Online gambling in Maryland centres on legal sports betting, pari-mutuel horse racing and daily fantasy, online casino and poker aren’t legal here. This guide covers what’s legal, who’s licensed by the Maryland Lottery, and how to get started.
Maryland has grown into a solid mid-Atlantic betting market since online wagering launched in November 2022. Bettors stake around $6 billion a year, and in 2025 the state raised its online tax, a sign of how Maryland leans on betting revenue to fund education. This guide covers what’s legal, the rules that matter and how to start.
In this article 17 sections
- Is online gambling legal in Maryland?
- What you can play in Maryland
- Online gambling in Maryland by the numbers
- A higher tax and an education focus
- The best Maryland sportsbooks
- Popular bets and Maryland sports
- Choosing a Maryland sportsbook
- Bet types explained
- How Maryland’s market has grown
- How to start betting in Maryland
- Will Maryland legalize online casino?
- Is online gambling safe in Maryland?
- Responsible gambling in Maryland
- Maryland sports betting FAQ
- Legal options in Maryland
- Online Casinos in Maryland
- Horse Betting in Maryland
Is online gambling legal in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland legalized sports betting in 2021 after a 2020 voter referendum; retail launched in December 2021 and online betting went live on 23 November 2022, regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). You must be 21 or older and physically located in Maryland to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Real-money online casino is not legal, iGaming bills failed in 2025.
What you can play in Maryland
- sports betting in Maryland: mobile betting on every major sport and league.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in Maryland through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for Maryland bettors via licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in Maryland, see the outlook below.
Online gambling in Maryland by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | Retail December 2021; online 23 November 2022 |
| Tax rate | 20% online (raised from 15% in July 2025), 15% retail |
| 2025 handle | Around $6 billion a year |
| Operators | Around 11 mobile sportsbooks |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
A higher tax and an education focus
The headline change is tax. Maryland taxed online betting at 15% from launch, but in July 2025 the rate rose to 20% (retail stays 15%) under the state’s budget law, Governor Wes Moore had originally pushed for 30%. The money flows into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education. For bettors, a higher operator tax can mean slightly thinner promotions over time. Maryland allows betting on college teams but bars individual player props on college athletes, a rule shared with several neighbouring states.
The best Maryland sportsbooks
Maryland licenses around 11 online sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics and the homegrown Crab Sports. Of the books we work with and can verify, FanDuel operates in Maryland, strong on app quality and same-game parlays. Compare the live Maryland offers on this page before signing up.
See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full Maryland sportsbook guide.
Popular bets and Maryland sports
Maryland bettors play the standard markets, moneylines, point spreads, totals and parlays/same-game parlays. Local loyalty runs deep for the NFL’s Ravens (and the nearby Commanders), MLB’s Orioles, and the Washington-area Capitals and Wizards, plus the Maryland Terrapins. Remember you can back college teams but not individual college-athlete props. The NFL leads handle, with the NBA, MLB and college close behind.
Choosing a Maryland sportsbook
In Maryland, with a higher 20% tax now in play, the strongest offers may not last forever, so compare carefully. Look at the welcome bonus type (first-bet safety net versus bonus bets), the range of markets on the Ravens, Orioles and Terrapins, live-betting depth and withdrawal speed, and whether a homegrown option like Crab Sports suits you alongside the national brands. Odds boosts and a solid loyalty program matter most once your sign-up bonus is used.
Bet types explained
The betting menu in Maryland comes down to essentials. Start with the Maryland moneyline, a clean pick of who wins, the Ravens to take it. Add the point spread, which handicaps the favorite, and the total, a bet on combined scoring rather than the Maryland winner. For bigger swings, Maryland bettors use parlays (several legs, all must win), same-game parlays from a single the Ravens matchup, futures on the season, and live in-play markets that track the Ravens in real time.
How Maryland’s market has grown
Maryland scaled quickly once mobile launched. In the twelve months to March 2025 the state’s sportsbooks took in roughly $5.9 billion in wagers, up about 24% year over year, producing more than $500 million in revenue and over $80 million in tax. That growth is exactly why the state reached for a higher rate in 2025: betting revenue underwrites the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan, and lawmakers wanted a bigger slice.
