Maryland Betting Sites

Formerly known for its anti-betting stance, the Free State now permits land-based casinos and online sports betting. A 2020 referendum saw Maryland’s residents vote on the legalization of some forms of wagering, and this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the state’s latest rules. 

We’ve also curated a list of Maryland’s best betting sites — so once you’ve read through the laws and history concerning sports betting and general gambling, feel free to sign up to a recommended platform. 

Is Online Betting Legal in Maryland?

Online sports betting is legal in Maryland. The NFL, MLS, NHL, NBA, and MLB are all popular picks among punters within the state — with recent laws allowing for wagers on sports across the US and the world.

However, be aware that cash accrued from sports betting is subject to tax implications — as is standard in the US. Winning bets worth more than $500 require the bettor to pay tax within 60 days, while gains of $5,000 or greater are taxed in the same way as a salary. As such, the sportsbook is required to hold onto a slice of the player’s returns and transfer them to the state to cover the tax costs. For visitors to the state, the tax amount stands at 7%. The rate for residents is 8.75%. 

Be under no illusion when it comes to geographical restrictions. Although sports betting is legal in Maryland, that isn’t the case across the nation. When visiting a state with rules against online sports betting, you can’t legally place wagers on your Maryland-based sportsbook account. Sportsbooks utilize geo-location tracking software to prevent cross-border betting — so there’s little point in trying to game the system. 

If you’re in Maryland, you’re free to bet on any sport supported by your licensed sportsbook of choice. Please be sure to stick to safe, licensed operators, though. While you won’t break any laws by signing up for offshore platforms, there are no guarantees that your information is safe.

As online casinos aren’t available in Maryland right now, there are no virtual casino laws, tax information, or regulations to discuss.

Popular Sports to Bet on in Maryland

Every bettor has a favorite sport — be it a niche pick such as lacrosse, or a world-renowned sport like soccer. This part of our guide covers the most popular sports to bet on in Maryland.

NFL

The Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders serve as Maryland’s representatives in the NFL, with supporters flocking to FedExField and the M&T Bank Stadium in their thousands. 

The NFL season usually gets going at the start of September. The opening of a new campaign is often sprinkled with hope from supporters — and Ravens fans can invest in this hope by betting  at sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Maryland’s lawmakers placed no restrictions on NFL markets, thus allowing for wagers across a wide range of options. 

NBA

Maryland may not have an NBA team located in the state, but that shouldn’t prevent punters from following the sport. The state’s adoration for basketball is evidenced by viewing figures from the NCAA Women’s National Championship and college matchups, with millions of fans tuning in to both. 

Many NBA fans will tell you that the Washington Wizards were once named the Baltimore Bullets and called Maryland home. A strong Maryland following remains behind the team, and bettors can put money on the Wizards making the playoffs — unlikely as that may be — at licensed bookmakers.

MLB

Maryland hosts Baltimore Orioles games at Oriole Park in Camden Yards. Aptly named after a species of blackbird commonly seen in the state, the O’s represent the best of the Old Line State’s baseball prowess. Generations of families have stuck with the team for decades; from the three World Series between 1966 and 1983 to the recent rebuild of the early 2020s. 

NHL

Like the NBA, Maryland’s history with ice hockey has seen many teams come and go. The Baltimore Bandits, Clippers, and Slipjacks each competed in the AHL — the American Hockey League — and all three sides are now defunct. Even more disappointing was the move of the Washington Capitals from Landover to the nation’s capital.

The state’s difficult past hasn’t put a stop to bettors’ enthusiasm for ice hockey. Sportsbooks like Caesar’s, FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet all provide a range of NHL markets, supplying an avenue for Maryland residents to keep up to date with the latest NHL odds. 

Horse Racing

Horse racing is arguably Maryland’s most important sport. Part of the Triple Crown is run at Pimlico Race Course, while tracks like Ocean Downs, Laurel Park, Rosecroft Raceway, and Timonium Race Course host races throughout the year. FanDuel dishes out live racing odds during every event, along with TwinSpires and TVG. The latter of these options, TVG, is best known for its streaming service. Bettors can watch live events while betting on the biggest races. 

