- PointsBet has announced the opening of a retail sportsbook at Maryland’s Riverboat on the Potomac.
- PointsBet had a ‘beta test’ of the sportsbook in mid August for a limited number of guests.
- Maryland is the 12th US market for PointsBet joining Kansas, New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. They’re also live with mobile sports betting in Ontario.
It’s been a busy week for PointsBet. They’ve launched in Kansas in partnership with the Kansas Crossing Casino & Hotel. Now they’ve added their 12th US market with the launch of a retail sportsbook in Maryland.
The PointsBet retail location is at Riverboat on the Potomac, located in Colonial Beach on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. The interesting thing about the location is that Maryland owns the Potomac River. This means that the riverboat is moored in Virginia, but the betting lounge, restaurant and liquor store are technically over the Maryland state line. Colonial Beach is located 65 miles from Washington, DC and just under 70 miles from Richmond, Virginia.
Here’s how the retail facility was described in the PointsBet press release announcing the opening:
The PointsBet Retail Sportsbook at The Riverboat on the Potomac was designed to offer sports fans and bettors in the DMV area elite sports viewing and betting experiences. The retail sportsbook, located in The Riverboat on the Potomac, will feature 21 high-resolution screens, a bar setup with food and beverage offerings, an exclusive lounge area, booth seating, and standing room. Guests visiting the sportsbook, which is part of the larger 1,000-person capacity facility, will not only enjoy an enhanced sports viewing experience but will also enjoy the Riverside location with stunning views.
Maryland State Senator Arthur Ellis got a quote in the press release:
“I am proud of the work the members of our delegation, Senator Jackson, Delegate Proctor, Delegate Davis, Delegate Patterson, and Delegate Wilson, have put into the sports wagering bill. We fought hard for the sports betting industry in Maryland to be inclusive of both Charles County and minority businesses. The partnership between the Riverboat and PointsBet is a success on both fronts, proof that Maryland can be a leader in equity. This sportsbook gives Charles County a seat at the table, with 100% minority business enterprise (MBE) licensed ownership, in a billion-dollar industry. I trust that the Riverboat and all of its partners will keep up the hard work and be strong partners in our community, and a leader in this new industry for the State.”
Paul Hannon, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at PointsBet, is excited to launch the retail sportsbook and mentioned future plans for mobile sports betting in Maryland:
“PointsBet is delighted to commence operations with The Riverboat team in the brand-new sportsbook overlooking the beautiful Potomac River. This is a seminal achievement for the partnership and Maryland’s gaming industry at large as the launch represents the first Minority Business Enterprise to go live with licensed gaming in the state’s history, in line with the spirit of legislation. It is a proud moment for The Riverboat and for us at PointsBet as their partner. We look forward to the prospective opportunity of bringing the renowned PointsBet mobile product to Maryland next and in doing so further enhancing The Riverboat’s equity and inclusion in the space.”
PointsBet is executing a similar playbook in Maryland as they did in Colorado when they entered that market in May 2020. They’ve even got a partnership deal with the University of Maryland athletic program.
