Maryland Sports Betting

It’s an exciting time for the Maryland sports betting industry, which features 12 online sportsbooks. That includes stalwarts like DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, FanDuel and BetRivers. The first full NFL season for Maryland online sports bettors is currently in progress, and the NBA and NHL seasons have recently started, too.

Our experts at PlayMaryland have prepared a guide for how Maryland online sports betting works. We’ve also compiled the best bonus offers available at Maryland sportsbooks.

Best Maryland online sportsbooks December 2023

Rank

Sportsbooks

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Visit Caesars Sportsbook

$1,000 FIRST BET

On Caesars

Caesars Sportsbook Review

Up to $1,000 Back as a Bonus Bet if Your Bet Loses

Stream NFL Games In-App for Free

21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Use Promo Code: PLAYMD1000

PLAY NOW

2

Visit BETMGM Sportsbook

UP TO $1,500

In Bonus Bets

BETMGM Sportsbook Review

$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets

Free Live Streaming - Watch Live Games

Use Bonus Code: PLAYMD

PLAY NOW

3

Visit FanDuel Sportsbook

Bet $5

Get $150

In Bonus Bets

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

Up to $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Team Wins

Available on Desktop, Android & iOS

To Claim: Click Play Now

Play Now

4

Visit BetRivers Sportsbook

$500 BONUS

2nd Chance Bet

BetRivers Sportsbook Review

Up To $500 in Bet Credits

ONLY 1x Play Through!

Use Exclusive Bonus Code: PLAYMD

PLAY NOW

5

Visit DraftKings Sportsbook

Up to $1,200 BONUS

New User Bonus. T&Cs Apply

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

DraftKings Promo: Bet $5 Get $150

PLUS $50 Bonus Bet On Deposit

PLUS up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus

PLUS a Daily No Sweat Same Game Parlay

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER 

To Claim: Click Play Now

Play now

Our top Maryland sports betting sites

Of this group of names, some stand above the rest. We recommend you explore each option when it launches and make your own decision. If you’re curious, however, here are our top picks.

What online sportsbooks are available in Maryland?

There are 12 Maryland online sportsbooks, including some of the top names in the industry, and some you will find only in the Old Line State. The newest online sportsbook in Maryland is Fanatics.

Here are the 12 currently operating:

• Caesars
• BetMGM
• FanDuel
• BetRivers
• DraftKings
• Fanatics
• Barstool
• PointsBet
• BetFred
• SuperBook
• Crab Sports
• betPARX

What new sportsbooks could launch in Maryland?

Maryland law allows for up to 60 online sportsbooks to be licensed in the state. With just 12 currently launched, that leaves a lot of room for others.

Queen Sportsbook, Bee-Fee and Bally Bet are all making their way through the licensing process, and could launch soon. Others, such as bet365, Tipico and Circa Sports, could eventually make their way to the state, but aren’t currently in the pipeline.

ESPN Bet is expected to come to Maryland in the fall when it replaces the Barstool brands around the country.

How online sportsbook bonuses work

Sportsbook bonuses are a ubiquitous feature of online sports betting. Here, we list the best bonuses at Maryland online sportsbooks.

Common types of bonuses include the following:

• No deposit bonus: The sportsbook places bonus dollars into your account once you register for it. Even if you don’t plan on using a particular book, there’s no reason not to try to use the cash.
• Deposit bonus: Deposit bonuses match a portion of your deposit amount as an additional bit of money. The exact percentage of the match and the maximum amount of bonus money you can extract varies, but be prepared to bet a certain multiple of your bonus amount before it converts into cash (known as a “playthrough requirement”).
• Bonus bet: The sportsbook will compensate you for any losses on certain wagers or during certain time periods. For instance, if the sportsbook offers a bonus first bet, and the first bet you place loses, you’d receive a refund as a bonus bet or bets.
• Odds boost: The boost raises the potential payout on certain wagers between roughly 15% and 35%. However, the boosts are usually on wagers that have not been drawing much betting. In other words, there’s often a reason that no one is biting, so be aware of this before you jump on an odds boost deal.
• Loyalty program: Receive points based on your wagering activity. You can then redeem the points for benefits and comps on both the app itself and, potentially, at any land-based locations associated with the online sportsbook.

How to get started betting online in Maryland

No matter which online sportsbook you choose, the procedure for signing up will be pretty similar. It also should only take a few minutes. Here is a brief primer on how to get started:

1. Head to the sportsbook site, register for an account and verify it.
2. If you plan to do any betting via a mobile device, download and install the app.
3. Add money to your account.

Once the sports betting site is available in Maryland, you can start placing bets.

Notes about the process

• When you register for a Maryland sports betting account, be prepared to submit your name, email, phone number, street address, Social Security number (or part of it) and your birthday in order to create your account. You will also have to select a username and password so that you may log back into your new account.
• You also may need to enter a bonus code to qualify for any welcome promotions from the sports betting site.
• Sometimes the welcome bonus won’t require a code, in which case you can often qualify by using a link from this site to access the online sportsbook and sign up.
• Make sure to check both the deposit and withdrawal pages to ensure that you have ways to add money to your account and get it back.

