The deal with Crab Sports is the first in an expanded offering from GiG and its recently acquired partner, Sportnco. 

GiG will power Crab Sports with its turnkey solution, which includes the technical platform CMS and data from Sportnco sportsbook. 

Crab Sports intends to utilise GiG technology to streamline the focus of its offering to local Maryland communities. 

Although not an official partnership, it is anticipated that the head of terms agreement will become a full contract within the next few months. GiG expects a contribution from its deal with Crab Sports from Q4 2022 onwards, once online gaming becomes regulated in Maryland.

Becoming regulated for land-based operations in December 2021, Maryland’s sports betting market is expected to generate $217m in its first year.

Outside of sports betting, Maryland posted total gaming revenue of $178.8m for May, up almost 4% year-on-year. 

With a locally focused offering, Crab Sports and GiG hope to enter the Maryland market as challengers with a differentiated strategy.

GiG CEO Richard Brown said: “I am delighted to have partnered with Crab Sports. We see immense potential in Crab Sports’ excellent team and local approach, and we see potential in Maryland.  

“We look forward to working closely with the Crab Sports team to maximise their potential through a successful launch.

“This type of deal is directly in our ‘wheelhouse,’ helping challenger brands drive value and enter newly regulated markets, [highlighting] our product in the ‘soon to be’ open Maryland market.”