Maryland approves bet365 for its 15th US licence

Key points:

– Bet365 will launch its sportsbook in Maryland imminently

– It will become the 15th US state that the operator will be active in

– Ruling comes a week before NFL kickoff

Maryland is gearing up to welcome bet365 to its roster of sports betting operators alongside FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. 

At a hearing, it was approved for a licence by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA), following promotional hints from the operator earlier in the day. 

Mere weeks ago, bet365 went live in Kansas, making that the 14th state that the company’s sportsbook was available in. 

That determined US expansion has gathered pace in 2025, and back in March bet365 launched in Tennessee and Illinois simultaneously. 

As Maryland becomes state number 15 for bet365, it remains to be seen the market impact it will have on the steady sports betting landscape, which accepted $364.1m in bets across every operator in July – if it had been just $900,000 more, it might have been an even more potent omen of the British operator’s imminent arrival.

Good to know: The NFL season starts on 5 September and is always an important date in the calendar for US sportsbooks – this ruling gives the operator time to launch in anticipation of the kickoff 

A statement from bet365 is expected in short order and will come hot on the heels of another August announcement which shared a partnership arrangement with Inspired Entertainment to launch a range of virtual sports products. 

It has been an active month for the MLGCA and at the beginning of August the body rescinded its award of a lottery contract to Intralot after a review found that the proposal did not comply with ‘Request for Proposal’ or state procurement laws. 

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Rory Calland

Journalist

Rory Calland is a journalist and Staff Writer at Gambling Insider, having joined the publication in June 2025. Based in the United Kingdom, he covers breaking news, industry developments and market trends across the global gambling and iGaming sectors.

At Gambling Insider, Rory reports on key commercial, regulatory and financial stories affecting operators, suppliers and stakeholders, producing timely analysis and exclusive coverage for the brand’s professional B2B audience. He has also showcased his reporting on notable industry developments such as major funding rounds, regulatory movements and market expansion.

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