Betfred’s sports arm, BetFred Sports, has agreed a market access deal in Maryland with off-track betting facility and restaurant Long Shot’s of Frederick.
Under the agreement, Betfred will offer both retail and online sports betting in the state.
A temporary retail sportsbook will open adjacent to the Maryland Jockey Club’s off-track betting within Long Shot’s for the 2022 National Football League season. Due to open in September, the facility will include in-person betting windows and self-serve betting kiosks.
A permanent sportsbook site with a video wall, theatre-style seating and food and beverage facilities is scheduled to open early next year.
Betfred also intends to roll out online sports betting in the state, though remains subject to final regulatory approval.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill to legalize both online and retail sports betting in Maryland last year, after voters approved sports betting through a November 2020 referendum.
However, while retail betting has been available for since December 2021, online sports betting has still not launched.
Last month, Hogan called for online sports betting to be live in time for the new NFL season, which kicks off on 8 September.
“When combining Betfred’s 50 years of bookmaking experience and Long Shot’s success with off-track betting, we believe this will be a formidable partnership to compete in the Maryland sports betting space,” Betfred Sports chief operating officer Bryan Bennett said.
Long Shot’s chief executive Alyse Cohen added: “We were at the forefront of bringing sports betting to Maryland and specifically to Frederick. We are thrilled to open a sportsbook at Long Shot’s in partnership with Betfred Sports.
“We are proud that Long Shot’s is one of the premier off-track betting locations in the State and we look forward to achieving similar success with sports wagering.”