Global sports betting giant bet365 is set to enter the competitive Maryland market after being approved for a license by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA).
The decision positions the operator to compete alongside established leaders like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM in its 15th US state.
The approval continues an aggressive and calculated US expansion strategy for the UK-based company throughout 2025. The move into Maryland comes just weeks after bet365 went live in Kansas, its 14th state of operation.
This followed a significant push in March when the operator simultaneously launched its sportsbook in both Tennessee and Illinois.
The steady, state-by-state progression underscores bet365’s commitment to establishing a major footprint in the regulated American sports betting landscape.
The timing of the Maryland approval is particularly strategic, granting the operator a crucial window to launch its platform just ahead of the 2025-26 NFL season, which kicks off on September 5th.
The start of the professional football season is traditionally the most lucrative period for US sportsbooks, and a timely launch will allow bet365 to capitalize on the surge in betting activity.
The operator will be entering a robust market, which recorded a total sports betting handle of $364.1 million across all operators in July.
This regulatory green light follows an active period for bet365, which recently announced a partnership with Inspired Entertainment to integrate a new suite of virtual sports products.
While an official launch date and statement from bet365 are expected shortly, the license approval from the MLGCA is the final major hurdle for the operator’s much-anticipated arrival in the Old Line State, promising to bring new competition and choice to local sports bettors.
