Maryland governor Larry Hogan signed a bill to make online sports betting legal on Tuesday, May 18. And it will be some time before the first legal bet is placed in-state, but it only took 24 hours for the Baltimore Ravens to strike a deal for an official gaming partner: BetMGM.
Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s chief revenue officer, had this to say about the company’s latest NFL partner:
“The Ravens are an incredible organization with a rich history, and we’re proud to have BetMGM as the team’s first official partner in the gaming space. We look forward to offering Ravens fans new ways to engage with their favorite football team on our market-leading platforms.”
BetMGM will be featured in signage around M&T Bank Stadium and will have a presence on the Ravens’ social media and digital platforms. The BetMGM app will also feature team-specific promotions and advertising.
This is not the first time the Ravens have had a partnership with a gambling entity. In 2018, the team had an official casino partner, Caesars Horseshoe Casino, in Baltimore.
The Ravens are the sixth NFL team BetMGM has developed a partnership with, along with the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
As part of the plan for Maryland, the Ravens’ stadium will receive a license for in-person betting. But the NFL does not allow sports betting in stadiums. The league does, however, allow stadiums to open betting lounges.
The state also plans on issuing a license for the Washington Football team’s home, FedEx Field, located in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C. Washington already has a relationship established with FanDuel.
Voters overwhelmingly approved sports betting in a referendum last November, making it just a matter of time for betting to become legal. Now that it is, the state appears ready and willing to embrace the industry.
There will be 60 online sports betting licenses available. The state’s racetracks, casinos, and sports stadiums can all apply for a license. Another 30 licenses will be available for retail betting locations; those locations can also apply for an online license.
The Senate had wanted to have an unlimited number of licenses but compromised with the House to get the bill passed. If a need for more licenses develops, the state will have to wait until December 2025.
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