Maryland Internet Gambling
Maryland's primary form of gambling is horse racing. In fact, this is among the state's most prominent industries. Maryland also boasts the Preakness Stakes, which is one of horse racing's most famous races. The majority of the gambling industry in the state of Maryland takes place online. This Swedish virtual casino game provider has more than 23 years of experience in the. Maryland lawmakers go back and forth when it comes to online gambling. More recently, they seem to be leaning towards the possibility of legal domestic online gambling. Brick-and-mortar casino gambling is somewhat new, so the delay between land-based casinos and state-regulated online casinos is.
Making the top 10 in casino gross gaming revenue, Maryland residents love to gamble, especially online! But as the state covers 12,407 square miles, there’s a chance you’re not even close to any of the 15 land-based casinos in MD. The good news is, you can still get in on some real money casino action! Maryland online casinos have exploded in the market over the past two decades, offering residents and visitors the chance to try their luck and win big all from the comfort of their own homes.| Rank | Online Casino | Key Info | Bonus Info | Visit Casino |
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What Makes These the Top Maryland Online Casino Sites?
Our list of the top Maryland online casinos was not stitched together in five minutes with a few Google searches. We have a team dedicated to finding and analyzing online casinos that service Maryland customers. It’s an extensive process, but the results are the list of the top casino sites above. In the following sections, we’ll take a short look at a few of the criteria our team is looking to find.
Excellent Marks in Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness
For the best Maryland online casino sites to make our recommended list, they need to excel in many areas. Hands down, the most important of those areas is safety, security, and trustworthiness. We stand firm on the fact that you shouldn’t have to worry about your money, your safety, or the fairness of the casino games you play online.
All of the best Maryland online casinos we recommend received high marks in these three areas.
Here are a few of the qualities we used to make those determinations:
- Proper installation of SSL certificates
- A proactive and not reactive approach to security
- Dedicated teams actively eliminating external threats
- Upgraded servers and software to meet today’s standards
- Random number generators regularly tested for fairness
The Casino Games That Maryland Players Want to Play
There’s one thing Maryland residents love more than blue crab… Just kidding! There is nothing we love more. But a close second is gambling and casino games! We’re 11th on the all-state list of yearly lottery sales and 10th in gross gaming casino revenue!
Check out the summarize snippets below:
| Lottery Ticket Sales by State (in billion U.S. dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3.05 | ||
| New York | 9.69 | ||
| California | 6.28 | ||
| Florida | 6.06 | ||
| Massachusetts | 5.22 | ||
| Texas | 5.07 | ||
| Georgia | 4.56 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 4.14 | ||
| Ohio | 3.93 | ||
| New Jersey | 3.29 | ||
| Michigan | 3.1 | ||
| Illinois | 2.86 | ||
| North Carolina | 2.38 | ||
| Virginia | 2.01 | ||
| Gross Gambling Revenue by State (in million U.S. dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1,746.36 | ||
| Nevada | 11,917.37 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 3,251.2 | ||
| New Jersey | 2,903.48 | ||
| New York | 2,587.74 | ||
| Louisiana | 2,561.46 | ||
| Indiana | 2,240.84 | ||
| Mississippi | 2,142.06 | ||
| Ohio | 1,863.94 | ||
| Missouri | 1,754.47 | ||
| Iowa | 1,467.33 | ||
| Michigan | 1,444.1 | ||
| Illinois | 1,373.46 | ||
| Colorado | 842.1 | ||
Based on our anecdotal research, we’ve found that Maryland gamblers are particularly fond of keno, roulette, blackjack, poker, and slots. When we’re creating our list of the top Maryland online casinos, we pay special attention to these games. We’re looking for casinos that offer a well-rounded series of options, but also with some special attention to these Maryland favorites.
The Highest-Quality Online Casino Experience Available
Maryland Online Gambling
Technology has come too far in this industry for you ever to consider settling for a less than perfect online casino. In the early days, we’d cut companies slack because everything was new. Now, though, you will not see any Maryland online casino sites on our recommended list that do not excel in every way possible.
Here are some of the ways the best Maryland online casinos we recommended above shine when it comes to offering a quality product:
- The highest quality games
- An impressive selection of games to choose from
- Crips graphics and smooth animations
- Seamless gameplay
- Lots of banking options properly integrated
- Superior customer service
Are Maryland Online Casinos Legal?
When you dig into the Maryland lawbooks, you will find several sections concerning land-based casinos and riverboat casinos.
What you won’t see, though, is any mention of laws concerning online gambling. This seems like an open and shut case to us as well as many gaming attorneys.
But some legal minds feel differently. Their case says that because the lawbooks don’t say it’s legal, then it is illegal. This guilty due to omission approach does not hold water. Nowhere in the MD codes of law does it say that using a calculator is legal. Does this mean we have to revert to counting on our fingers?
While we will concede the legality of Maryland online casinos could be more transparent, we stand by our interpretation of the rulebooks. The only laws that address this issue within this jurisdiction are federal statutes. However, these laws only concern casino owners and operators. Unless you’re looking to open your own Maryland online casinos, you have nothing to worry about. All that said, you still have options if you need a more unambiguous answer.
