FanDuel and Caesars launch sportsbooks in Maryland
FanDuel opened its sportsbook as part of the Cordish Companies’ Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland’s 14,000 square foot sports lounge, Sports and Social Maryland, on 10 December.
The lounge features a 100-foot-wide media screen, while the FanDuel sportsbook will include ten betting windows and 31 betting terminals supplied by IGT.
Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ed Reed, formerly of Maryland’s Baltimore Ravens, opened the FanDuel sportsbook on 10 December.
“Our successful partnership continues to expand with today’s launch marking our second state and third location with the Cordish Companies,” said Keith Wall, vice president of retail at FanDuel.
“We are excited to expand our retail footprint to our 13th state by bringing the FanDuel Sportsbook to a world class casino in the heart of Maryland.”
Caesars also opened its own sportsbook at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore on 10 December.
In August, Caesars increased its ownership of Horseshoe Baltimore to 76% after purchasing a stake from one of the casinos’ joint venture partners.
“We are pleased to introduce the industry’s leading sports wagering brand to Baltimore and Maryland,” said senior vice president and general manager of Horseshoe Baltimore, Randy Conroy.
“Caesars Sportsbook offers the best sports wagering experience in markets across America, and now Marylanders will have the opportunity to enjoy all of its many benefits exclusively at Horseshoe Baltimore.”
The openings come after retail sports betting launched in Maryland on 9 December as Governor Larry Hogan placed the first legal bet at MGM National Harbor.
“Today marks the culmination of more than a year of effort to get sports betting up and running here in the State of Maryland,” Hogan said at the time.
“In addition to allowing Marylanders to bet on football, basketball, and more, sports betting will also help to keep more dollars in state and will provide another critical revenue source for public education without raising taxes on families and small businesses.”
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission awarded five sports betting licences to land-based casinos in November.
MGM National Harbor was the first of the five licencees to open, on 9 December.
Penn National’s Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Churchill Downs’ Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin were named as the other casinos to receive licences.