Online Casinos in Maryland

Runner-up in the median U.S. household income (only Washington D.C. is ahead), Maryland is fertile soil for gambling. However, while allowing all imaginable forms of land-based gambling except for sports betting, the state still misses clear laws and regulations on online gambling. The good news is, though, that the important changes are already brewing, and more likely than not, bettors from Maryland will soon be able to put wagers on Olympic events, college sports, auto racing, and eSports.

Laws Affecting Online Gambling in Maryland

Just like any other U.S. state, Maryland is entitled to establish gambling laws independently while complying with the U.S. Federal Law. The main state regulative body is the State Lottery and Gambling Control Agency, which regulates gaming at Maryland casinos (however, the licenses to operate video lottery facilities in brick-and-mortar casinos were issued by the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission).

As for online gambling, you can only indulge in social gaming: a few operators – Big Fish, Double Down, MyVegas, etc. – provide social casino options through Facebook pages and apps. The rest forms of online gambling are murky, unregulated waters.

Therefore, answering the question ‘is online gambling legal in Maryland,’ we can only say that obviously it boils down to whether one believes the existing laws on land-based gambling can be applied to online gambling: there are neither Maryland online gambling laws nor references to online gambling in the existing laws that cover land-based gambling. And if to stick to the common principle of ‘what is not prohibited is allowed,’ which, in our opinion, makes sense here, then it’s only natural to assume that you are allowed to play online from Maryland at any online casinos.

Sports Betting in Maryland

At the time of writing, sports betting is prohibited in Maryland. However, the changes are already on the horizon: Senate Bill 4 was put forward to consider the legalization of sports betting. According to the document, sports betting licenses would be issued by the state at a fixed upfront payment of $2.5 million and a $250,000 annual fee to prolong the license. The lion’s share of the proceeds from sports betting – 80% – would go to the sportsbook, whereas the rest would go to the Education Trust Fund of Maryland.

As for online sports betting, there’s currently no information as to whether it’s supposed to be regulated by the bill, which is why online sports betting – just like other forms of online gambling – will likely remain possible at international online sportsbooks only.

Interesting Facts About Online Gambling in Maryland

Gambling has been playing a huge role in Maryland since the state was admitted to the Union. In fact, the state infrastructure was built on the revenues from lotteries, raffles, and other forms of gambling – starting with Church lotteries legalized in 1791 – provided by colonial governments at the end of the 18th century.

The period between the second half of the 19th up to the end of the 20th century was kind of idle – nothing happened except for the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in 1920 – while the last few decades brought a huge legalization wave to enable almost all forms of land-based gambling, and even the legalization of sports betting was put under consideration after slot machines (2008) and table games (2012) had been legalized.

As for the future of Maryland online gambling, chances are the state will follow the best practices of Nevada, Illinois, California, Delaware, and other peers that legalized online gambling to enable an additional seven-figure source of income to the state budget.

Getting Help for Problem Gambling in Maryland

Maryland is one of the states that pay due attention to problem gambling. The public funding of problem gambling started in 2008 and continues up to the day. The organizations that cover problem gambling are the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling, the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The fact sheet on problem gambling in the state is available by the link.

In addition, there are a number of nationwide resources:

• National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, chat: ncpgambling.org/chat.
• Gamblers Anonymous, an experience-sharing fellowship fighting gambling addiction and gambling-related problems.
• Gam-Anon, a self-help organization for compulsive gamblers.
• GamTalk, an online support forum.

The best help is, though, your consciousness while playing on the USA online gambling websites and awareness of the possible unfavorable consequences of excessive gambling.

There are six land-based casinos in the state – Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, Hollywood Casino Perryville, Live Casino & Hotel, Ocean Downs, and MGM National Harbor – which, unlike online gambling in Maryland, are totally legal and provide the fullest range of games and entertainment. And while it’s almost impossible to rank them from the best to the worst – not only because it’s a matter of taste, but also for the reason of strong competition – we did dare to separate the three best casinos from the rest: MGM National Harbor, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, and Rocky Gap Casino Resort.

MGM National Harbor

Three years were needed to erect state-of-the-art MGM National Harbor, a casino hub of 135,000 square feet of gambling floor, thousands of slot machines, 165 table games, and who knows how many other amenities. The venue is operated by MGM Resorts International, owned by MGM Growth Properties, and located in Oxon Hill.

