maryland.
In a significant development, the Maryland Lottery has deemed MSF Sports, a subsidiary of the Maryland State Fair and Agriculture Society, qualified for a retail sports wagering license. This potential approval could lead to the establishment of a DraftKings retail sportsbook at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, pending additional approvals from the state's Sports Wagering Application Review Commission and the lottery.
The agreement between the Maryland State Fair and DraftKings, sealed in December 2020, stipulates that both parties will share the costs of renovating an area under the grandstands of the fairgrounds' racetrack to accommodate a retail sportsbook. Once operational, DraftKings will manage the sportsbook, providing all necessary equipment and staff.
While DraftKings is already operational as a mobile sportsbook in Maryland, it does not currently have a retail presence. Major operators such as BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, and FanDuel, which already have retail sportsbooks in the state, including FanDuel with two retail locations, will likely maintain their competitive edge.
The Maryland State Fair and Agriculture Society's retail sports betting venture, MSF Sports, could receive a retail license from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission's (MLGCA) Sports Wagering Application Review Commission on October 18. Upon final technical checks with the lottery, the retail sportsbook would be ready to commence operations.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Lottery announced that it had entered into consent agreements with sports betting operators who had breached certain rules. Betfred was fined $16,000 for violations in April relating to the "maintenance or use of their sports wagering reserve account." BetMGM was fined a small amount of $250 for accepting a wager on a college men's volleyball match featuring a team not approved for betting in Maryland. Bingo World's retail operation agreed to pay the lottery $750 for issues involving cash drop and count procedures.
The next meeting of the Maryland Lottery is scheduled for October 26.
DraftKings, through its agreement with the Maryland State Fair, is seeking to establish a retail sportsbook at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, with the potential approval of MSF Sports by the Maryland Lottery's Sports Wagering Application Review Commission. Unlike other major operators such as BetMGM and FanDuel, DraftKings does not currently have a retail sports betting presence in the state.
