Gamblers want to know how to gamble online in Maryland every day because the state’s land-based and online gambling laws are much different. Online casino gambling and poker betting work like most other states in the USA. Unlike many states, though, Maryland allows retail sports betting at land-based sites but does not offer licensed online sportsbooks or mobile sports betting apps. That causes confusion for Maryland sports bettors.
Read our guide to gambling online in Maryland to learn your legal rights and mobile gaming options. Learn whether Maryland officials prosecute online gambling, then see which online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks accept Maryland players. Once you are finished, you’ll know the best Maryland online sportsbooks and casino sites, and know how to sign up for those sites.
Maryland Online Gambling Laws
Maryland does not regulate online gambling, nor does it license online casinos, sportsbooks, or cardrooms. That might seem like a ban, but Maryland officials also do not fine or prosecute residents who play for real money online. If you gamble on a desktop computer in your home, Maryland police will not bust down your door. If you gamble on a mobile casino app or mobile sports betting app, you will not face charges.
Offshore online gambling sites accept Maryland players for real money play. They offer players huge welcome bonuses for signup up and making a deposit, then let players join VIP clubs for volume play or high roller gaming. These sites offer a full range of casino games, sports bets, and poker events, and Maryland does not punish them. That is because they exist in the offshore online gaming market, where they are licensed by international regulators.
If a Maryland resident launched an online sportsbook or casino site of their own, they would be prosecuted by Maryland officials. Their domain would be seized and taken offline. Individuals playing in the privacy of their own home face no legal consequences. Instead, the trick is finding reputable, honest, and reliable online gambling sites that accept players from Maryland.
Gambling Availability in Maryland
Gambling Type |
Availability |
Online Casinos |
Yes |
Online Poker |
Yes |
Online Sports Betting |
Yes |
Land-Based Casinos |
Yes |
Retail Sportsbooks |
Yes |
Horse or Dog Racing |
Yes |
Lottery Tickets |
Yes |
Best Online Casino |
Wild Casino: 250% Bonus up to $5,000 |
Maryland Online Gambling Timeline & History
- May 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signs into law an online sports betting bill (HB0940, CH0356). The new law would make retail sports betting and mobile sports betting legal.
- Fall 2021: Retail sports betting launches at Maryland casinos and race tracks.
- November 2022: Licensed mobile sports betting apps launch in Maryland.
- Present: At present, no legislation involving online casinos or online poker is active.
How to Gamble Online for Real Money in Maryland
If you’re looking to gamble online for real money in Maryland, there are several steps you should follow. Read through the following guide, which applies to the best real-money online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites in Maryland.
- Find an Online Gambling Site: It is important to do your research and find a reputable online casino or sportsbook. Since online gambling is not yet licensed in Maryland, you will want to ensure that you’re using a trustworthy site that offers reliable payouts.
- Create a Player Account: Once you have found a site that you are comfortable with, you can sign up for an account and make a real money deposit using a variety of different payment methods.
- Accept a Welcome Bonus: Many online casinos offer welcome bonuses. This gives players promotional cash to learn the games, rules, and controls, hoping they stay for longer gaming sessions. Free spins are also sometimes included.
- Read Terms of Use: Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before accepting. These stipulate what the wagering requirement is and which games apply to the requirement. It also discusses game contribution rates, expiry terms, and max cashout terms.
- Play Real Money Casino Games: From there, you can start playing real money casino games. Remember to play the games that satisfy the rollover requirements. Slots and scratch cards clear the requirement at 100%, while table games like blackjack and roulette clear the requirement at a 20% rate or less.
- Make a Withdrawal: Once you have met the wagering requirements, you can make a withdrawal request. Depending on the payment method you choose, it may take a few minutes to a few days for the payment to arrive.
