Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland bettors now have access to legal online sports betting! State voters approved sports betting at the ballot box in Nov. ’20, creating the opportunity for all the nationally-known sportsbooks to take a slice of the betting pie. Mobile betting launched on November 23, 2022 and is now going strong, led by the sportsbooks below.

Maryland Sportsbook Offers


Legal Sports Betting in Maryland

The state required a public vote before any form of gambling can grow. The public approved sports betting in 2020 and the legislature passed a bill to authorize it and set up the regulatory framework. Regulators finalized the rules and regulations that will govern mobile and retail sports betting in the state in fall of 2022 and things have been going pretty great since the launch of mobile betting just before Thanksgiving.

Under HB 940, which was signed into law in spring 2021, the state’s casinos, racetracks, and sports teams all qualify for sports betting licenses. Additionally, mobile operators like FanDuel can apply for a mobile license without having to partner with a retail facility in the state.

The Maryland law specifically encourages women and minorities to get involved in sports betting, which should lead to many non-traditional facilities end up with sports betting licenses. All in all, by mid-2023 we should see many different sportsbooks operating in Maryland, including all the major ones and possibly some mom-and-pop retail locations. It could end up being one of the more innovative states.

Eligibility

Sports betting is something for which each state can establish its own requirements, so rules vary between jurisdictions. Maryland has the following eligibility requirements:

Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland Online Sports Betting Sites & Apps

With a sizable population in relation to its size, Maryland will be a target for all major online bookmakers eager for a piece of the mid-Atlantic. Several of these operators are already doing business in neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Once the market matures after a couple years, we expect all the major operators to be in Maryland. We’ve already seen six retail partnerships start up, and we expect those six sportsbooks to operate mobile betting when they are allowed to do so. Here are the sportsbooks that are already in the state and others that we expect to come to Maryland soon.

ESPN BET

PENN Entertainment’s situation is one of the more interesting ones at this time, as the company has announced a partnership with ESPN. ESPN BET is now available in Maryland, among other states.

The most recognizable sports entertainment brand in the United States is one of the biggest moves we’ve seen in an era with sports betting legal.

FanDuel

FanDuel has a solid reputation for good user incentives and boosted bets. FanDuel signed a strategic partnership agreement with The Cordish Companies in 2019 which led to a partnership with Cordish-owned Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover, MD, to offer sports betting both in-person and online.

DraftKings

DraftKings has made a name for itself in online sports betting with its intuitive design, portability, and a wealth of markets. The company has partnered with the Baltimore Ravens to enter the market. No word yet on whether this partnership will include a retail sportsbook at the team’s stadium.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook has made great strides in the United States sports betting market. Now, it’s looking like the operator will be one of the first to enter Maryland.

Horseshoe Casino is a Caesars-owned property in Baltimore that has already opened a Caesars retail sportsbook and allowed Caesars Sportsbook to open online in the state.

PointsBet

PointsBet is a unique service dreamed up by Aussie sports fans and is now making waves in the U.S. In addition to traditional sports wagers, PointsBet has also pioneered “PointsBetting”. PointsBetting allows you to increase your potential payout based on the accuracy of your bets. The closer your pick is to a given real-life outcome, the higher your payout can potentially be. It works both ways though. If a PointsBetting wager goes wrong, it can go very wrong. The potential for big wins (or losses) makes it very entertaining.

PointsBet has partnered with Riverboat On The Potomac to bring both retail and mobile betting to Maryland.

BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the most expansion-focused and well-funded sportsbooks in the country. We’re expecting the service to be a top mobile sportsbook in the state. This betting platform brings you the experience of a huge name in worldwide gambling and entertainment, hosting a wide variety of bets and markets.

The MGM National Harbor was the site of an impromptu fireworks display in November 2020, announcing the enactment of legal sports betting in Maryland. It was also one of the first locations to open up a retail sportsbook, doing so in late 2021.

TwinSpires (retail only)

Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) owns Ocean Downs Casino & Racetrack and operates a retail sportsbook at the location. It was once expected that the TwinSpires app would be available in Maryland, but CDI has shut down the app, so it is unknown which mobile sportsbook will partner with the horse racing company.

BetRivers

BetRivers is a Rush Street Interactive (RSI) brand with legal sports betting and online casino games being offered in numerous states. Know for their ludicrously easy-to-clear welcome offer, BetRivers is popular wherever it has hit the market. A strong presence in both neighboring PA and VA increases the likelihood of activity in Maryland.

In August 2022 BetRivers announced a retail and mobile partnership with Bingo World, a Baltimore-based bingo emporium. A BetRivers retail sportsbook is now open at Bingo World, and the BetRivers app soon followed.

Betfred

In August 2022, Betfred announced a partnership with Long Shot’s, an off-track betting facility in Frederick, Maryland. The partnership will include a retail sportsbook at the facility. Betfred launched its mobile sportsbook app in Maryland in February 2023.

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics Sportsbook is now available in Maryland. Fanatics Sportsbook is a partner of the Washington Commanders which includes a retail sportsbook at the team’s stadium in suburban MD. Right now, Fanatics users can take advantage of an exciting promo: Bet $10 a day to get enough FanCash for a jersey or other merch!

