Microbetting wagering platform Betr was awarded its Maryland licence at a Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) meeting on Wednesday (26 June) morning. However the company must still go through a controlled demonstration before launch.
Betr is live in two other states – Ohio and Virginia – after it exited Massachusetts earlier this year. Betr also has a temporary licence in Indiana but has not launched there yet.
Owned by YouTube star and boxer Jake Paul and Joey Levy, Betr is among a handful of smaller betting companies that have been able to find success in crowded markets.
Maryland’s lottery commission in May signed off on Betr’s Maryland wagering licence. But in Maryland, SWARC is the only group that has the authority to issue a licence.
Betr will enter Maryland just as BetFred, which gave up its Maryland wagering licence, is exiting. At the same time, Veterans Services Corporation (VSC) is set to launch. VSC is pointing to a 1 July launch. It is a British-based company that operates a digital betting platform via Bee-Fee Limited. VSC has some experience in the US – it has been a subcontractor for Intralot in Washington, DC.
Bally Bet has Maryland wagering licence, plans launch
Bally Bet is also prepping to launch in Maryland next month and Massachusetts in July. It got its Maryland wagering licence nearly two years ago. The company is live in seven states and will bring the total number of Massachusetts platforms to seven.
When lawmakers in Maryland legalised, they required digital operators to be tethered to casinos, racetracks, professional sports teams and other land-based entities. There can be up to 60 licensed operators. So far, there are about 15 sites live.
Lawmakers also required, and regulators strengthened, stringent minority business requirements. To that end, Rod N Reel Bingo was approved for a Class B facility licence.
