Sports betting has been legal in Maryland and operating since December. However, it is currently a retail-only operation. This limitation is, more than ever, hurting the state as a whole.
Retail-only betting simply isn’t convenient for bettors because they can’t place wagers from the comfort of their homes. Theoretically, Maryland should be a decent place for sports betting at this time of year.
Bettors generally like to place wagers on the teams that interest them the most, which are usually local teams, and the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are playing now.
But neither team has inspired sufficient interest from bettors based in Maryland. Currently, the betting numbers in this state look dismal, and there is a clear explanation for it.
The Recent Numbers
In June, sportsbook operators in the state netted $19.1 million in
Revenue has also suffered a significant downturn. Specifically, gross gaming revenue declined by more than 50% relative to its May figure. Not all operators performed so poorly, though. Horseshow, which is a part of Caesars Sportsbook, took plenty of wagers and generated a nice amount of revenue.
Outlook
Maryland is missing online sports betting. Its governor, Larry Hogan, has asked for the launch of sports betting to be hurried. But it simply takes time.
In the meanwhile, the state is losing money that it badly needs. Critically, it is very possible that online sports betting doesn’t arrive in time for Maryland bettors to invest in the Washington Commanders and other NFL teams.
