Maryland Online Gambling News

Within its first year, Maryland has become one of the bigger online sports betting markets in the country. Online sportsbooks launched on Nov. 23, 2022, and there are now 11 available, with betParx being the newest Maryland online sportsbook. Others are working their way through the approval process, and the state could soon be courting more sportsbooks to apply for vacant licenses.

Maryland is home to six casinos, with the first bets taking place in 2010. However, the people of Maryland are still without online casino options like the neighboring states of New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the proximity of which may very well push lawmakers toward making a change in the near future. A bill to legalize online casinos passed the House in 2024, but failed to advance further. Expect lawmakers to revisit the issue in 2025.

The Maryland Lottery has been around for 50 years. The state-run organization offers Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 4 Life, and a series of local draw games. A wide range of scratch-off games is also available at one of the thousands of lottery retailers throughout the state. Keno is part of the MD Lottery offerings as well. The Maryland Lottery serves as the regulator overseeing video lottery terminals (VLTs), casinos, and sports betting.

There are several noteworthy racetracks throughout Maryland, but none more so than Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes. Laurel Park, Ocean Downs, and the Maryland Jockey Club are just a few of the other horse racing tracks in the state. There are also advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps, such as TVG and FanDuel Racing, that allow betting on horses from your phone, as well as six off-track betting parlors, some of which are located at Maryland casinos.

Before Maryland casinos opened, poker players had to travel north to Atlantic City or Pennsylvania to take part in a legal game. These days, Maryland is a hotbed of poker activity. In addition to an active cash game scene, Maryland casinos host numerous high-profile World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour tournaments.

Although real money online casinos are not legal in Maryland, there are still ways for Maryland residents to play casino games online. Social and sweepstakes casinos like WOW Vegas, McLuck Casino, High 5 Casino, Pulsz, Funzpoints and others are legal options where players use virtual currencies to play games and in some cases can redeem winnings for cash prizes. These casinos offer countless slot machine titles as well as a small range of table games like roulette and blackjack, and in some cases even have live dealer games.