Betting Markets Available in Maryland

Support for the NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, and horse racing counts for nothing if there aren’t any markets to choose from. From standard selections like moneyline bets, to more complex wagers like ATS — Against the Spread — this section breaks down the four major types of bet.

Moneyline

A market as old as betting itself, moneyline wagers are the most basic online sports bets. Comprising two options — a favorite and an underdog — bettors are tasked with choosing which side shall come out on top. 

Selections listed with a positive symbol, like +150, are underdogs. A negative symbol, such as -150, represents the favorites. Bets on underdogs pay out more, whereas wagers on the favorite are less profitable. 

Here’s an example of how moneyline odds are listed on sportsbooks.

• Baltimore Ravens are -150 to win.
• Chicago Bears are +150 to win.

Positive odds tell you how much money you’ll receive by betting $100 on an outcome. In the above example, putting down $100 on the Ravens would return $150. Negative odds inform you of the necessary bet size to claim $100 from the wager. By betting on the Bears at -150, you’d need to risk $150 for a $100 return.

Parlay

Parlays are the most basic type of combination bet. In short, parlays consist of multiple bets from different events in the same sport. Bettors create parlay selections to get better odds and increase their potential returns from a wager.

For example, let’s look at some potential selections on the NFL. 

• Bills to beat the Jets at -130.
• Vikings to beat the Eagles at +280.
• Ravens to beat the Bengals at +135.
• Packers to beat the Falcons at -115.

By merging these picks into one parlay bet, our total odds come to +2853. A $10 wager would return an impressive $295.38, which demonstrates why parlays are so popular among bettors. 

Another type of parlay is called the ‘same-game parlay’. Unlike the parlays discussed above, same-game parlays consist of multiple bets on a single game. 

Over/Under

Have you ever tuned into a soccer match and felt that both teams are capable of scoring multiple goals? Or are you often the pessimist, believing neither side boasts enough attacking quality to make it a high-scoring affair?

Over/under bets cover people on both sides of the coin.

The ‘over’ market provides odds on a particular statistic being beaten. For instance, a bet on ‘over 2.5 goals’ in a soccer game needs three or more goals to win. 

The ‘under’ market supports the other end of the spectrum, with bets on ‘under 2.5 goals’ requiring two or fewer goals to be scored. The same goes for corners, passes, bookings, fouls and more. 

Against the Spread

Betting ‘against the spread’ — also known as ATS — adds an extra layer of risk to your wager. Rather than betting on a simple ‘win or lose’ outcome, this bet-type puts one team at an imaginary advantage. Let’s run through an example.

The Eagles are listed at -110 to beat the Vikings, with a spread of -7.5. In layman's terms, this means the Eagles must beat and outscore the Vikings by 7.5 points for the wager to win. 

What if the Eagles’ odds were listed at -110 with a point spread of +7.5? In this instance, the Eagles can either win the game by any score or lose by no more than 7.5 points.

Betting Apps Available in Maryland

Mobile betting apps are designed to be used on the go. Whether you’re on the couch, commuting to work, taking a walk, or waiting on food — these apps are accessible as long as you’re connected to the internet. 

In addition to placing bets, welcome bonuses and offers for existing customers are also available on mobile betting apps, often exclusively. Thus, mobile sportsbooks are the ideal choice for iPhone and Android users. Read on for three top apps you can download today. 

BetMGM 

A stalwart in the US sports betting industry, BetMGM wasted no time in heading to Maryland towards the end of 2022. Now with a free downloadable app for iOS and Android devices, bettors can sign up to claim the sportsbook’s $1,500 bonus bet welcome offer.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Founded in 2018, the DraftKings Sportsbook follows in the footsteps of its sister site, DraftKings Daily Fantasy. Similar to fellow industry leader, BetMGM, DraftKings released an app specifically designed for bettors based in Maryland. Supporting iOS and Android smartphones, this app lets players bet on live events and withdraw cash quickly. 

