What to expect from Barstool Maryland when it launches

By Cody Kutzer

Online sports betting is finally coming to Maryland and some mobile apps should go live before the end of the year. Thanks to already operating a retail sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Perryville, Barstool Sportsbook is one of the online sportsbooks that should be available sooner rather than later.

Here’s what Maryland bettors can expect from Barstool MD when it launches.

Featured Barstool Personalities

Barstool has been able to build a media empire and borderline cult following in part because of its willingness to lean into popular personalities.

The Barstool Sportsbook is no different as you’ll see the same branding and familiar faces throughout the platform. You can even find special bets and promotions from folks like Big Cat and others.

When you open the app you’ll find an “Exclusives” tab at the top of the homepage where you’ll see daily odds boosts and picks you can “tail” (follow along with) from your favorite Barstool personalities.

Competitive Odds

With the growing amount of competition among online sportsbooks, offering subpar odds is the quickest way to put yourself out of business. Fortunately for Barstool fans, the sportsbook holds up against the industry leaders.

Here are some examples comparing Barstool Sportsbook to DraftKings and FanDuel. Let’s start with the Washington Commanders Week 10 battle against their divisional foe Philadelphia Eagles.

Barstool offers a better price for the Commanders compared to DraftKings, but FanDuel has the best odds in this example. On the other side, Barstool has the worst odds for betting on the Eagles moneyline.

When it comes to the spread for this game, Barstool had it set at 11 points while the other two sportsbooks had it at 10.5. The extra half-point makes Barstool the place you’d want to place your bet on Washington.

No single sportsbook will offer the best odds for every market for every sport, but this limited example shows Barstool is worth checking out when you’re shopping for the best odds.

Underwhelming Bonuses

This is the first part where a negative for Barstool really sticks out. The new user bonus for Maryland has yet to be announced, but in the more than 10 states where it’s currently legal, the welcome offer is a $1,000 first bet bonus. If the first bet you place with Barstool results in a loss, your wager will be matched as a free bet up to $1,000.

While this is a standard promo offered by several top sportsbooks, Barstool also lacked ongoing promotions for existing customers at the time of this writing.

Because of the brand loyalty Barstool has been able to build over the last two decades, the sportsbook likely doesn’t feel the need to offer over-the-top bonuses to attract customers.

When Will Barstool MD Launch?

While major progress has recently been made toward getting Maryland online sports betting up and running, we are still without official launch dates for any of the mobile operators. More clarity should surface in the coming weeks, however, as the next Sports Wagering Application Review Committee (SWARC) meeting is set for Nov. 21. The committee is expected to announce which applicants have been approved for licenses and will hopefully establish a timeline.