October 6th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

WBAL repots three Maryland casinos met the qualification requirements for sports wagering licenses, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission announced Wednesday.

The applications for Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill will next go for final signoff by the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, which is responsible for awarding the licenses.

The three casinos are among 17 entities designated in the sports wagering law to conduct sports wagering operations, pending a review of their qualifications to receive licenses.

Marylanders voted for expansion of sports gambling last November, and this spring, legislators passed a measure to make it happen.

"We're pleased to have these three applicants approved and move them along to the SWARC," Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin said in a statement. "Our team is diligently implementing the sports wagering law, and we're one step closer to the first in-person wagers, which we hope will take place by late fall."

MLGCA said it determined that Horseshoe, Live! and MGM are qualified because they each have gaming licenses in Maryland. Maryland's licensing investigations on the three sports wagering operations are ongoing, and any licenses that are issued may be revoked.

The SWARC is scheduled to meet on Oct. 14 to formally award the licenses and ensure that the three licensees have finalized their systems of internal controls and satisfied other operational requirements before issuing licenses. MLGCA is working with the applicants to expedite these tasks.