Online Gambling in Maryland: Quick Facts
- Legal Maryland online gambling options? Sports
- Legal gambling age: 21
- Who regulates Maryland online gambling? State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission
- Legal mobile gambling? Yes
- Do I need to be physically located in Maryland to gamble online? Yes
- Do I need to be a resident of Maryland to gamble online? No
- Sports available to bet on: Coming soon
A Brief History of Maryland Online Gambling
The state of Maryland has had a very interesting history when it comes to gambling. And the same can be said for online gambling. The recent popularity of online gambling throughout the US has made its way to Maryland. That has started to get some laws changed.
Maryland was a state with a pretty large gambling scene in the 1950s. But it was also one that was corrupt and was not safe. Lawmakers were looking to do something to fix this problem. They actually banned all slot machines in the state in 1963.
It wasn’t until 2008 when slot machines were once again legalized. 2012 saw new gaming laws to make casinos popular once again. There are just six casinos in Maryland at this time, but some of these are large properties.
Online gambling was never discussed when Maryland reintroduced casinos, but residents of the state got the discussion going. A vote in November 2020 gave the state power to legalize sports betting, and online gambling was included.
This will likely lead to further gambling expansion. That expansion will come in the form of new online gambling options.
Maryland Online Gambling: The Current Law
The legal gambling age in Maryland is 21 years of age.
Licensed casinos offer sports betting. All of that betting is done from inside of the state. You don’t have to be a resident to bet on sports online, but you have to physically be in Maryland.
Any other form of online casino gambling is prohibited. But there is some feeling amongst lawmakers that it should be offered as well.
Legal Online Sportsbooks in Maryland
There are a few different types of sports betting licenses available in Maryland. In fact, there will be close to 50 available. This could create an extremely competitive sports betting market, even though many licenses will be going to small businesses and retailers.
The professional teams in Maryland and the licensed casinos can apply for a Class A license. Those casinos or teams will then partner with a sports betting operator to begin taking wagers on sporting events.
DraftKings and FanDuel both played a role in Maryland getting sports betting authorized. They are expected to become big players in the state. BetMGM and PointsBet have also formed partnerships within Maryland and will be launching online sportsbooks in Maryland.
This state should see nearly all of the top companies apply for a license. There will be plenty of competition. Even though retail betting will be available also, most of the betting is expected to be done online.
Sports Betting in Maryland
The National Football League is expected to become the biggest market in Maryland, but the rest of the professional leagues will bring in action as well. The NBA, MLB, and NHL are all popular markets, but they aren’t as attractive as the NFL.
Each online sportsbook in Maryland will be able to determine the markets it wants to offer as well as the types of bets. With that being said, here are some of the top betting options you will see offered in Maryland:
Moneyline
A money line wager is the most basic type of bet you will find offered from a sportsbook. That's because you are simply picking which team you think will win a certain matchup. Betting on an underdog can earn you a nice payout while picking the betting favorite is a much safer play.
Points Spread
Point spread bets are popular with the NFL and NBA. But you can also find this type of bet on almost every sport. Most people refer to the point spread when talking about betting lines for a specific game.
Totals (Over/Under)
An over/under bet, or a totals bet, deals with the combined number of points, runs, or goals scored in a game. You don’t have to worry about determining which team will win the game with an over/under bet. That is something that some sports bettors enjoy.
Prop Bets
You have probably heard of prop betting when it comes time for the Super Bowl, but this type of betting is now available in nearly every sport. Each sportsbook will approach prop betting a little differently. That said, the top online sportsbooks will always have plenty of options to choose from.
Future Bets
Future bets are usually placed on which team will win the upcoming championship, like the Super Bowl, for example. The odds for this type of wager are released very early on. They are then updated throughout the season.
Parlay Bets
A parlay bet has become a terrific option for sports bettors that are looking to win big. This bet simply combines a bunch of smaller bets, or legs, into one large wager. This will be offered at online sportsbooks in Maryland, and you will likely see promotions with this type of bet as well.
Legal Online Casinos
Online casino gambling was not included in the most recent gaming expansion as the focus was simply on getting sports betting up and running. This will hurt the overall revenue for the state, and it is likely that lawmakers will eventually look to make this a legal form of gambling as well.
Even though Maryland does not have a long tradition with casino gambling, there are some big-time casinos currently available in the state. Maryland has been able to attract some large casino operators, and those companies have had some success in the online casino industry as well.
The MGM National Harbor Casino and Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland are two of the biggest in the state. These two casinos would likely become the leaders in iGaming if given the opportunity, but all six of the properties would seek a license.
Legal Online Poker in Maryland
Poker is available at four of the six land-based casinos in Maryland, and some have large poker rooms to enjoy. This means that Maryland does not have a rule in place to outlaw poker, and that could help online poker launch as well.
It is not a guarantee that online poker sites will become legal with online casinos, but most states choose to do it that way. There are specific online poker sites that have the means to offer great playing options for customers, and those sites would be looking to launch in Maryland.
How to Set Up a Maryland Online Gambling Account
When online gambling is finally launched in the form of sportsbooks, one of the first things you will have to do is set up an account. Maryland will allow you to complete this process online or through a mobile app, and that makes the process easier.
Online sportsbooks and online casinos have made this signup process extremely simple, but there are some steps that you will need to complete. You will first need to provide some personal information, and then you will be allowed to choose a username and password.
Here is some of the personal information that you will have to provide these sites:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Street Address
- Email Address
- Social Security Number (At Least Last Four Digits)
You might wonder why these sites need your social security information, but that is needed so that your identity can be verified. That information is not stored, and you don’t have to worry about your identity being stolen.
The next step is to select a username and password to use when signing into the site each time. You will want to pick information that is unique to you but make sure you write this down so that you don’t forget it.
From there, you can access your new account and make your first payment to get some money in your account. Be sure to take advantage of the welcome bonuses and promotions that are available to you.
Maryland Banking Methods
Another thing that you will be impressed by when signing up for an online gambling account is the number of banking options that you will find on each site. Banking methods at online gambling sites continue to improve, and the speed at which these processes can happen have gotten better as well.
It’s hard to predict the payment options listed for each online gambling site in Maryland, but there are some that will be offered throughout. A credit/debit card is still an option that can be used, but it is no longer the top option.
An online bank transfer has emerged as a great way to fund an online gambling site, but only if your banking institution will allow that to happen. You can also use an eCheck to make a deposit, but that method has started to become less popular.
Sites or apps such as PayPal and Neteller are now two of the biggest deposit options that you will find. With these, you can link your two accounts together, and then the money can be sent back and forth quickly and easily.
It is important to note that there won’t be as many withdrawal options offered, but that is simply the nature of how online banking works. Withdrawal processes can also take longer to complete, but you will still receive your winnings in a timely manner.
Always remember that all of the banking you do at online gambling sites is safe and secure, and you won’t have to worry about money being lost or stolen. If you do ever run into a problem when it comes to banking, then you can visit the site’s customer service department for help.
The Future of Online Gambling in Maryland
Online sports betting is already coming to Maryland, and that could easily lead to bigger and better things in the future. If online sports betting becomes a big hit in Maryland, then you can expect the state to explore some other options.
There is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the potential of Maryland online sports betting as there will be plenty of licenses available. It could take a few years before online casinos become an option, but things are trending in that direction.
