Maryland legalized sports betting on May 18th 2021. Retail sportsbooks at Maryland casinos are accepting bets but online wagering is hotly anticipated in MD.
Maryland online sports betting was set to debut in 2021, but is delayed until the 2022 NFL season or even later. BonusFinder US will keep you up to date on all the latest Maryland sports betting news.
Legal online sports betting in Maryland will open with some of these operators.
In May 2021, a signature from Gov. Larry Hogan legalized sports betting in Maryland. With up to 60 sportsbook licenses available, MD will be a competitive sports betting market in the United States. Some operators like PointsBet and BetMGM Sportsbook have already secured a betting license in Maryland, but still wait for official approval from the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to start offering online wagering.
Maryland Sports Betting Update
Maryland regulators set the initial launch date for the legal sports betting industry as the start of the 2021 NFL season, but are now hoping to launch online in Fall of 2022. The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission is still considering the approval system for online-only licenses while the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) is close to releasing the online regulations. Maryland residents need to wait for more details as neither commission has released a definitive timeline.
⭐ Top MD Sportsbooks
Maryland sports bettors will have access to the best online sportsbooks in the country when they can bet online. The top sportsbooks will have welcome offers, great promos, and plenty of betting markets.
Several brands will join the legal sports betting market online with their excellent bonuses and renowned rewards programs.
BetMGM
BetMGM Maryland Sportsbook will provide a fantastic mobile betting experience once Maryland sportsbooks move online. Currently you can catch the wagering action at the MGM Casino where the first retail sportsbook opened in MD. In our opinion, BetMGM is the best sportsbook in the country with some of the better odds, great promos, and fantastic app.
PointsBet
PointsBet will be an interesting Maryland sports betting site and stands out from other legal sportsbooks with its PointsBetting system. It’s a type of wagering where the bet is multiplied based on the final wager result, which makes betting a lot more exiting. They also run great promotions and offer new customers a big bonus.
Caesars
Caesars Maryland Sportsbook is currently open at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and the online version is expected to go live soon. Caesars is obviously a huge name in casino gambling and their sportsbook doesn’t fall short of the major operators. Caesars will be a great sportsbook once it goes live online due to the variety of sports to bet on and the legendary rewards program.
DraftKings
DraftKings Sportsbook is a name new bettors in Maryland will recognize from DFS. DraftKings Maryland will be one of the biggest books in the state and most bettors will place a bet on DK. DraftKings will have a wonderful mobile app live in the near future with all the sports gaming details you need.
FanDuel
We wouldn’t be surprised if FanDuel turned out to be the most poular Maryland online sportsbook. They rule the gambling industry in the U.S. and consistently attract the most sports bets across different states. FanDuel Maryland will have great betting lines, promos for NFL games like parlay insurance, and events beyond the popular sports.
Bonus Codes & Promo Codes
As Maryland sports betting law is not in effect online, we don’t know the exact MD bonus codes or promo codes for online sportsbooks. In other states, some sportsbooks require you to insert a bonus code for bonus offers. The BetMGM promo code BONUSMGM gives new players $1,000 risk free bet, whereas the PointsBet bonus code BONUS2000 gives new players 2 risk free bets up to $2,000.
Betting Apps
Sports betting apps are the most convenient way of wagering on sports and every book offers mobile wagering, whether it’s through an app or a mobile-optimized website. Maryland betting apps will let you bet on sports no matter where you are in the state and sometimes offer exclusive promos or live streaming. You can download all apps from the App Store or the Google Play Store once sportsbook operators are allowed to release their online sites. You must be physically located in Maryland to be able to wager with your mobile device.
⭐ Retail Locations
The state will have several retail sportsbooks, with a handful already open. The following casinos and sports venues will each have access to one license, and can operate one sportsbook on-premises with a gaming partner. The licensing fee depends on the type of venue in question.
