Maryland State Gambling Guide

Maryland has recently become a gambling-friendly state. They legalized table games in 2012 and daily fantasy sports in 2017.

Aside from greyhound racing, most forms of gambling are legal in Maryland.

But how does the Maryland government feel about online gambling?

You’ll find out on this page, our guide to Maryland gambling laws and sites.

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Online Gambling and Maryland Law

Is Online Gambling Legal in Maryland?

No, online gambling isn’t legal in Maryland.

There are no Maryland gambling laws that specifically cover internet gambling, but it’s safe to assume that the laws currently in place can also extend to online gambling.

Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in Maryland?

Getting arrested for gambling online in Maryland is unlikely. For one thing, their gambling laws only loosely apply to online gambling. For another, almost all law enforcement efforts in the United States focus on the providers, not the customers.

We couldn’t find information about any residents of Maryland who have been arrested for gambling online in Maryland.

Is Maryland Going to Legalize Online Gaming?

Legalized, regulated Maryland gambling sites could be a thing of the near future.

Maryland has been watching other states that have introduced regulated online poker and games to see how they fare.

If other states continue to profit and do well from regulated online gaming, we could see Maryland gambling sites within the next few years.

How Do I Choose a Good Online Gaming Site?

If you’re looking for Maryland gambling sites today, you’re probably going to be dealing with offshore companies. The state has no legalized, regulated casino or betting sites that are accepting Maryland customers yet.

But sites in other countries are often happy to accept gambling action from players in Maryland.

Follow the tips below to find a good online gaming site.

• Read Reviews

When reading through the reviews, look for bad reviews or complaints to see what other members don’t like about the site. Some such comments might be that the sites take a long time to pay players, or that they change their terms to scam members out of something. Be aware that some reviews can be biased. Some sites pay forums or review sites to write a review for them that include all the pros and none of the cons.

Read some of the reviews on our site for examples of detailed, thorough, unbiased online gambling site reviews.

• Promotions

Some sites offer unrealistic promotions, like a $5,000 sign up bonus. This might be a red flag that the site might not be a trustworthy option. When you find a site with a reasonable promotion, read the fine print. This gives you important information, like how much you must wager before you’ll be able to cash out the promotional money.

• Game Variety

Make sure the site you’re considering has your favorite games available, and maybe even some extra games you’re interested in. You don’t want to sign up for the site just to get bored a week later with the options they have available.

Some players are only interested in Texas hold’em. Others just want to bet on sports. Still others want lots of variety. Be sure the site you’re signing up for suits your needs in that respect.

• Deposit Options

Research the deposit options available on the site. If you’re not comfortable with any of the options available for use, there’s no need to consider the site. Always consider the cash-out options as well.

Are Offshore Gambling Sites Safe?

Offshore gambling sites can be safe. Look into the key points mentioned below to decide if the site you’re interested in is safe.

• Licensing

Look into the licensing details of each site. If a site isn’t licensed properly, you should look for another site that is. Some gaming licenses have strict regulations, so to get a feel for the safety of members, it’s a good idea to check what regulations your site has to follow .

• SSL Certificate

SSL technology is a certificate some sites buy that encrypts your information. Not all sites have this certificate, but it’s a bonus if they do. The technology encrypts information like your credit card number and social security number.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Maryland?

Daily fantasy sports became legal in early 2017.

A few important restrictions include:

• Operators don’t have to complete a registration or pay any fees.
• The legal age to enter a daily fantasy sports contest is 18.
• No contractors, directors, principals, officers, or employees of daily fantasy sports companies can take part in their contests.
• College sports can’t be used in daily fantasy sports contests
• A maximum deposit limit of $1,000 is placed on all new players. Players may request an increase in their limit from the operator.

Also On This Page

• Casino Games (Legal)
• Lottery (Legal)
• Sports and Race Betting (Parimuteul Only)
• Bingo (Charitable games only)
• Social Gambling (Illegal)

Casino Games: Legal

Casinos with casino games and slot machines are legal in Maryland.

Here’s information from the Maryland Gaming Resources & Information website about when gaming became legal in Maryland:

“In a 2008 constitutional referendum, voters approved the installation of video lottery terminals (slot machines) at five privately owned facilities in Maryland. In a 2012 referendum, voters approved the legalization of table games at Maryland casinos and the addition of a sixth facility in Prince George’s County.”