The 15%-to-20% increase is moderate by national standards, well below Pennsylvania’s 54% online-casino rate or Illinois’s tiered structure, but operators have flagged the impact: DraftKings, one of around eleven licensed online books, cited Maryland’s hike among the reasons for a projected revenue hit. For bettors, the practical effect is subtle: promotions may shrink a little and margins may widen slightly, but Maryland remains a competitive market with all the major national brands plus the homegrown Crab Sports. Retail betting continues at the state’s casinos, though, as everywhere, mobile dominates.
How to start betting in Maryland
Signing up in Maryland is quick, be 21+ and inside Maryland, pick a licensed Maryland sportsbook, and create an account with accurate information for verification. After opting into the Maryland promo and depositing, set your limits, place your first Maryland bet, and cash out whenever the offer’s Maryland conditions are satisfied.
Will Maryland legalize online casino?
Not yet. Real-money online casino is not legal in Maryland, and while sports betting’s success keeps iGaming in the conversation, no bill has passed. For now, sports betting, DFS and horse racing are Maryland’s only legal online options, stick to licensed operators rather than unregulated offshore sites. We’ll keep this Maryland page updated if that changes.
For the full picture, see our Maryland online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach Maryland.
Is online gambling safe in Maryland?
Yes, as long as you bet with operators licensed by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, every book we recommend is. Licensed sportsbooks are independently tested for fair pricing and reliable payouts, keep your funds in segregated accounts, and verify your identity, age and location before each wager. Unregulated offshore apps offer none of that, and they contribute nothing to the education programs Maryland’s betting tax supports, so always check that a sportsbook is MLGCA-licensed before you deposit, and look for the responsible-gambling tools built into every legal app.
Responsible gambling in Maryland
Betting in Maryland should stay entertainment, not a way to chase money or claw back losses. Every licensed Maryland operator hands you deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools, and the trick is to set them when you open the Maryland account rather than after a rough night. If it stops being fun, that is your cue to step away, and confidential help in Maryland is a free call or text to 1-800-GAMBLER, around the clock.
Maryland sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in Maryland?
Yes. Online sports betting launched on 23 November 2022, regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. You must be 21+ and physically in Maryland to bet.
2. Is online casino legal in Maryland?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in Maryland, iGaming bills failed in 2025. In Maryland, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing are legal in Maryland online.
3. What is Maryland’s sports betting tax rate?
20% on online revenue (raised from 15% in July 2025) and 15% on retail. The money funds the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education program.
4. Can I bet on the Maryland Terrapins?
You can bet on college team outcomes, but Maryland prohibits individual player props on college athletes.
5. Which sportsbook is best in Maryland?
Of our partners, FanDuel operates in Maryland and leads on app quality and same-game parlays. The state also licenses DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics and Crab Sports.
6. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Maryland?
Yes, Kalshi-style platforms operate in Maryland under federal CFTC oversight, not Maryland gambling law, which is how they sidestep state licensing. Because their sports markets resemble wagering, Maryland’s status for them is unsettled, with 2026 court rulings favoring Kalshi even as the appeals grind on. In Maryland, treat them as adjacent to a licensed sportsbook, not a swap for one.
7. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Maryland?
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba, LuckyLand and Stake.us reach Maryland adults through a virtual-currency model designed to sit outside Maryland gambling licensing. That leaves Maryland players in a grey area with weaker safeguards than a regulated site, one regulators keep testing, so use them cautiously in Maryland.
8. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in Maryland?
Yes, daily fantasy sports operate in Maryland as a contest-based activity separate from Maryland sportsbook wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the Maryland field, joined by pick’em apps PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
9. Can I bet on horse racing online in Maryland?
Yes. Pari-mutuel horse racing is open to Maryland residents through licensed ADW apps such as TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, covering tracks nationwide and separate from the Maryland sportsbook.
10. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Maryland?
Help in Maryland is free, confidential and available 24/7, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed Maryland app. Nobody in Maryland has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in Maryland. Gambling problem in Maryland? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Legal options in Maryland
- Maryland sports betting
Online Casinos in Maryland
Maryland has become a casino haven, but its expansions don’t extend to the internet and as such any online casino in Maryland. Maryland has swiftly become one of the gambling hubs of the east coast, joining neighbors New Jersey and Delaware. However, for all of its casinos and betting options, Maryland online casino gaming still isn’t legal. Voters have enabled a vast casino gaming scene to erupt across the Free State, and much of the Maryland gambling scene also has an online presence. Still, for now, the state doesn’t accept online casinos, nor does it permit you to use them.
