Online Sports Betting in Maryland

Maryland legalized sports betting in 2021 and opened its first retail sportsbook on Dec. 9, 2021.

While online sports betting is not currently available in the state, Maryland regulators are diligently working to get it up and running before the end of 2022. The state’s sports betting laws allow for up to 60 mobile sportsbooks, meaning bettors will have access to a great variety of sports betting platforms, deals, and promotions once mobile sports betting is live.

Here’s what you need to know about online sports betting in Maryland, including when it might launch, who can bet, and how to bet responsibly.

Details About Sports Betting in Maryland

• Maryland opened its first retail sportsbook at MGM National Harbor Casino on Dec. 9, 2021, after Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. signed a sports betting bill into law in May 2021.
• Bettors in Maryland currently have no legal online betting platforms available in the state. Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency Director John Martin stated that online sports betting will likely not start until fall 2022 at the earliest. However, Gov. Hogan has specifically asked regulators to launch online sports betting by Sept. 8, 2022.
• Once online sports betting launches, several popular sports betting platforms are expected to come to Maryland, including Barstool Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
• Maryland’s sports betting laws allow for up to 60 mobile and online sportsbooks. Each organization awarded a mobile sports betting license can partner with an online sportsbook provider, who must secure a license to operate in Maryland

Recent Sports Betting News in Maryland

Maryland’s sports betting industry is off to a slow start, as bettors are only able to place wagers at a handful of retail sportsbooks in the state. However, with online sports betting set to launch in the near future, Maryland’s market is likely to grow rapidly. Here are the most recent updates on sports betting in Maryland:

• June 23, 2022: Fanatics receives approval from the Maryland Lottery for a sports wagering facility operator license. If the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) approves this license, Fanatics would become the 10th licensed operator in the state.
• June 20, 2022: Gov. Larry Hogan asks regulators to speed up the launch of online sports betting and wants regulators to aim for Sept. 8. The Maryland SWARC said it is working as hard as possible to achieve this goal.
• June 10, 2022: Maryland’s retail sportsbooks report taking in $23.1 million in bets during May. The FanDuel Sportsbook at Live! Casino in Maryland accounted for $10.9 million of this handle. April’s handle generated $452,897 in taxes for the state.
• June 7, 2022: Sportsbook platform provider Gaming Innovation Group Inc. establishes a partnership with Crab Sports, which plans to launch in Maryland during the second half of 2022.
• May 12, 2022: Retail sportsbooks in Maryland handled nearly $27 million in wagers during April, generating $2.8 million in revenue and $415,801 in taxes for the state.
• April 21, 2022: Riverboat on the Potomac and Greenmount Station are both set to launch their retail sportsbooks in the near future. Maryland Lottery & Gaming’s Jim Nielsen told the Maryland SWARC that there are several other betting applications in review as well.
• April 11, 2022: Together, the five retail sportsbooks in Maryland report a $31 million handle for March with a 12.7% hold. This led to $3.8 million in taxable revenue, generating $577,019 in taxes for the state.
• Feb. 24, 2022: Bingo World in Anne Arundel County receives approval from the Maryland State Lottery & Gaming Control Agency for a sports betting license. Bingo World is now the ninth facility in the state to obtain a license but must await approval from the Maryland SWARC before it can launch its sports betting operations.

Online Sports Betting Apps Available in Maryland

Although Maryland has several retail sportsbooks that residents and visitors can use to place wagers, there are currently no online sports betting apps available in the state.

Regulators have been working diligently to set up a framework for online sports betting in Maryland, but bettors will likely have to wait until fall 2022 at the earliest before any legal online sports betting apps launch.

Once it does launch, several popular sports betting platforms are expected to go live in Maryland, including Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Maryland’s sports betting laws allow for up to 60 online sports betting apps, which could make the state’s sports betting industry one of the biggest and most diverse in the country.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Apps Legal in Maryland?

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps offer a skill-based alternative to traditional sports betting, as they allow users to utilize their sports knowledge to build fantasy teams and compete against other players for cash and other prizes. While these contests are generally considered games of skill, some states view them as gambling and prohibit them under their gambling laws.

In Maryland, DFS contests have been legal for several years, and residents can participate in these contests by registering with popular platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel. While individuals must be 21 or older to bet on sports, you only need to be 18 to sign up with a DFS app.

How to Place Responsible Sports Bets in Maryland

If you are 21 or older, you can bet on sports in Maryland by visiting any of the state’s legal retail sportsbooks. Bettors will soon be able to bet online, too, as mobile sports betting apps are expected to launch in the near future.

For those planning on betting on sports, it’s important to follow responsible gambling practices to avoid developing a problematic gambling habit. This includes:

• Never placing bets while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Creating a reasonable gambling budget to minimize potential losses.
• Taking breaks as necessary or quitting sports betting altogether to prevent it from negatively impacting your personal life or career.
• Only using legal sports betting platforms in Maryland.
• Seeking help immediately if you believe you may be addicted to gambling.

Although sports betting can be an enjoyable form of entertainment, problem gambling is a serious issue that can impact your personal life, mental health, career, and financial well-being. If you believe you may be addicted to gambling, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 for assistance.

Maryland Sports Betting FAQs

Editor’s Note: Information accurate as of August 2022.