What sports can you bet on in Maryland?

In addition to the sports and leagues you’d expect, such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA Tour and college sports, Maryland is known for its vast array of quirky sports betting options.

MD is one of the only states in which you can bet on professional mini-golf – yes, professional mini-golf is apparently a thing. NCAA lacrosse, particularly popular in Maryland, is also on the menu. Chess, pickleball, badminton and surfing are also approved markets.

And unlike some states, there are no restrictions on betting on in-state college teams, so the beloved Maryland Terrapins are fair game.

Responsible gambling and sportsbook apps

Perhaps the most underrated advantage associated with Maryland sports betting apps is the ability to set limits for yourself. Retail sportsbook workers are trained to look for problem gamblers, but with an online sportsbook, you can instruct it to limit the amount of money that you can deposit within a certain timeframe, limit the amount of money that you can wager and limit the time you can spend on the app.

Setting those restrictions for yourself is a good first step if you are suffering from a compulsion to play. However, Maryland also offers several resources to pair you with the help that you need. If you are struggling, call the Maryland Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-426-2537. Counselors are available 24 hours a day to connect you with treatment services and other resources in the state. There is no cost to Marylanders for these services, either, so don’t wait if you’re in trouble.

For more information about responsible gambling resources in Maryland, visit this informational page.

Retail vs. online sports betting

In many ways, Maryland sports betting is superior to retail sports betting. Placing your wagers is easier, more intuitive, and more flexible online than it can ever be in an in-person setting. Here is a breakdown of the benefits of online sports betting in Maryland:

• Convenience: The most obvious advantage of a Maryland betting app is the fact that you no longer have to travel to one of the sportsbook locations in the state to place a wager. So long as you have a mobile device/laptop, a stable connection to the internet, and you are located in Maryland, you will be able to place a bet.
• Line shopping: Individual books may have slightly different odds and lines for the same game. Because online sportsbooks are seconds away from one another at all times, it is both easy and good practice to shop for the best “deals” you can find. Shopping for lines in a retail setting is much more difficult.
• Bonuses: Another benefit of online sports betting in Maryland is existing seconds from the competition is the fact that they offer bonuses in order to attract and keep your business. You’d be hard-pressed to find a similar group of deals at retail books, as they are not nearly as concerned about you switching over to the competition right away.
• Live betting: Finally, the betting options online outnumber what you’ll find at retail sportsbooks due to bets you can place after the game begins — it’s not uncommon to find more than 100 bets you can make on a single game. Because of technological and practical considerations involved with in-person wagering, the logistics of trying to offer in-play bets in person are untenable in any meaningful way.

However, there’s no denying that the actual experience of being inside a sportsbook is superior to playing on your mobile device. The ability to lounge in comfortable chairs, watch games on huge screens, consult the multi-colored display board and order artery-clogging food is something that no sportsbook app can match. So, if you want to travel to a sportsbook for those reasons, it makes sense.

Retail sportsbooks in Maryland

Maryland law permits as many as 50 retail sportsbook licenses. Several of these slots are reserved for specific entities, such as the state’s casinos, racetracks, and off-track betting locations. Thirty of the 47 initial licenses are set aside for unrelated businesses to offer onsite sports betting, like restaurants and bars. Three more are reserved for any potential NBA, NHL or MLS teams that might relocate to Maryland.

It’s not clear exactly how many of these licenses the population of Maryland could support. For now, the following locations in the state have active sportsbooks:

Be sure to call ahead for your chosen book’s hours of operation.

How Maryland sports betting came to be

Maryland lawmakers introduced HB1014 in February 2018 to legalize sports betting in the Old Line State, even though a decision on PASPA was not expected until mid-2018. HB1014 passed the Maryland House in overwhelming fashion, though it died a quick death in committee upon reaching the Senate. A similar effort the following year, HB1132, did not even progress as far as its predecessor.

Lawmakers finally found some traction in 2020. A Senate effort, SB4, passed by unanimous vote in the upper chamber. But rather than hitting a wall like the last two attempts, it was met with only moderate resistance in the House. After some tinkering and negotiating, both chambers agreed to put the question to Maryland voters in November 2020.

Voters supported the measure by a 2:1 ratio. Legislators then passed the aforementioned HB0940 as an enabling measure in May 2021. Retail sportsbooks across the state began accepting wagers in December 2021.

As of Nov. 23, 2022, Marylanders are now also able to participate in online sports betting. 

While HB0940 ultimately allows for up to 60 online sportsbook apps in Maryland, launch occurred with seven initial operators. In total, 21 sports betting apps have applied for a license.

Here are several Maryland sports betting milestones:

• Voters approve MD sports betting referendum: November 2020
• Pass bill to legalize sports betting: April 2021
• Bill signed by Gov. Larry Hogan: May 2021
• Debut and discuss sports betting regulations: July 2021
• Open application process: September 2021
• Review applications: October-November 2021
• Regulatory approval of selected applications: November 2021
• Retail launch: December 2021
• Commission disparity study: March 2022
• Open mobile application process: September-October 2022
• Regulatory approval of selected mobile applications: Nov. 16, 2022
• Online launch: Nov. 23, 2022