Online Casino Sites in Maryland
You can’t play at Maryland online casino sites right now. Maryland isn’t averse to casino gaming and has welcomed many forms of online gambling, from horse racing sites to playing the lottery online, but is yet to take action on the standing law. It is reported that real-money online casino platforms are in agreement with the state to offer a Maryland online casino, but the law will have to change for them to open. Based on the current laws in Maryland and the overall market in states nearby DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are among the first casinos expected to go live in the state. Maryland Online Casino Sites/Apps Expected in 2025:
- DraftKings Casino
- bet365 Casino
- BetRivers Casino
- Fanduel Casino
- BetMGM Casino
- Caesars Casino
Maryland Sweepstakes Online Casinos 2025
For Maryland players who enjoy the excitement of casino games but prefer not to risk their own money, social casinos provide the perfect alternative. These platforms allow players to use gold coins for free play or upgrade to sweeps coins, which can be redeemed for prizes like gift cards, merchandise, and even cash. Here’s a list of the top sweepstakes casinos available in Maryland:
- Chumba Casino
- Luckyland Slots
- Live! Social Casino
- WOW Vegas Casino
- Pulz Casino
- Stake.us Casino
- NoLimit Coins Casino
- FunRize Casino
- RealPrize.com Casino
- Pulsz Casino
- New Legendz Casino
- Fortune Coins Casino
- Gambino Slots
- Funzpoints Casino
- McLuck Casino
: New players can get upwards of 3 million gold coins and 30 free sweeps coins when joining Chumba Casino. There are daily login bonuses and regular promotions that ensure free coins keep flowing into your account. With a standalone mobile app and an impressive game library, Chumba Casino offers slots, jackpots, table games, bingo, and slingo.
Luckyland Slots: Players receive a welcome bonus of 9,000 gold coins and 10 sweeps coins when linking their Facebook account to Luckyland Slots. The platform provides daily login bonuses to help players accumulate more free coins, though its game library is relatively small, featuring fewer than 50 slots.
Live! Social Casino: Operated by the same company behind the brick-and-mortar Live! Casino, this social casino offers Maryland players access to a variety of slots and table games. It includes features like leaderboards, regular promotions, and multiple ways to earn free coins for gameplay. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Online Gaming
Online casino games in Maryland aren’t available right now. Without legal access to a Maryland online casino, you can’t play the best games that the internet has to offer. The Free State boasts a whole range of traditional casino gaming options across its many venues. However, access to the most technologically evolved and popular casino games online is still restricted.
Best Casino Apps in Maryland
You can’t play via Maryland mobile casino apps right now. While some make a distinction between casino apps and online casinos, under existing Maryland law, they are one and the same. As such, just as you can’t play real money casino games in Maryland online, you can’t do so via an online casino’s app.
Top Land-based Casinos in Maryland
There are a great range of new casinos to choose from in Maryland. Land-based casino gaming is where it’s at in Maryland, with the industry proving to be very popular in the Free State. Each of the casinos has a vast range of casino games at their disposal, with a couple even including poker rooms, but Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino and Hanover’s Live! Casino & Hotel are the biggest venues in Maryland.
Bonuses in Maryland
Bonuses from any online casino in Maryland can’t be claimed or used right now. Maryland hasn’t legalized online casinos, so you’re currently not permitted to claim any of the popularised forms of bonuses. Unless the law changes, it will remain illegal for you to get and use a casino site’s promotion. You don’t have access to the top bonus offers in Maryland right now. Without access to an online casino in Maryland, you can’t get any of the best bonus offers. This is predominantly because most bonus offers require you to make a deposit and then use your funds to gamble online.
FAQ
Get some quick-fire answers to your questions about casino games in Maryland here!
What is the Legal Gambling Age in Maryland?
The minimum age to play at casinos in Maryland is 21 years of age. Both poker and casino games in Maryland can only be played by those who are 21-years-old or older, but you can partake in bingo, the lottery, and horse racing from 18-years-old.
Tax When Gambling in Maryland
Gambling winnings have to be reported on your federal and state income forms. The IRS will charge you a flat tax rate of 24 percent on all gambling winnings as they consider it taxable income. Maryland residents are also subject to an 8.75 percent withholding rate on gambling winnings.