Breaking Down the Legality of Land-Based Casinos in Maryland
Whether you’re looking for table games, slots, or poker, you’ll be pleased with what the state of Maryland allows to operate within its borders.
Here’s the landscape by the numbers:
- 15 casinos
- 11,974 slots and gaming machines
- 488 table games
- 129 live poker tables
- Live gambling offered in 11 cities across MD
According to the Maryland legal codes, gambling’s definition is the following:
“Wagering or betting in any manner to receive something of value dependent upon the result of any race, contest or contingency.”
Live casino action is alive and well in the state of Maryland. According to our understanding of the laws, there are no restrictions on casino games within the state. You are free to play what you want and when you want.
Thankfully, the best Maryland online casinos are picking up the slack.
Predictions for the Future of Maryland Online Casinos
Where does the Maryland online casino market go from here? It’s our prediction that the simple answer is up. In a state where legalized gambling is everywhere, you can expect the same trend to continue when they begin regulating and addressing online casinos.
For now, the best Maryland online casinos can operate without much regulation, which is excellent for them but not ideal for you. It’s the Wild West.
When this happens, they’ll be looking for their cut from the Maryland online casino sites but, in return, will be providing a much safer gaming landscape for you.
We can’t guarantee this will happen or that it will happen anytime soon. But based on our understanding of the market and the recent growth of online poker in the state, the only direction to move is forward. Additionally, recent attempts to fast-track sports betting legislation in Maryland leads us to believe good things are to come.
Maryland Online Casino Sites FAQ
- Racing (1870), Lottery (1972), Bingo (1952), Casinos (2008)
- $900 million
- $2.8 billion
- Bingo, racing and lottery: 18 Casinos: 21
- Smoking is not permitted in any indoor businesses in Maryland.
- Horse racing
While Maryland casinos were legalized later than other states in the region, is has no aversion to gambling. Horse racing dates back to the 19th Century. The regulation was originally left up to the city governments before pari-mutuel betting went online early in the 20th Century. The state permits charities to offer bingo and other games of chance.
Maryland casinos were not approved until 2008. Resort casinos and some racetracks may offer Atlantic City style gambling.
Paying Gambling Taxes in Maryland
Do you have to pay taxes on your gambling winnings? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.
Maryland Casinos Map & Guide
- Rocky Gap Casino
- Horseshoe Casino
- Hollywood Casino
- Maryland Live!
- MGM National Harbor
- 5
- 4
- 0
Types of Maryland Online Gambling Allowed
There are two forms of legal Maryland online gambling. Off-track horse racing is permitted on apps and registered websites. The main companies that accept this type of pari-mutuel action are TVG, XpressBet, and TwinSpires.
Maryland wanted to legalize fantasy sports by the end of 2015, but was repealed by state legislation in 2016. The state adopted language in the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that exempts fantasy sports. This is thought to give the green light to daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo!, and CBS Sports. Even the most conservative daily fantasy sites accept players from Maryland.
Types of Live Maryland Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps/Roulette: Yes
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
Horse racing is the oldest form of Maryland gambling. There were once six tracks in the state. There are now just two that offer scheduled races with pari-mutuel betting. They are Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park. Pimlico is home to the Preakness race, which is part of the Triple Crown.
There are two types of games of chance widely available in Maryland. Charities may offer bingo and raffles. Bingo rules are liberal. Raffles may only be operated twice per year. Local governments set the licensing and location rules for charitable gambling in Maryland.
A state lottery sells scratch-off and lotto tickets. These are available at convenience stores throughout the state.
There are five Maryland casinos. They are Rocky Gap Casino, Horseshoe Casino, Hollywood Casino, Maryland Live!, and Ocean Downs. MGM National Harbor will open in late 2016. These Maryland casinos offer all the same games found in New Jersey or Nevada. These popular casino games include slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and card games banked by the house.
Maryland Gambling Laws
Maryland gambling laws are strict for activities that are not specifically legal. Possession of gambling devices is illegal for residents. This also applies to vessels that may go out into international waters. Charities must register with local authorities. Charitable games permitted are paddlewheels, wheel of fortune, raffles and bingo. Charities may hold no more than two raffles per year. Bingo players may not purchase more than 54 tickets in a session.
Maryland casinos are allowed to operate if legalized through a local referendum. Each region may only have one gambling operation. There are six jurisdictions that voted to allow casinos in Maryland. The Maryland casinos are located in:
- Allegany County
- Baltimore
- Cecil County
- Anne Arundel County
- Worcester County
- Prince George’s County
Maryland casinos may offer a wide variety of games. These casino games include slots, video poker, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, baccarat, and other card games. There is a 67 percent tax rate on slots. This is the highest in the country. The tax on table games and live poker is 20 percent.
Horseracing is legal in Maryland. Greyhound racing is not. Racetracks may offer live racing and race books. Registered interstate racing companies may accept bets over mobile apps and the Internet in Maryland.
The state lottery may sell scratch-off tickets and hold lotto drawings. It may participate in interstate lotto drawings. Tickets may not be sold over the Internet.
