Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland sports betting is alive and thriving with 11 different online sportsbooks plus numerous retail sportsbooks across the state. With so many options, there are plenty of Maryland online sportsbook bonuses and promotions available as the sites compete with one another. 

Here we have all the latest Maryland sports betting news and other information you can use. We share our picks for the best Maryland sports betting sites and how to get started wagering at Caesars, BetMGM, FanDuel, BetRivers, and other sites including Maryland’s own Crab Sports. We also cover how to claim Maryland sportsbook welcome bonuses, what sports and wagering opportunities are available, and everything else you need to know when betting on sports in the Old Line State. 

Best Maryland online sportsbooks October 2024

Rank

Sportsbooks

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Bet $5
Get $300

In Bonus Bets

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

• Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins
• PLUS Get 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
• Available on Desktop, Android & iOS
• Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+
• To Claim: Click Play Now

Play Now

2

$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

3

Up to $1,500

In Bonus Bets

BetMGM Sportsbook Review

• Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
• *Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
• Use Bonus Code: PLAYMD

Play Now

4

Up to $500

In Bonus Bets

• Up to $500 Back if Your First Wager Loses
• Maryland's Only Local Sportsbook
• 21+ T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit mdgamblinghelp.org
• Use Promo Code: PLAYMD

Play Now

5

Up to $1,000

In No Sweat Bets

Fanatics Sportsbook Review

• Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
• Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
• 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
• To Claim: Click Play Now

PLAY NOW

Our top Maryland sports betting sites

Of the many Maryland online sportsbooks currently live, some stand above the rest. We recommend you explore each option and make your own decision. If you’re curious, however, here are our top picks.

What online sportsbooks are available in Maryland?

There are 11 Maryland online sportsbooks. These include many of the top sports betting names in the industry as well as the Maryland-exclusive Crab Sports site.

Here are the 11 currently operating:

• Caesars
• BetMGM
• FanDuel
• BetRivers
• DraftKings
• Fanatics
• ESPN Bet
• Betfred
• SuperBook
• Crab Sports
• betPARX

The newest online sportsbook in Maryland is betParx which launched in Aug. 2022. PointsBet Sportsbook had been operating in Maryland until the end of Jan. 2024 when it was closed following PointBet’s acquisition by Fanatics.

What new sportsbooks could launch in Maryland?

Maryland law allows for up to 60 online sportsbooks to be licensed in the state. With just 11 currently up and running, that leaves a lot of room for others.

Right now both Betr and Bally Bet are expected to be launching soon in Maryland. Meanwhile, Queen Sportsbook and Bee-Fee are both moving 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.

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. 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 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.

Maryland is one of the only states in which you can bet on professional mini-golf. Also on the menu is NCAA lacrosse, a sport particularly popular in Maryland. 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. However, in Mar. 2024 the state stopped allowing prop bets on college players.

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. With an online sportsbook, you can instruct it to limit the amount of money that you can deposit within a certain timeframe, the amount of money that you can wager, and the time you spend on the app.

Setting those restrictions for yourself is a good first step if you are suffering from a compulsion to play. Maryland also offers several resources to pair you with the help 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, 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 with an in-person environment. 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. If you have a mobile device or laptop, a stable internet connection, and 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 odds and lines. Shopping for lines in a retail setting is much more difficult.
• Bonuses: Another benefit of online sports betting in Maryland is the competition. It is easy and fast to switch between sportsbooks online and each offers bonuses 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. This is due primarily to bets you can place after the game begins. It’s not uncommon to find more than 100 bets on a single game. Because of the practical considerations involved with in-person wagering and the logistics of trying to offer in-play bets in person, it’s almost impossible to do.

However, there’s no denying that the 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, such as restaurants and bars. Three more are reserved for 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 proactively introduced HB1014 in February 2018 to legalize sports betting in the Old Line State. This was ahead of the decision on PASPA which was not expected until mid-2018. HB1014 overwhelmingly passed the Maryland House, though it died a quick death in committee upon reaching the Senate. A similar effort the following year, HB1132, did not 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. Rather than hitting a wall like the last two attempts, it met 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, the 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
• Legislatures pass the bill to legalize sports betting: April 2021
• Gov. Larry Hogan signs the bill: May 2021
• Debut and discuss sports betting regulations: July 2021
• The open application process begins: September 2021
• Application reviews take place: October-November 2021
• Regulatory approval of selected applications begins: November 2021
• Sports betting retail launch takes place: December 2021
• The Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency starts its disparity study: March 2022
• The open mobile application process takes place: September-October 2022
• The approval of selected mobile applications begins: Nov. 16, 2022
• Online sportsbooks launch: Nov. 23, 2022