Maryland has distinguished itself as one of the most democratic sports betting states, allowing local sportsbooks to compete with the big dogs in mobile and retail settings.
Disclaimer: For those outside of Maryland, you may face restrictions on the offers you see on this page.
"Crab cakes and football, that's what Maryland does!"
This may not have been the most memorable line from the ever-quotable film "Wedding Crashers," but it was a pretty memorable one. And it was likely the most memorable line to Marylanders, who have indeed embraced crab cakes and football with equal vigor. In fact, Marylanders can bet on the Ravens or Terrapins through a locally based mobile app called Crab Sports, which really ties the room together.
Having launched sports betting a bit later than some of its Mid-Atlantic counterparts, Maryland has distinguished itself as one of the most democratic sports betting states, allowing for up to 60 mobile and 47 retail licensees. While it's highly unlikely that all of those licenses will ever be claimed, Maryland regulations ensure that the likes of Crab Sports can compete with DraftKings, or that a neighborhood sports bar can set up a retail sportsbook down the street from one operated within a massive casino.
Current Sportsbooks
10Licenses Allowed
60Horseshoe Baltimore Casino: 1525 Russell St., Baltimore, MD, 21230
Long Shot's: 5400 Holiday Dr, Frederick, MD 21703
Northwest Stadium: 1600 Ring Rd, Landover, MD 20785
Riverboat on the Potomac Casino: 201 Beach Terrace, Colonial Beach, VA 22443 (located on Maryland waters)
Live! Casino & Hotel: 7002 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD, 21076
Sports & Social: 11800 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Mobile Sportsbook
MGM National Harbor Casino: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD, 20745
November 3, 2020
Marylanders give a thumbs-up to sports betting at the ballot box, clearing the way for the state legislature to formally legalize it.
May 18, 2021
Governor Larry Hogan signs HB 940 into law, thus affirming the will of the voters and setting sports wagering in Maryland on a path toward launch.
November 18, 2021
Maryland's Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) awards the state's first sports betting licenses to five casino properties in the state.
December 9, 2021
MGM National Harbor accepts Maryland's first in-person sports wager. A day later, Horseshoe Casino and Live! Casino would follow suit.
November 16, 2022
The SWARC approves licenses for 10 mobile sportsbooks. The next day, it's announced that seven of them will be ready to launch on Nov. 23.
November 23, 2022
After a soft launch on Nov. 21 and a day's break for a state regulatory review, online sports betting fully launches in Maryland, with Barstool, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet going live.
Sports betting is fully legal in Maryland, which launched retail wagering before the online version went live.
Anyone who is at least 21 years of age can bet on sports in Maryland, provided they are physically located within state boundaries.
Sports wagering is regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC), while applications for licenses are reviewed and approved by the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC).
Bettors are afforded a smorgasbord of sports betting options in Maryland, including: esports, Australian Rules Football, badminton, baseball, basketball, biathlon, bowling, boxing, cornhole, cricket, cycling, darts, Ultimate Frisbee, floorball, football, futsal, Gaelic Games, golf, handball, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, MMA, motorsports, netball, Olympics, pesapallo, pickleball, pool, rodeo, rowing, rugby, sailing, snooker, soccer, softball, squash, surfing, summer athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo, winter athletics, chess, NCAA wrestling, pro mini-golf, and equestrian.
You could place pretty much any type of wager on sports above the high school level until Maryland outlawed college player props in 2024. Unlike in some other states, betting is allowed on in-state colleges and player drafts like those held by the NFL and NBA.
Maryland was one of the first states to expressly permit daily fantasy sports contests, having done so in 2012. The state also boasts one of the most robust roster of DFS operators, a list that includes the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog, and Yahoo, as well as several smaller entities.
Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course is home to the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Pimlico opened in 1870, and the state is home to four additional racetracks: Laurel Park, Ocean Downs, Rosecroft Raceway, and Timonium Race Track. Maryland also boasts several off-track betting locations for simulcast wagering, and horseplayers can gamble from home (or on their phone) through various account-wagering platforms.
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