BetPARX

Greenmount OTB is located in the Greenmount Station restaurant in Hampstead, MD. BetPARX is a popular online casino and sportsbook that operates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These two companies came together in an unexpected alignment that will bring betPARX to Maryland.

Additional Sportsbooks

These sportsbooks haven’t announced their intentions to come to Maryland, but we think they will end up launching in the state later on.

Unibet

Unibet started in the UK as a fan-created book looking to offer sports bets over the phone, and almost immediately got into the newly growing world of internet betting. Now that it’s legal in the states, Unibet has made an impression in several jurisdictions like New Jersey and Indiana. Heavy on the stats and easy on the eyes, Unibet will be a player to beat when it goes live.

Maryland Online Sports Betting Platforms

Online sports betting in Maryland is available on a variety of tech platforms. This includes mobile devices of all shapes, sizes, and operating systems – as well as on a computer through a web browser.

iOS

Bettors with Apple devices have access to Maryland sports betting apps through simple downloads via the iOS app store. Maryland sports betting apps are fast, convenient, and can follow you throughout the state. You will have to grant the app access to your phone or tablet’s location services though, so it can verify you are in the state.

Android

Android users have access to the same features and bonuses as iOS and browser users. Direct app downloads will be available on your chosen sports betting website, plus Android app stores are expanding their iGaming horizons.

Additionally, as with iOS devices, make sure you’re sharing your location through the app whenever you’re making a legal wager: you must be in Maryland to do so.

Browsers

While on a computer, fire up your favorite web browser and visit your favorite MD sports betting website. Real money betting will be supported through all major browsers, Chrome, FireFox, Edge, Safari, etc.

You’ll need to download and enable a geotagging plugin when wagering real money using the browser version of a given online sportsbook. This is to ensure you’re physically in the state when wagering.

Other than that, the process of betting is much the same as it would be on a mobile device, with the added bonus of viewing the site on a larger screen. Betting from a web browser via a computer is a little less portable, though – and requires a stable WiFi connection.

Bet Types and Markets Available in Maryland

The whole spectrum of bet types are available on Maryland online sports betting sites. Whether you’re new to sports betting or you’re a seasoned veteran, you’re able to access a variety that includes:

Leagues and Markets

You can expect to bet on a good variety of popular national and international sports leagues, potentially including:

This list is subject to change, but no matter your sporting passion, the odds indicate you’ll be able to put some money on it in MD.

Maryland Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards Stadium

Payment and Withdrawal Methods

Legal online sportsbooks offer a good selection of available banking methods. When you’re getting online with a new service, the first thing you’ll want to do is fund your account. Of course, making withdrawals is always fun, too.

When sites go live online, some or all of the following payment methods will be available:

Benefits of Using Legal, Regulated Sites and Apps

Unlicensed offshore betting sites located in other countries often advertise “legal” bets for U.S. customers, but are best avoided. These offshore websites are infamous for having security and safety protocols that are lacking. If you’re looking to bet online, legal is the way to go, which is why it’s great news that sports betting is now available in Maryland. Overall, regulated sites are better because of:

Retail Betting Locations in Maryland

Several retail sportsbooks are currently open in the state, with many more to come. These include:

There are also several race track locations that will be eligible for licenses:

Additionally, sports teams such as the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Commanders will be allowed to offer sports betting kiosks at their stadiums.

Maryland Washington Commanders FedEx Arena

History of Betting in Maryland

Horse Racing

Maryland was an early bastion of horse racing in the country, and to this day is home to the second jewel of the Triple Crown: the Preakness States. Since 1870, this internationally famous race has been the proving ground for numerous Crown winners, including War Admiral and Secretariat.

Lotteries & Casinos

No stranger to gambling, wagering in various forms has been available in Maryland since the 19th century. Lottery games have been available under the state’s commission since the 70’s, but casinos didn’t see the light of legislation until 2008. That year, voters approved a measure for slot machines.

In 2012, casinos became more fully realized in the state. A November decision allowed table games to be hosted at local casino locations. The following year, 2013, saw over $600 million in casino revenue. This beat local estimates by over $70 million and proved the worth of taxable, legal gambling in the state.

FAQ

Why do sportsbooks need my location and SSN?

All legal and regulated sportsbooks in the country are required to prove that customers are of legal betting age when using the service: this requires the last four digits of your SSN. Additionally, they must show that customers are only placing real-money wagers from inside their state.

For example, if you’re betting underneath the Maryland section of the BetMGM website or the MD version of the BetMGM app, you can only wager within MD state lines. You can access your account from anywhere, you just won’t be able to bet.

Who is allowed to bet using online sportsbooks?

If you’re not barred by employment or self-imposed gaming restrictions, you’ll be able to bet as long as you’re 21+. As mentioned above, users can download the apps and access their account from anywhere. However, users can only engage in Maryland online sports betting from inside the state borders.

How do I know my money is safe?

Make sure you’re only betting with a provider that’s licensed with the MLGCA. Once you’ve signed up with a licensed, regulated provider, you can be sure that your money is safe.

All sportsbooks are required by state and federal law to offer numerous layers of security and user protection. Additionally, checking your location and having the last four digits of your SSN helps state regulators protect your identity.