The Best Online Casinos and Poker Sites for Maryland Players
Casino Name | Welcome Bonus | Gambling Niche |
Wild Casino | 250% up to $5,000 | Best for Casino Games |
Las Atlantis | 280% up to $14,000 | Best for High Rollers |
SuperSlots | 250% up to $1,000 | Best For Slots Players |
BetUS Casino | 125% up to $2,500 | Best for Sports Bettors |
BetOnline | 100% up to $1,000 | Best for Poker Players |
Maryland Land-Based Gambling Industry
Maryland has a substantial land-based gambling industry. It features land-based casinos, pari-mutuel betting at horse tracks, charitable gaming, and a state lottery. Baltimore hosts only Pimlico Race Course, home to the Preakness Stakes each spring. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown in horse racing. When the Kentucky Derby winner competes in the Preakness Stakes (most years), Pimlico becomes the center of the horse racing world for a weekend.
Maryland also boasts multi-billion-dollar brick-and-mortar casino resorts. Called integrated casino resorts, these draw huge traffic each year. For instance, MGM National Harbor is just across the border from Washington DC, so anyone living in or visiting Washington DC is a ten-minute drive from gambling. The MGM National Harbor was a big enough story that folk legend Bob Dylan created an art gallery for the site when it opened. In short, Maryland has world-class casino resorts.
Does Maryland have land-based casinos?
Maryland has five land-based casinos: one each in Baltimore, Hanover, Perryville, Oxon Hill, and Flintstone. Major casino operators own these gaming venues, such as MGM National Harbor (MGM Resorts), Horseshoe Baltimore (Caesars), Live! Casino and Hotel (Live! Gaming), and Hollywood Casino Perryville (Penn National Gaming).
Does Maryland have legal betting tracks?
Maryland supports 6 different horse tracks with pari-mutuel betting. One of the tracks, Ocean Downs Casino and Racetrack in Berlin, also hosts a slot parlor with a few gaming tables. The other five race tracks can be found in Baltimore, Elkton, Fort Washington, Laurel, and Timonium. Of course, the most famous track is Pimlico in Baltimore, home to the Preakness Stakes.
Does Maryland allow off-track betting?
Maryland does not have off-track betting, because it’s a smaller state. With 6 different land-based race tracks that offer pari-mutuel betting and simulcasting, Maryland has no need for OTBs.
Does Maryland allow charitable gaming?
Maryland allows charitable gaming, though it does not license charitable gaming groups at the state level. Individual counties license non-profit groups for bingo gambling and raffles. Bingo and raffle contests are the only forms of legal charitable gambling allowed in Maryland.
Does Maryland allow lottery betting?
Maryland has one of the oldest lottery betting systems in America. Voters approved a state lottery in the 1972 presidential election cycle, and the state lottery launched on January 3, 1973. Since then, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) has overseen the state lottery.
In 1996, Maryland joined the Mega Millions multistate lottery association. In 2010, Maryland joined the Powerball multistate lottery association. Currently, lottery vendors in the state sell Multi Match, Cash4Life, Keno, Racetrax, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Powerball, and Mega Millions tickets.
Is social gambling allowed in Maryland?
Maryland legalized social poker in 2016 with the passage of House Bill 127. HB127 stipulates that home poker games cannot offer more than $1,000 in prizes at any time. Bingo and other forms of social gambling are legal in seniors centers. These do not have to be charitable gaming operations, but penny-ante gaming among seniors.
Anyone who violates HB127 faces a misdemeanor offense. If convicted, the operator faces a jail term from 6 months to 1 Year and/or a fine between $200 and $1000.
What is the legal gambling age in Maryland?
The legal gambling age is 18 years or older in Maryland. This goes for lottery betting, slot machines, and table games. Maryland stands out from other US states by setting a limit of 18 instead of 21. The 18-year-old limit also applies to pari-mutuel wagers and charitable gaming. If you gamble online, then the age limit is 18.
