Maryland’s Live Casino & Hotel building potential sportsbook lounge

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ive Casino & Hotel at Arundel Mills in Maryland is converting its Center Stage performance venue into a sports-themed lounge, restaurant and, pending Maryland voter approval, a sports betting venue.

Sports & Social construction is currently underway, and the $12 million addition is expected to open in Winter 2021, WTOP News reports.

The 212-seat Sports & Social will include more than 100 linear feet of more than 50 large-screen TVs, including a 47-foot wide main screen. Live! says every guest will be able to watch at least 10 games at once. It will also include two main bars, VIP lounges, tiered viewing lounge chairs, casino games and other games, including mini-bowling and foosball.

Pending approval of Question 2, a referendum question on Maryland’s Nov. 3 ballot that, if approved by voters, would allow sports and events betting at licensed facilities, Sports & Social will also include sports betting through a partnership with FanDuel. It would include both self-service betting kiosks and retail windows.

This Election, make a difference in your community by supporting new sports wagering taxes to fund public education. Vote Yes on Question 2 – A win for education! #VoteYesOn2 #vote

By authority Of Fund Our Future, Inc., Caroline Barkuloo, Treasurer pic.twitter.com/cUmcbcmFFP

— Live! Casino & Hotel (@LiveCasinoHotel) October 2, 2020

If the measure passes, state legislators will still have to settle important details, including what kinds of facilities can host the bets, how many sports betting licenses will be awarded and how much they will be taxed. The Maryland General Assembly left those questions for the 2021 legislative session, which is scheduled to kick off Jan. 13.

Live! Casino owner The Cordish Companies already has Sports & Social venues at the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium, the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park and the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Another one opens later this year at the new Live! Casino Pittsburgh, and another opens at Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia next year.