Decision To Allow Maryland Sportsbooks Delayed Indefinitely

• The SWARC meeting to review and potentially approve three sportsbooks has been delayed indefinitely.
• The delay is due to Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin wanting to ensure everything is done correctly before launching.

ANNAPOLIS Md. - Although Maryland voters approved regulated sports betting last November. sportsbooks still have not launched, and residents may have to wait a while longer.

Maryland Sportsbook Application Review Meeting Delayed

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) was supposed to meet last Thursday to discuss and potentially approve three retail sportsbook licenses.

That meeting did not happen, and was instead postponed indefinitely.

Since no new meeting date has been set, and there's only a couple of months left in the year, it's safe to assume that there will not be any regulated sportsbooks opening for legal Maryland gambling fans in 2021.

Maryland Sports Betting Launch Variables

Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin asserts that a lot effort is going into the process of launching sports betting in Maryland.

"We sell integrity and so we’ve got to make sure the financial integrity is in place, the criminal backgrounds are in place, and that the wherewithal is in place for those entities who want to get into it to be able to withstand the highs and lows of what can happen in sports wagering," said Martin.

Governor Larry Hogan has expressed his readiness to make sports betting options available to Maryland citizens and urged SWARC to make a decision.

"Tell the legislature’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to allow football season betting to begin," said Hogan.

Maryland residents looking forward to this new legal gambling avenue launching in its official capacity can rest assured that it is definitely happening, it's just going to take a while longer to become a fully realized industry.