Maryland OTB Owners Calling Parx Deal ‘Huge Opportunity’

The Greenmount Station off-track betting facility (OTB) was awaiting regulatory approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to operate sports betting.

Since it received the green light on Thursday morning, the facility’s operator said it would begin taking bets on Friday, October 28.

Greenmount Station OTB deal with Parx Casino

The Greenmount OTB has a partnership with Parx Casino Philadelphia allowing the facility to use MD mobile sports betting software, odds and back-end operations developed by Parx.

Greenmount is an alliance between two local small business owners, Chris Richards, owner of Greenmount Station Restaurant, and David Richardson, owner of Greenmount Bowl.

“We’re going to be one of the first small venue sportsbooks in the country and that makes us even more amazing,” Richardson said.

The OTB will feature:

• self-service betting kiosks 
• betting windows
• a full-service bar
  
• ample seating
• several TVs.

Richardson said despite Parx running the back-end operations, the staff at the OTB is strictly Greenmount’s.

“There are employees coming in and there are the cashiers and the managers and the operations staff. So that’s our sportsbook, but Parx takes care of the back end,” Richardson said.

Economic boom for local community

Richardson said he expects the addition of sports betting to increase business at the restaurant and bowling alley.

“You turn left and it’s a Maryland Jockey Club OTB,” Richardson said. “You turn right and it’s like entering a Parx casino.”

Through their partnership with Parx, both Richardson and Richards will be license holders for online sports betting. The Commission voted to approve mobile and online license applications for Greenmount and Parx on Thursday.

According to regulators, online sports betting could launch by late November or early December.

“There’s definitely the big boys, the DraftKings, the FanDuels, but I think there’s room for more players. These guys are national teams, I don’t think they understand Maryland. Chris and I are as Maryland as it gets,” Richardson said.

Richardson said mobile wagering could be the most profitable part of the Parx deal, calling it a “huge opportunity.”

“I think it’s going to be a boon to the economy. I mean, you basically run a mobile sportsbook in Hampstead, Maryland, so I think we have an opportunity to grow.”