Sports wagering at Maryland casinos is still possible by the end of the year, but the window is closing fast amid a delay in the license-awarding process.
As of late October, five of Maryland’s six casinos have submitted applications and met the qualification requirements to host retail sportsbooks on their premises, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming officials. Under the multi-step licensing process created by state lawmakers earlier this year, the casinos now await approval from the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, or SWARC, a newly formed group tasked with conducting suitability reviews for applicants.
All eyes will be on the commission next week as its members meet for the first time in more than a month. A commission meeting initially scheduled for Oct. 14 was postponed without explanation until Nov. 3, prompting some industry watchers to express frustration with the pace of the licensing process.