Maryland is one of two states, the other being Kansas, that specifically legalized fantasy sports. The state adopted the fantasy sports exemption in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2012. There is some debate as to whether the language applies to daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel. However, in 2016 this gambling law was repealed by the Maryland state legislation, making it once again illegal.
The minimum gambling age in Maryland is 18 years for lotteries, racing, and charitable gaming. Maryland casino gamblers must be 21 years or older.
List of Maryland Casinos
Beyond the hundreds of lottery retailers and bingo halls, there are just eight places to gamble in Maryland. Laurel Downs and Pimlico Race Course are the two racetracks. There are 146 days of live racing between these two venues. Each also has a race book for simulcast betting.
There are five Maryland casinos open for business in the state. A sixth is currently under construction. You can use the information below to find a location, or use our Maryland casinos map to help guide yourself to the nearest one.
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino – Perryville | 1,500 Slot Machines | 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Pky. | www.hollywoodcasinoperryville.com |
| Horseshoe Casino – Baltimore | 3,750 Slot Machines | 1525 Russell Street | www.caesars.com |
| Maryland Live! – Hanover | 4,750 Slot Machines | 7002 Arundel Mills Cir #7777 | www.marylandlivecasino.com |
| MGM National Harbor | 3,600 Slot Machines | Under Construction | www.mgmnationalharbor.com |
| Oceans Downs – Berlin | 800 Slot Machines | 10218 Racetrack Road | www.oceandowns.com |
| Rocky Gap Casino – Flintstone | 550 Slot Machines | 16701 Lakeview Road | www.rockygapcasino.com |
History of Maryland Gambling
Horse racing dates back to the mid 18th Century. The Maryland Jockey Club was founded in 1743. Its first races were held at Pimlico Race Course. It is still open today and home of The Preakness, one of the three Triple Crown races. Racing became specifically legal under state law in 1870. That is when pari-mutuel betting pools were created in Maryland under a state racing commission. Regulation of the specific tracks was left to the county or city where the track was located until 1912 when the state took control.
Maryland approved off-track betting in 1988. Simulcasting of races was only legal at the time when live racing was not operating on a track. In 1993, the state expanded off-track betting at any time the facility was open for business.
State Lottery Approved
Voters approved a state lottery in November 1972. This was done through a constitutional referendum. The first ticket was sold on May 15, 1973. Early drawings were lottos of the Pick 3 and Pick 4 variety. The first scratch-off ticket was not sold until February 10, 1976. Scratch-off tickets are bigger sellers than lotto games today.
Casinos were approved through a statewide constitutional referendum in November 2008. Casinos operate under the oversight of the Maryland Lottery. Hollywood Casino in Perryville was the first to open on September 17, 2010. Ocean Downs opened the following year. Maryland Live! opened in 2012. Rocky Gap Casino opened in 2013. Horseshoe Casino launched in Baltimore in 2014. MGM National Harbor was awarded the state’s resort gaming license. It will open in 2016.
Maryland does not permit online gambling. It has been home to several busts related to the acceptance of internet bets. The Maryland office of the Department of Justice led busts like Operation Texas Hold’em where funds were distributed to local police departments for their participation.
The Linwood Payment Solutions sting operation originated in Maryland through the Department of Justice. This is where a bogus processor was created to handle payments for offshore online gambling sites and eWallets. This took down UseMyWallet and some sports betting sites in May 2011, just six weeks after Black Friday. This was referred to as Blue Monday in the online gambling world. Companies that survived saw their domain names seized and were forced to buy ones in other countries.
Calvin Ayre and two other officers of Bodog were indicted by the same Department of Justice office in February 2012. The Bodog.com domain was seized at the time. U.S. players had already been moved to Bovada.lv by that time as the company saw the risk of its .com domains. None of the three indicted ever traveled to the U.S. to fight the charges. Calvin Ayre was on the Top 10 List of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He dropped off the list even though he is still at-large.
Maryland was the first state to expressly legalize fantasy sports in 2012. The state legislature passed the exemption in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This made it clear that fantasy sports contests were legal in the state.
Maryland Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Is horseracing legal in Maryland?
What track is The Preakness held?
Is off-track betting legal in Maryland?
Race books are permitted at the two racetracks in Maryland.
Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Downs are the two pari-mutuel tracks in Maryland.
Off-track betting and fantasy sports are legal over the Internet and on mobile devices.
Which daily fantasy sports sites accept Maryland players?
All fantasy sites accept Maryland players. The largest are DraftKings, FanDuel, CBS Sports and Yahoo! Even conservative sites like StarsDraft and Star Fantasy Leagues accept Maryland players.
What off-track betting sites accept Maryland players?
The most popular off-track betting sites that accept players from Maryland are TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica.
Sports Gambling Maryland
There are six casinos approved in Maryland. Five are open as of March 2016.
Online Gambling Maryland
Slots, video poker, live poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow Poker and baccarat are among the available games.
Maryland Gambling Sites
The minimum Maryland gambling age is 18 years for bingo, racing and lottery, and 21 years for casinos.