One of a myriad of venues in Maryland gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of sports betting in the state, Horseshoe Baltimore announced this week that it will be making changes to its two-story casino to accommodate the rollout.
According to local news agency, Baltimore Business Journal, the Wednesday announcement detailed the first-floor conversion of the building, transforming it into an “immersive entertainment environment.” The space will reportedly combine a Caesars Sportsbook-branded retail sportsbook alongside a redesigned table games area and a new brewpub concept.
Reno, Nevada-headquartered hotel and casino-entertainment company, Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) now owns 76 percent of the South Baltimore casino after recently purchasing a minority interest from one of its joint venture partners.
Existing relationship:
In anticipation of the sportsbooks launch in the Mid-Atlantic state, Caesars announced earlier this month that it had inked a five-year agreement with the Baltimore Ravens, becoming a premier sports betting partner of the team and making Horseshoe Baltimore the National Football League (NFL) team’s only official casino partner. The company already offers its Caesars Sportsbook-branded sportsbook in 10 states and additional launches are expected in the coming months.
The Brew Brothers:
According to the source, one of the main features of the casino’s new sports betting area will be The Brew Brothers. New to Maryland, the dining concept will reportedly have on offer local beer, handcrafted cocktails, and a diverse menu. The 250-seat, including inside and outdoor patio, brewpub will also feature a pair of “fan caves” to accommodate private parties while the wide-ranging menu will reportedly offer everything from burgers, ribs, wings and specialty pizzas, to salads, pasta dishes, tacos and desserts.
The casino reportedly expects to hire 60 new workers to staff bartender, waitstaff and cook positions for The Brew Brothers.
Diversifying further, Horseshoe Baltimore has also inked partnerships with four local breweries, including Diamondback Brewing Co., Checkerspot Brewing Co., Union Craft Brewing and DuClaw Brewing Co. All combined, the four will offer 24 local beer options.
In the works:
Both the restaurant and Caesars Sportsbook are currently under development, with the former reportedly expected to open later this year, while the latter is to be situated adjacent to the new brewpub and the reconfigured table games area. Exactly when the retail sportsbook will open is to be determined by the state’s regulatory review process. Local construction company, Mahogany Inc. is the general contractor for both venues.
In a recent statement, Horseshoe Baltimore Senior Vice President and General Manager Randy Conroy declared that…
“No sportsbook is complete without great food and drinks,” as reported by Baltimore Business Journal.
The SVP and GM added, “As sports wagering is approved in Maryland, the addition of The Brew Brothers sports bar and restaurant will make the Horseshoe the best place in the region for guests to catch their favorite games.”
Enabling legislation and licensees:
Sports betting is now legal in Maryland after, on May 18, 2021, Governor Larry Hogan signed off on HB 940. Since then the state has been working on setting up rules and regulations for as many as 60 mobile betting apps and 30 retail sportsbooks, which is more than any other U.S. state with legal betting. Sportsbooks are expected to launch by the end of the year at the latest, hopefully, in time for the NFL playoffs.
This month, a list of 17 pre-named entities/expected retail sportsbooks was released, including sportsbooks at M&T Stadium, M Live, and MGM National Harbor. In an earlier report, John A. Martin, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, stated…
“We anticipate that some of the 17 specified locations may be able to start taking sports wagers late this fall or early this winter, in time for the NFL playoffs. We’re actively working to expedite the process.”
Included in the entities that will reportedly have a sportsbook license are:
- Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
- Washington Football Team (NFL)
- Baltimore Orioles (MLB)
- Pimlico Racetrack
- Laurel Park Racetrack
- Maryland State Fairgrounds
- Timonium OTB
- Rocky Gap Casino Resort
- MGM National Harbor
- Horseshoe Baltimore
- Hollywood Casino Perryville
- Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
- Ocean Downs
Horseshoe Baltimore has a longstanding relationship with the Ravens, with the two also set to develop a new entertainment district along the Warner Street corridor and will link the NFL team’s home, M&T Bank Stadium, to the casino.
The public comment period ended on September 27 for Maryland’s proposed sports betting regulations.
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