The Maryland Gaming Commission has approved the launch of sports betting at the Hollywood Casino in Perryville; making it the fifth sportsbook to open in the Free State.
Following a two-day trial period, which was supervised by officials working for the Maryland Lottery, the operation was approved to official launch for players across the state.
Hollywood Casino, which is located near the Delaware boarder, becomes just the fifth property in the state to launch sports betting, following on from MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino, Horseshow and Ocean Downs; all of which opened for sports betting earlier this month.
This news comes after the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission approved each property for sports betting in November.
The Hollywood Casino features table games such as poker, craps, roulette and blackjack, 800 slot machines and a multitude of dining options.
The launch of sports betting in the Free State has been a long time coming. Residents voted to approve the activity during the 2020 election. A number of non-casino properties are set to launch sportsbooks in the coming months, 17 in total, including Long Shot’s Riverboat and Greenmount Station.
Sports betting has experienced a boom in 2021, with a number of states legalizing the activity. Most recently, Ohio Governor Mike Dewine signed House Bill 29 into law.
"We want to get this up and running as soon as possible, but we're building a whole new industry," State Senator Kirk Schuring said. “We're hoping it can be done sooner [than 2023]."
