Maryland Online Gambling News

A November 2020 referendum led to the launch of in-person sports betting in Maryland one year later. Online sportsbooks followed suit nearly one year after that, as seven sports betting apps went live on Nov. 23, 2022. Betfred recently became Maryland’s eighth online sportsbook. Four others are currently working their way through the final approval process, though details on each potential launch timeline remains unknown.

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. An online gaming referendum is set to be added to the 2024 ballot.

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 that allow for 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 online real-money casinos are not legal in Maryland, there are still ways for Maryland residents to play casino games online. Social and sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz, Chumba Casino, FunzPoints and LuckyLand 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.