Location
Operator
Sportsbook Partner
Hollywood Casino Perryville
Penn National Gaming
Barstool Sportsbook
Horseshoe Baltimore Casino
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Sportsbook
Maryland Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Cordish Companies
FanDuel
MGM National Harbor
MGM Resorts International
BetMGM
Ocean Downs Casino
Churchill Downs
TwinSpires Sportsbook
Riverboat on the Potomac
MGM Resorts International
BetMGM
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
Golden Entertainment
Unknown
Ravens M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore Ravens
BetMGM, DraftKings
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baltimore Orioles
Unknown
FedEx Field
Washington Commanders
Unknown
People are excited for the start of online wagering in MD.
⭐ Rules and Regulations
Maryland will have up to 40 only retail sports betting licenses. 10 class-A licenses will be split among the state’s six casinos, professional sports franchises, and horse tracks. 30 class-B licenses are allotted for other businesses, including seven named entities like the Maryland State Fairgrounds. In addition, up to 60 retailers can apply for a mobile sports betting license. Retail operators can apply for just one mobile license, but sports betting operators can work with multiple licensees at the same time. The state will collect a 15% tax on all the sports betting revenue.
Who Can Gamble in Maryland
The legal gambling age in Maryland is 21 years old. MD bettors who want to participate in retail or online sports betting, have to be 21+ and within Maryland state lines. They must not be on a self-exclusion list. You don’t need to be a MD resident to place wagers, so visitors from nearby states can register, deposit money and legally bet.
⭐ Markets
Majority of sports gambling will focus on the three professional sports teams in the Old Line State, but there are plenty of other options too. When online sports betting in Maryland launches, you can find the following sports on all the best Maryland sports betting sites.
National Football League
NFL betting will be hugely popular in MD and the state has two NFL teams: the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North division and the Washington Commanders in the NFC East division. As some of the retail betting has been reserved for sports franchises, you might soon be able to place bets inside the M&T Bank Stadium. NFL betting provides sports fans not just great odds but excellent odds boosts too.
Major League Baseball
The MLB’s Baltimore Orioles in the AL East division are naturally the most popular team for MLB betting. Many people also support Washington Nationals, especially after their 2019 World Series victory. Neither is looking like a top contender this season, meaning MLB betting during the 2022 season might be limited to other teams.
National Basketball Association
The Washington Wizards have a history as the Baltimore Bullets and NBA betting in Maryland will be highly focused on the Wizards. Although they haven’t had a lot of success in the last years, basketball is still expected to be the third-most bet on sport in the state. New signings and extensions will be announced during off-season and hopefully MD wagering launches online just in time for NBA futures.
National Hockey League
MD doesn’t have any hockey teams of it’s own, but some support the Washington Capitals. NHL betting is not as popular as it is in some other states, but the Capitals will receive their fair share of tickets. In addition to the Caps, most of the teams in the Metropolitan Division reside nearby.
Other Sports
In addition to the four major leagues, mobile sportsbooks will offer other betting options in Maryland. Table tennis has been hugely popular in other states, but we don’t see it catching on in Maryland as most other sports have resumed their normal schedule. Soccer, tennis, and golf are going to make up most of the handle behind the major league sports and sporting events like the Olympics.
You can bet on numerous Maryland sports teams once online wagering gets started in Maryland.
NCAA
College sports in Maryland aren’t huge, although betting on March Madness can be quite big if the University of Maryland Terrapins basketball team makes the tournament from the Big Ten Conference. The college football game between the Army and the Navy might also generate some betting interest if the online books are accepting wagers on college teams in December 2022.
Horse Racing
Horse racing has a long tradition in Maryland, as the state hosts the second jewel of the Triple Crown at the Pimlico Race Course. There are also 5 other horse tracks and off-track betting. Some of the notable horse racing locations are Laurel Park and Churchill Downs -owned Ocean Downs.
⭐ Bet Types
Every sportsbook offers the main types of bets for your bet slip. You should shop around for the best odds before you deposit money.