Here’s what the Maryland Lottery website says about casino gaming:

“The growth of the state’s casino gaming industry continued during FY2016, which marked the first time that five casinos were operating in Maryland for a full fiscal year. Gross gaming revenue totaled $1.144 billion, beating last year’s figure by $105 million (10.2 %).

Casino revenue contributed $402.5 million to the Maryland Education Trust Fund (ETF), an increase of $14.7 million (3.8 %) from FY2015. The ETF supports early childhood education, public elementary and secondary education, public school construction and capital improvement projects. Since the State’s first casino opened in 2010, more than $1.5 billion has gone to the ETF.”

Sports and Race Betting: Parimutuel Only

Maryland is home to the Preakness race, or the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Parimutuel betting on horse races is legal in Maryland.

Here’s some information about the Maryland Racing Commission according to their web site:

“The Maryland Racing Commission was formed in 1920 (Chapter 273, Acts of 1920). It licenses all persons, associations, or corporations that hold any horse racing meet within the State where racing is permitted for any stake, purse, or reward, as well as Satellite Simulcast Betting and intertrack betting.”

Greyhound racing is prohibited in Maryland.

Lottery: Legal

Maryland has a state regulated lottery.

Here’s some information from the Maryland Lottery website about where the money goes:

“In FY2016 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016), Maryland Lottery and Gaming contributed an all-time record of more than $1.079 billion to the State of Maryland to support good causes such as the Maryland Education Trust Fund; public health and safety; small-, minority- and women-owned businesses; horse racing; veterans’ organizations; and more. Lottery ticket sales generated $569.8 million for the State, while casino revenues contributed $510 million. The $1.079 billion total represents a 6.7 % increase from the previous record of $1.012 billion set in FY2015.”

Maryland Lottery games include:

• Pick 3
• Pick 4
• 5 Card Cash
• Multi-Match
• Cash4Life
• Mega Millions
• Powerball
• Keno
• Racetrax
• And Scratch-Offs

The Maryland Lottery offers a subscription service for Multi-Match and Mega Million games for residents.

Bingo: Charitable Games Only

In Maryland, charitable gaming laws differ based on what city or county you’re in.

Here are the general rules of bingo games in Maryland according to the Maryland Charitable Organization Gaming Laws:

“(a) Admission charge.- The charge for admission to a place in order to participate in bingo conducted under this part may not exceed $5. (b) Prize.- (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the value of a prize in money, merchandise, or services for any one game of bingo conducted under this part may not exceed $200. (2) Jackpot prizes may be offered in a maximum amount of $5,000. (3) “Winner Take All” games may be offered without a prize limit. (c) Employees conducting bingo.- A licensee’s employees and the terms of their employment must be approved by the board before they may conduct bingo under this part. (d) Minors prohibited.- A minor may not be allowed to participate in bingo conducted under this part. (e) Location.- Bingo may not be conducted under this part in a room or area where alcoholic beverages are sold or served during the game. (f) Number of days.- A licensee under this part may not conduct bingo on more than 125 days in a year.”

Social gambling: Illegal

Any form of social gambling is illegal. The only form of legal gambling is located at one of the six casinos, or at race tracks or OTB.

According to the Maryland Code:

“A person may not:

(1) bet, wager, or gamble;

(2) make or sell a book or pool on the result of a race, contest, or contingency;

(3) establish, keep, rent, use, or occupy, or knowingly allow to be established, kept, rented, used, or occupied, all or a part of a building, vessel, or place, on land or water, within the State, for the purpose of: (i) betting, wagering, or gambling; or (ii) making, selling, or buying books or pools on the result of a race, contest, or contingency; or

(4) receive, become the depository of, record, register, or forward, or propose, agree, or pretend to forward, money or any other thing or consideration of value, to be bet, wagered, or gambled on the result of a race, contest, or contingency.”

Gambling Venues in Maryland

The information below is from the Maryland Gaming Resources & Information website about the gambling venues in Maryland.

History of Gambling in Maryland

Additional Resources

• Maryland Gaming Resources and Information Table Game Rules
• Simulcast Betting Facilities in Maryland

Maryland’s Gambling Future

Aside from greyhound racing, you can find most forms of gambling in Maryland, and they’re on their way to legalizing more.

The recent legalization of daily fantasy sports contests seems like a good sign that Maryland is considering legalizing more online gambling activities. Maryland gambling sites could come within the next few years, with regulated online poker and/or more casino style games.