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.
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
- Sportsbooks: 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.