Land-Based Casinos and Race Tracks in Maryland
Casino | City |
Featured Games |
Live! Casino & Hotel | Hanover | 4,000 gaming machines, 200 table games, 50 poker tables, electronic baccarat, roulette, Sic Bo |
MGM National Harbor | Oxon Hill | 2,900 gaming machines, 134 table games, 46 poker tables |
Hollywood Casino | Perryville | 850 video lottery terminals (VLTs), 12 table games, 10 poker tables, sportsbook |
Horseshoe Baltimore | Baltimore | Hundreds of slots, 105 table games, 23 poker tables, sportsbook |
Rocky Gap Casino Resort | Flintstone | 600 gaming machines, 10 table games, keno, Pick 3 Lotto, Pick 4 Lotto, VLTs |
Pimlico Race Course | Baltimore | Race book, thoroughbred racing, Preakness Stakes |
Fair Hill Fairgronds | Elkton | Race book, thoroughbred racing |
Rosecroft Raceway | Fort Washington | Race book, harness racing |
Laurel Park | Laurel | Race book, thoroughbred racing |
Timionium OTB: Maryland State Fairgrounds | Timonium | Racebook, thoroughbred racing |
Ocean Downs Casino | Berlin | 900 VLTs, 18 table games, keno, race book, simulcasting, blackjack, craps, roulette, Sic Bo |
Online Gambling Maryland FAQ
Is online gambling legal in Maryland?
Yes, but you will need to gamble at offshore online gambling sites. Maryland has a substantial land-based gambling industry. That is the main reason the state does not offer a regulated online gambling industry. It is better for residents and visitors to pay a visit to the billion-dollar land resorts, so Maryland casino owners don’t want to cannibalize their business with online and mobile gambling sites. Maryland is relatively small, so every resident is within easy driving distance of the resorts.
That is good for online gambling in Maryland, though. Offshore online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites accept real money players from Maryland. Whatever type of gambling you want, Maryland gambling sites offer huge welcome bonuses and all the games players want. Whether you make sports bets online, play casino games online, or enter poker events online, you will find the key games you want.
Can I legally gamble at online casinos in Maryland?
Yes, you can gamble legally at an online casino in Maryland. Offshore casino sites not only accept Maryland gamblers, but they offer huge welcome bonuses and VIP rewards for Maryland signups. Maryland online casinos feature hundreds of online slots, table games, live dealer games, and specialty games. When it’s time to fund your account and make a withdrawal, Maryland casino sites accept a huge range of payment methods that American gamblers prefer: Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoin, web wallets, and bank wire transfers.
Can I gamble for real money at online sportsbooks in Maryland?
Sports bettors can gamble for real money at online sportsbooks in Maryland. Once again, bookmaker sites offer huge signup bonuses, while also providing a risk-free bet to new depositors. These sites offer point spread bets, moneyline bets, and futures bets on NFL football, MLB basketball, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, MMA, boxing, golf, soccer, and NCAA sports. Bettors also can make parlay bets, teaser bets, and pleaser bets. They also can make in-play bets using a page decided for in-game betting on the bookmaker site.
Can I gamble at online poker sites in Maryland?
Poker players can gamble at online poker sites in Maryland. Offshore online poker rooms feature Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud tables. Card players can join ring games, sign up for big poker tournaments, or sit-and-go events that are over in an hour or two. US-friendly online poker sites offer guaranteed $100K poker events each weekend while offering a guaranteed $1.5 million prize pool throughout the week.
How do I gamble online in Maryland using crypto deposits?
Residents of Maryland have the ability to gamble with cryptocurrency deposits at online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks. The offshore gambling sites that allow crypto payments offer generous bonuses in Bitcoin, amounting to thousands of dollars. These sites provide a variety of popular casino games, such as online slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, video poker, and live dealer games. Wild Casino, Planet 7 Casino, and Las Atlantis Casino are among the sites that support gameplay using Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and other altcoins.
Some of these sites even offer sports betting and poker gaming options. Maryland players can conveniently access a wide range of gambling opportunities with the added security and anonymity provided by cryptocurrency transactions.
How to Gamble Online in the United States
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