Barstool

Famous for entertaining social media clips across various internet platforms, Barstool is also a big name in sports betting. Like the other apps mentioned here, Barstool’s release is free to install and boasts rave reviews. 4.7 stars on the App Store and 4.0 stars on the Google Play Store from a combined 37,000 ratings make Barstool one of the highest-rated sportsbook apps around. 

Payment Methods Available at Maryland Betting Sites

Depositing and withdrawing money at Maryland’s sports betting sites is fast and simple, whether you like to pay by e-wallets, bank cards and prepaid cards, and many more payment solutions. 

Below, we take a look at four of the most popular banking methods in Maryland.

Bank Cards

Perhaps the most popular option of all, credit and debit cards are accepted at every Maryland sportsbook we’ve reviewed. From Visa to American Express and everything in-between, you can deposit using bank cards with the likes of BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, and others. The only drawback is that withdrawals via card take between 2 to 5 working days — a lengthier wait compared to e-wallets — so keep that in mind for when it comes time to transfer funds out of your account. 

E-wallets

PayPal and Skrill are perhaps the two most commonly supported e-wallets at Maryland sportsbooks. Quick withdrawals are likely the main reason for this success, with sportsbooks like BetMGM supporting outward transfers within 24 hours. On top of rapid payouts, e-wallets also protect users' sensitive banking information, making them one of the safest ways to make and receive payments.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are the store vouchers of the betting world. Remember the days when you’d buy a GameStop or BestBuy gift card? Well, prepaid cards work in much the same way. Just purchase a prepaid card online or in-store with cash or card, then enter the card number into the sportsbook’s cashier. 

Play+ is a prepaid card with plenty of hype behind it. Essentially, you link your bank account to a Play+ card and your sports betting account. Deposits and withdrawals then flow through your prepaid card account. Many sportsbooks have partnered with Play+, which, like e-wallets, boasts extremely fast deposit and withdrawal speeds.  

Wire Transfer

Wire transfers are far from the fanciest banking method, yet a large portion of bettors still opt for this option due to the little-to-no fees and high transaction limits. Slower withdrawal times are the sole drawback, with waiting periods of 5 to 7 days. That said, high rollers will find this payment method quite useful for larger transfers. 

Maryland Betting Timeline

It’s been a turbulent few years for Maryland’s hopeful punters and regulatory bodies. With referendums, lengthy disparity studies and many delays — you’d be forgiven for thinking sports betting would never arrive in the Free State. Let’s have a closer look at recent developments:

November 2020: Voters hit the stalls to decide whether or not sports betting should be legal. The outcome is a resounding ‘yes’. 

May 2021: Bill 940 is signed by Gov. Hogan, allowing for the legalization of sports betting in Maryland. 

December 2021: Retail sportsbooks take Maryland’s first-ever sports wagers.

September 2022: After studying whether minority groups and female-led businesses should be given priority over other entities, lawmakers announced that the state is on course to roll out licenses for sportsbooks before Christmas.

October 2022: SWARC — Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Committee — reveals that operators will receive sports betting licenses by the end of November.

November 2022: Sports betting is officially launched in Maryland, with seven sportsbooks — FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, PointsBet, Barstool, Caesars, and BetRivers — welcoming new accounts on the morning of November 23rd, 2022. 

Compare Maryland Betting Sites and Sign Up

Maryland is one of just over 20 states to offer full-fledged, legal, online sports betting services. Since its inception in November 2022, bettors have enjoyed punts on the FIFA World Cup, as well as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. 

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, PointsBet, Barstool, Caesars, and BetMGM were just the start. Since its inception, operators like Betfred, SuperBook, and Fanatics have established platforms in Maryland, and you can expect more newcomers as time goes on. Claim the latest bonuses at the newest sportsbooks to hit Maryland by clicking here. 

Frequently Asked Questions