Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland online sports betting is officially live! The state’s first sportsbook apps went live in November 2022.

Seven online sportsbooks participated in the initial launch, including stalwarts like DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, FanDuel and PointsBet. Now, eight sportsbook apps are live in the state, and more licenses are expected to be awarded in 2023.

To keep you informed following launch, PlayMaryland has prepared a guide for how online sports betting works in Maryland, along with the best bonus offers.

Best Maryland online sportsbooks April 2023

Rank

Sportsbooks

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Visit DraftKings Sportsbook

Up to $1,200 BONUS

New User Bonus. T&Cs Apply.

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

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PLUS $50 Bonus Bet On Deposit

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To Claim: Click Play Now

Play now

2

Visit Caesars Sportsbook

Up to $1,500

On Caesars

Caesars Sportsbook Review

Stream NFL Games In App For Free

Bet Up to $100, Get a $100 Bet Credit Win or Lose

Or, Get Up to $1,500 Bet Credit on First Bet Loss

Promo Code: LEGALPICS

PLAY NOW

3

Visit BETMGM Sportsbook

$1,050 BOnus

Exclusive Special

BETMGM Sportsbook Review

BetMGM Exclusive $50 Bonus after First Bet

$1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets 

March Matchups Special - See BETMGM Review

Use Bonus Code: PLAYBONUS50

PLAY NOW

4

Visit FanDuel Sportsbook

$1,000

No Sweat First Bet

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

Up to $1,000 No Sweat First Bet

Available on Desktop, Android & iOS  

To Claim: Click Play Now

Play Now

5

Visit BetRivers

$500 BONUS

2nd Chance Bet

BetRivers Sportsbook Review

Up To $500 in Bet Credits

ONLY 1x Play Through!

Use Exclusive Bonus Code: PLAYRIV 

PLAY NOW

Is sports betting legal in Maryland?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Maryland. In-person sportsbooks opened in December 2021, while online sports betting took a bit longer to get started. Maryland’s first online sportsbook apps finally made their debut on Nov. 23, 2022.

Old Line State voters approved sports betting during the November 2020 election. The enabling sports betting law was signed by Gov. Larry Hogan in May 2021. Now, both in-person betting and online sports betting are live in the state.

When can I bet online in Maryland?

As of Nov. 23, online sports betting is live in Maryland. Seven legal online sports betting sites launched at first. Three others have been licensed, and as many as 11 additional operators have applied and could launch on a rolling basis later.

Other sites not listed on this page that are accepting bets in Maryland are offshore betting sites. These sites are not regulated by the state and are unsafe to play. Instead, online sportsbooks offer bettors a much safer alternative.

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.

How online sportsbook bonuses work

Sportsbook bonuses are a ubiquitous feature of online sports betting. Here, we list the best bonuses available from 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”).
• Risk-free bet: The sportsbook will compensate you for any losses on certain wagers or during certain time periods. For instance, if the sportsbook offers a risk-free first bet, and the first bet you place loses, you’d receive a refund as a free 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.

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

For most states, including Maryland, the notion of legal sports betting was largely moot until 2018. The presence of the federal ban on sports betting, PASPA, made any legalization at the state level a performative measure, rather than an efficacious one. However, once New Jersey’s attorney concluded their oral arguments in front of the US Supreme Court in December 2017, it seemed as though the wind might be blowing in a different direction.

With that in mind, 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.

In case you want a more concise description, here are the milestones that Maryland sports betting has passed:

• Voters approve 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