The possibility for legal Maryland online casinos is not dead yet.
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency will conduct a study to determine the potential outcome of legalizing online casinos in Maryland. Funds for the study were included in the state budget for the upcoming year.
This gives new hope to those in Maryland who want to see online casinos come to the state, after a previous bill didn’t make it out of the state senate.
Status of online casinos in Maryland
Online casinos in Maryland are not legal, but efforts have been made to change that.
In January, Sen. Ronald L. Watson, D-Prince George’s County, and Sen. Nancy J. King, D-Montgomery County, co-sponsored the Internet Gaming Authorization and Implementation Act (SB267). If successful, the bill aimed to put online casinos and online poker to Maryland voters in 2024.
However, it did not meet the Maryland legislature’s crossover deadline in March.
The study has rekindled thoughts of online casinos coming to Maryland. It will focus on the estimated size of the market, its potential economic impact on retail casinos, potential impact on the state lottery, potential impact on problem gambling, and results from other legal online casino states.
Results from the study are to be submitted to the Maryland General Assembly by Nov. 15.
Maryland online sportsbook operators that also run online casinos
Maryland has 10 online sportsbooks, and seven of those operate an online casino in other states:
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- FanDuel
- BetRivers
- DraftKings
- PointsBet
- Barstool
Whether or not Fanatics, BetFred or SuperBook would add an online casino to their app is still unknown. Fanatics would seem the most likely, as it will be taking over PointsBet’s US operations. PointsBet has an online casino in Michigan, meaning Fanatics would at least have the technology and a template.
BetFred is live as an online sportsbook in Pennsylvania, but does not run an online casino despite PA being the largest online casino market in the country.
What games could be included at Maryland online casinos
Online casinos provide all of the gaming options one could find at an in-person casino, just in a mobile form.
Slot games are abundant at existing online casinos, and some of them include massive payouts. Progressive jackpot slots are among the most popular games available in other states.
Table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps are also available.
Live online casinos are a growing industry, and give customers a more personal way to play blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat.
Many online casinos also offer video poker, although real online poker in Maryland would come through separate apps if it were ever enacted.
