Betfred Maryland Sportsbook Opens at Long Shot’s, Continuing Its Expansion

Article ByDavid Weir

October 16, 2023

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Posted in: Maryland Gambling News, US Gambling News, US Sports Betting News

Betfred, the UK-based sports betting operator, has further solidified its presence in the U.S. market with the grand opening of its shiny new addition to the list of Maryland retail sportsbooks.

The new venue is in partnership with existing local off-track horse race betting facility Long Shot’s, which is also distinctive as an entirely female-owned operation.

Betfred’s new sportsbook will have 6,300 square feet of space, seat more than 150 patrons, and provide a full-service betting experience. It will have full integration with Betfred mobile app, which launched for Maryland online sports betting in February. This will allow seamless, cash-free betting experiences alongside the venue’s 12 traditional betting kiosks.

“Our commitment to enhancing the sports betting experience remains unwavering. The effortless integration of cash deposits and withdrawals exemplifies our dedication to providing customers in Frederick and all of Maryland with a top-tier betting experience,” said Kresimir Spajic, recently appointed CEO of Betfred USA, in a press release.

Long Shot’s Partnership

Long Shot’s, where the sportsbook is housed, is a 100% female-owned business in Frederick County, Maryland. This collaboration marks the first instance of a female-owned business hosting a sportsbook in the state.

Alyse Cohen, CEO of Long Shot’s, expressed her excitement about the collaboration. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Betfred and introduce this state-of-the-art sportsbook to the Capital Region. It’s a terrific addition to the outstanding Long Shot’s experience,” she said.

The joint venture was first announced in mid-2022, after December 2021’s launch of retail betting in Maryland. However, Betfred seemed to want to wait for its online sports betting product to launch in the state first, which did not happen until that market opened in November 2022.

Now that it has both lined up, it has used the opportunity to promote the integration between its sportsbook app and the retail experience for its new venue.

A British Invasion in U.S. Gambling

Founded by Fred Done in 1967, Betfred has grown from a single betting shop in Salford near Manchester, England, to a global betting giant. As well as hosting 1,500 British betting shops – or bookies, as they’re often called across the pond – Betfred is now expanding steadily in the U.S.

Early in 2023, the operator joined the list of Nevada retail sportsbooks when it opened a Betfred sportsbook at the Mohegan Casino Las Vegas, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Las Vegas strip.

Fellow British operator Bet365, family-owned and run by the UK’s biggest taxpayer, Denise Coates, is also making moves in the U.S. market. The operator is now live in seven U.S. gambling markets since launching its Arizona sports betting service last month. It also offers Kentucky online sports betting, since the market opened there in September, as well as being available in Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.

Betfred meanwhile has licenses for retail and mobile betting in 10 states – Nevada, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Louisiana, Arizona, Iowa, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. Its current CEO, Kresimir Spajic, was only appointed to the role this year, having previously served in executive roles at casino real estate investor Apollo Global Management, Florida’s Hard Rock International, and the New Jersey casinos operator Borgata.