bet365 gets the green light in Maryland, expands U.S. presence

Bet365 has been cleared to launch in Maryland after receiving a license from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). The operator will join FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM in the state’s online sports betting market.

The approval marks Maryland as the 15th U.S. state for bet365’s sportsbook, just weeks after the brand went live in Kansas, the Gambling Insider reported. Its rapid expansion in 2025 has already included simultaneous launches in Tennessee and Illinois this past March.

The U.K.-based company entered the U.S. in New Jersey, later expanding to Colorado, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, as per Covers.com. Its next launch is scheduled for Dec. 1 in Missouri.

Bet365 becomes Maryland’s 12th mobile sportsbook, joining national leaders FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics. Smaller players such as Bally Bet, betPARX, BetRivers, ESPN BET, and local-only operators Crab Sports Maryland and LetsBetMD are also live.

Maryland’s sports betting market remains highly competitive. In July, operators collectively handled $364.1 million in wagers.

The state allows up to 60 mobile sportsbook licenses, the most of any state, though experts doubt it will reach that cap. Since mobile betting began in November 2022, residents have wagered over $15 billion. Operators generated $1.7 billion in revenue, contributing nearly $185 million in state taxes.

A company statement is expected shortly, building on an active August that also saw bet365 announce a partnership with Inspired Entertainment to roll out a suite of virtual sports offerings.

For the MLGCA, the approval comes amid a busy period. Earlier in the month, the regulator withdrew a previously awarded lottery contract from Intralot after determining that its proposal failed to meet procurement requirements.