• Slots. Over 3,100 slot machine titles unite old-school games and most in-demand slots of a broad range of denominators, from one cent to one hundred dollars (there’s even a special high-limit room with 48 exclusive games!). The all-encompassing line includes Dancing Drums, 88 Fortunes, Dragon Spin, Lighting Link, Wheel of Fortune, Jackpot Inferno, and other popular titles.
• Table games. In addition to the well-known table games – blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker – the casino floor employs new & exotic titles – Crapless, Craps, Casino War, Spanish 21, and a few more. To get the most out of table games and slots, attend the gambling floor from Sunday till Thursday to take advantage of a $4 bonus on beer, wine, and cocktails.
• Poker. The casino hosts No-Limit Hold ’em, Pot Limit Omaha, 5 Card Omaha & 5 Card Omaha Hi-Lo, and Limit Hold ’em, as well as regular poker tournaments. Betting limits can be increased upon request.

Last but not least, make sure to check the promo page for the hottest offers.

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

Enjoying the second-highest revenue among the state casinos, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore employs 2,202 slot machines, 178 table games, and provides dozens of amenities such as restaurants, steak houses, beautiful sights, live shows & events, and more. The casino opened on August 26, 2014.

• Slots. Whether you are going to become the next slot tournament champion (the previous one, Richard B. of Maryland, became the biggest slot tournament winner ever to grab a sweet check of $500,000) or willing to relax at penny slots, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has it all, from penny machines to huge denominators, up to $500.
• Table games. An exclusive high-limit gaming area, 100x odds on craps, more than a hundred and a half tables – here you will find all bells and whistles to excel in blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and poker variations. Exotic games and derivatives (for example, Chase the Flush) included.
• Off-track betting. Want to bet on the outcome of distant racetrack events? No problem! Wanna make penny bets? No problem! The minimum wager is one dollar.

Explore other things to do in Baltimore to have a greater time with the casino.

Rocky Gap Casino Resort

Rested on the ground of Rocky Gap State Park, the eponymous casino grew from 558 slots and 10 live table games in 2013 to 665 slots and 18 table games in 2020. Along with that, Rocky Gap Casino Resort provides spa service, golf lessons, and mouth-watering dishes at local restaurants and bars. Entertainment shows are here as well.

• Slots. Over 600 slot machines are waiting for your next bet. Be it a penny bet or a pocket-emptying wager, you have all the chances to win at the advanced high-RTP slots. Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel, Dragon Link, Wheel of Fortune, and other renowned titles are at your disposal.
• Table games. Lots of winning hands are dealt daily at roulette, poker, and blackjack tables at Rocky Gap Casino Resort. Yours can be the next one!
• Lotteries. If lotteries are what makes you tick, then you are all set to excel at Pick 3, Pick 4, PowerBall, Keno, Racetrax, Mega Millions, and Scratch Offs, all games with solid winning odds and exciting anticipation.

Even though online gambling in Maryland is not authorized by the state, there are lots of international casinos you can play at. On paper, you are not protected when accessing offshore gambling venues, and can even be penalized for it, but in reality, nothing stands between you and the online casino of your dreams.

Below are three top-notch picks from our list of Maryland online casinos – feel free to sign up with one of those: chances are you will find there luscious perks & promos, and you might not even need real money to win there!

• Ignition. Ignite your engine with the energy of the powerful offers at Ignition Casino, starting your adventure with a 200% welcome bonus up to $2,000 and expanding it to poker bonuses, weekly poker freeroll bonus, tell-a-friend bonus, a $1,000 match bonus on BTC deposits, and more. Achieve the maximum result with the mentioned bonuses and don’t forget about the betting section where you can put wagers on horse races, dog races, camel races, soccer, and more professional sports.
• Eclipse. The whopping range of slots and games along with lucrative perks & bonuses provided can eclipse your mind, but stay strong while grabbing everything you like at Eclipse Casino. Choose between 300% welcome bonus, 305% match bonus on slots, monthly bonus, and special 210% bonus + 45 free spins…or take everything at once! Traditional slots & table games powered up with video poker and special games look like everything you need to feel comfortable with your gambling choice.
• Bovada. What about a luscious 100% welcome bonus up to $3,000? Not only Bovada Casino provides the mentioned dizzying perk, but it also enables more than 120 casino games to choose from, including slots, baccarat, bingo, poker, craps, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and a few exotic titles along with horse-race betting. Bovada is mobile and bitcoin-friendly (BTC cashout supported!), so you can top up your balance from anywhere, anytime.