Chris Boline
Ever since things were launched for sports betting in Maryland, it’s been great to see fans everywhere. Bets are coming in at a fast pace, but there’s one major issue: things have to be done in person. With that too, the latest Maryland online sports betting update isn’t overly promising and there’s now much concern for so many people out there moving forward.
As we reported on MyTopSportsbooks previously, there had been hope for online sports betting launch to arrive potentially in September. This would have been huge, as it would coincide with the new football season arriving. With so many people checking out the different college football odds and NFL odds through the best sportsbooks, the timing would have been fantastic for people across the state.
However, it has been reported that the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission met recently to discuss online betting arriving in Maryland, but people left that meeting with no idea of when things will be able to get launched. The hope was that a target date would be set and then the wheels would be put in motion to try and get things done. That wasn’t the case, though, which has folks scrambling.
“We are hopeful that these steps can be completed in time for mobile sports wagering to launch during the 2022 football season,” Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin told The Daily Record before this news. “Mobile wagering is essential for the sports wagering program to produce the level of revenue that the state is expecting, and moreover, we know it’s something sports fans are waiting for.”
What’s next for Maryland online sports betting?
With things up in the air a bit, it has people asking what’s next for Maryland online sports betting? As things stand, as mentioned above, there’s no set date for when things will be able to move forward, but the hope is that things can get done at some point during the football season. This will be crucial for Maryland, as there’s going to be a lot of potential revenue left on the table.
For the NFL specifically, people in the area are going to closely follow the Washington Commanders from start to finish during the season. There’s a new identity for this team, and they’re hoping to make plenty of noise in the NFC East this upcoming season. There’s a lot of excitement, especially with pass-rusher Chase Young expected to be close to 100 percent following his ACL injury.
OTD two years ago: We drafted THAT DUDE pic.twitter.com/ziGjzeNp8M
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 23, 2022
With that, people are going to have a high interest in placing some wagers. While they can do that in approved places, there’s a major difference when it comes to having to drive somewhere and doing so from the comfort of your own home. In so many other locations, people can check their phones or mobile apps for all the sports odds and then make a bet. It’s really that simple.
However in Maryland, unless something changes, people can only check out the odds online and then drive to an approved sports betting site to make their wager. That difference has turned plenty of people off from making their bets and it’s costing the state money as time goes on. In order for this to change, the laws themselves need to change. Who knows when that will happen, though.
Maryland is losing money on the NBA and MLB too
It goes without saying, but Maryland is losing money on the NBA and MLB, too, as more time passes. According to a local report, close by states Pennsylvania and New Jersey both brought in around $13 million in tax revenue from sports betting in the first two months of 2022. That’s a great amount of money and it has helped the state fund needful resources.
Imagine if that kind of money was made available for those in Maryland too. That’s not the case and money is being left out there when it could be used to help those in need. With the MLB and NBA specifically, countless bets are being made right now across the country through online mobile betting apps. Starting with the NBA, the postseason is in full swing.
NBA fans in Maryland would love to place online bets, but they can’t. Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and more looked primed to potentially go on a deep run. The NBA Finals are inching closer and closer too, which has people fired up to lay down money on some positive results. Imagine if online sports betting was available in Maryland. That’d be happening too.
For the MLB, the season just started, but bets are coming in hot. The Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox, Astros, and more are getting plenty of money placed on them. This is a common trend, but again, people in Maryland have to drive to their spots to place bets and can’t do it from home. This needs to change and fast, otherwise, the frustration will continue to grow for the Maryland citizens.
7 Ks (so far) pic.twitter.com/gYtXnicHit
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 25, 2022