Moneyline Bet: You bet on the winner. If the Ravens play the Pittsburgh Steelers, you can bet on the Ravens to win.
Point Spread Bet: You bet on the margin of the win in addition to the winner. If the Washington Commanders are +1.5 against the Cleveland Browns, they have to win by two points or more.
Total Bet: Wagering on the total number of points or goals in a game.
Prop Bets: There are two categories of props, team and player props. For example, you can be Lamar Jackson to throw three touchdowns or the Ravens to score first.
Futures Bet: You can wager on future events like on the winner of the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, World Series or other major national championship.
Parlay Bet: Parlays mean having several selections on one bet. For example, you can bet that MD teams win their home games for bigger payout than for a single moneyline.
Live Bets: Live betting means wagering on an ongoing game.
⭐ Latest News
June 27, 2022 — Fanatics is granted a license for retail wagering.
June 2022 — Governor Hogan strongly encourages the regulators to get going with online wagering, but SWARC does not set a timeline in their monthly meeting. MLGCA Director John Martin is also not committing to a launch date.
May 2022 — No news on the disparity study conducted by SWARC. Applications for licenses can’t be submitted until the study is completed to ensure minority- and women-owned businesses have access to commercial gaming.
Spring 2022 — Still no news on the launch of online wagering as the licensing process is up in the air.
December 2021 — Legal sports betting in Maryland launches with a number of retail sportsbook options. Gov. Hogan placed the first official sports wager on Dec 9.
Fall 2021 — Online regulations and application approval system is dragging. The Maryland Gaming Commission estimates that online sports betting launch can be expected during 2022-23 football season.
August 5, 2021 — The Maryland General Assembly Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review approves the in-person sports betting regulations, which are now submitted to Maryland Register for public comments.
July 15, 2021 — Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission approves a set of regulations for the sports betting legislation. The rules will now be considered by Maryland General Assembly Joint Committee before a 30-day public comment period.
May 18, 2021 — Governor Larry Hogan signs HB940, legalizing sports betting in Maryland.
April 12, 2021 — Maryland’s sports betting bill HB940 moves through the Senate by a vote of 122-16. The proposed law authorizes up to 60 mobile licenses, more than any other state.
March 10, 2021 — HB940 passes the Maryland House by a vote of 130-9.
Feb. 2, 2021 — HB 940 receives its first reading in House. The bill would also legalizes daily fantasy sports contests in Maryland.
Nov. 4, 2020 — Maryland Question 2 ballot measure receives voter approval during the election. The ballot referendum, which asked Maryland voters to approve or deny an online gambling expansion on the 2020 ballot, passes by a 2 to 1 margin. The matter now moves to the Maryland state legislature.
Last updated: 06/30/2022
Q&A
1️⃣ Is sports betting legal in Maryland?
Yes, state lawmakers voted and Gov. Larry Hogan signed to legalize sports betting in April 2021. Sports bettors will have to wait before they can place a sports bet on the online sportsbooks, as the sports wagering regulations are not finished.
2️⃣ When will Maryland sports betting go live?
Maryland sports betting market went live on December 9, 2021 when three retail sportsbooks launched. Residents will have to wait months before online operations get going.
3️⃣ How old do I need to be to bet?
The state law for the legal gambling age for sports betting and casino gaming in Maryland is 21 years old, as is custom in the United States. This applies to both sportsbook apps and retail betting. Fantasy sports and horse racing bets are available for 18 and up.
4️⃣ Which sportsbooks will be live in MD?
There are 60 licenses available for mobile sports betting. PointsBet, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and Barstool were the first to announce partnerships and retail operations.
5️⃣ Does Maryland have retail sportsbooks?
MD sports betting law does include retail licenses. BetMGM, FanDuel and Caesars were the first retail books to open.
6️⃣ Can I already create a sportsbook account in MD?
Yes, but mobile betting is not live. If you create a sports betting account, you might miss out on a pre-registration bonus when sportsbooks are confirmed to the Maryland market.
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