Am I allowed to play table games in Maryland?
You can play all of the classic casino table games at any licensed and regulated casino in Maryland, but you can’t play online table games.
Will Maryland legalize online casinos?
A move to create a Maryland online casino seems more likely here than in many other states, but there isn’t any official movement on that front.
Is there a casino with real poker in Maryland?
Not online, but the Live! Casino and MGM National Harbor have poker room.
Horse Betting in Maryland
Maryland online horse betting is legal and is thriving within the region. Residents of the Free State have access to the leading operators in the wagering industry when horse betting in Maryland. The region is home to one of the signature races in the American calendar, the Preakness Stakes. As part of the Triple Crown, the state becomes the focal point of the racing world on the day of the prestigious meet. Wagering in Maryland provides the opportunity to bet in-person at the track along with off-site betting parlors around the Free State. You must be 18-years-old to place a horse wager.
Maryland Horse Betting Sites
There are ample sites for Maryland online horse betting. Here are the best.
- TVG, This provider is one of the best on the market. They provide outstanding coverage of races across the world, with extremely good value on their odds for Maryland horse betting.
- NYRA Bets, They offer full coverage of racing across the USA and the world. Their odds are competitive in line with their rivals.
- AmWager, Provides an excellent array of markets and odds for their customers.
MD Best Horse Betting Apps 2023
Residents of the Free State have access to Maryland online betting apps of the highest caliber.
- TVG, Provide excellent functionality on their app, which allows users to navigate with ease to find odds, markets, and bonuses. Available on both Android and iOS devices.
- DRFBets, Their app is impressive with outstanding coverage of all major races. Odds and markets are well presented on their interface. Available for both iOS and Android users.
Top Three Bonus Offers in Maryland
When participating in Maryland online betting you will have access to great offers.
- TVG, Offer a substantial no-sweat bet after your first deposit.
- AmWager, Provide a welcome bonus up to XXXX after joining their product.
- NRYA Bets, Offer up to XXXX in a sign-up bonus using promo code XXXX.
Maryland Horse Racing Tracks
The Old Line state is one of the beating hearts of racing in the USA.
- Pimlico Racecourse, Based in Baltimore and home of the Preakness Stakes since its inauguration in 1873, Pimlico Racecourse holds a capacity of 98,983 and is an iconic means of wagering in Maryland at the grand venue.
- Laurel Park, Opened in 1911, this venue has seen many famous horses, jockeys and trainers compete. Its events don’t get national attention but are great for enthusiasts of horse betting in Maryland.
Local and Major Horse Betting Events in Maryland
Maryland horse betting choices make it home to one of the jewels in the crown of the American racing calendar.
- Preakness Stakes, Is part of the Triple Crown, and one of the three major races that all competitors of horse racing strive to win. It has been part of the schedule at Pimlico since 1873 and has witnessed extraordinary feats. When considering Maryland online horse betting races to wager on, they don’t come much bigger than this event.
- The Dinner Party Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes are also quality races that occur at Pimlico and well worth a trip for wagering in Maryland.
Types of Horse Racing Bets in Maryland
There are numerous types of Maryland online horse betting. Here are the most popular ones.
- Win, The win market is simple as you’re backing the horse to win outright.
- Place/Show, These markets see you back a horse to finish in the top two or three respectively.
- Exacta/Trifecta, On this wager, you are trying to predict the current order of the horses in the race. Either first and second or first, second and third.
FAQ
Can you bet online on horse racing in Maryland?
Yes, you can. Maryland online horse betting is legal and thriving within the Free State due to the presence of top-quality wagering operators such as TVG and AmWager.
Is the Preakness Stakes held in Maryland?
It is! The Preakness Stakes takes place at Pimlico Racecourse on the third Saturday in May every year. In fact, it is the signature event for horse betting in Maryland.
What is the legal age for horse betting in Maryland?
To participate in wagering in Maryland on horse racing you must be 18-years-old.
Do I have to pay tax on betting winnings in MD?
After successful betting on Maryland horse betting sites and apps, your winnings will be liable up to 8.75% in state tax. You must report your earnings on your income tax. If you win over $5,000 online or more at the track you will be subjected to 24 % in federal tax.