Andrew O'Malley 6. November 2020 | UPDATED ON: 2. January 2021 In recent times, Maryland has been embracing the expansion of gambling, including legalizing sports betting following a public vote on the issue in November 2020. For sports betting fans, you will have to wait for a while until the launch of the regulated sports betting market in the state of Maryland. Until then, you can use offshore online sportsbooks to bet on sports as you please. This guide looks at everything associated with sports betting in Maryland. Top 3 Online Bookmakers in Maryland, MD, USA For Maryland residents, there has been a shortage of regulated sports betting for some time, while neighboring states start to launch their own offerings. Therefore, people in Maryland have to instead rely on offshore sportsbooks. Many of these sites are very trustworthy and ideal for all of your wagering needs. We have handpicked three of the best options out there for sports betting in Maryland: Slot Title Pay Back Key Features 1 50% first deposit up to $1,000 Min. Deposit: $20Payout speed: 48 hours50% first deposit up to $1,000Play NowOur score: 50% first deposit up to $1,000Read more2 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000 Min. Deposit: $20Payout speed: 24 hours100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000Play NowOur score: 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000Read more3 Welcome Bonus: 50% Up to $1,000 Min. Deposit: $45Payout speed: 210 business daysWelcome Bonus: 50% Up to $1,000Play NowOur score: Welcome Bonus: 50% Up to $1,000Read more Is sports betting in Legal in Maryland? Yes Sports betting recently became legal after Maryland voters approved a public vote on the issue through a ballot measure in November 2020. This simply saw Marylanders voting on whether to allow sports betting or not and make a constitutional amendment. The referendum took place on the same election day as the battle between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden to fight it out for the presidency of the United States. The election results for the Trump versus Biden battle did not come on election day. There is no mention of whether online sports betting will be allowed or if only retail sportsbooks will be open for business. The state legislature will discuss the framework next year in the legislative session with Gov Larry Hogan, the General Assembly, and the Senate in the state capital city of Annapolis. The sports betting bill made great progress since it was introduced. The plan is for the tax revenue coming from sports betting to be used to fund public education programs in the region. The legalization of daily fantasy sports (DFS) occurred in 2017, allowing residents to use the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings. Other forms of gambling In terms of other forms of gambling, there are certain casino gaming options that are legal. The likes of table games and slot machines are currently allowable in Maryland. This is through a number of facilities in the state that are privately owned. These casinos were shut down during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), such as the Hollywood Casino, Perryville. This showcased the importance of having online gambling. There are also some big horse races in the state, with horse racing tracks being under the oversight of the Maryland Racing Commission. As well as pari-mutuel betting, there are a lot of off-track betting (OTB) outlets around the state. There is also a state lottery that is operated by the Maryland Lottery. The likes of scratch games and different forms of draw games are available through this offering including multi-state draws such as Powerball and Mega Millions. There is charitable gambling allowed in different forms, but social gambling is currently illegal. Our Recommended Online Sportsbook in Maryland Our Rating Great odds Nice variety of betting limits Focuses on United States sports Welcome bonus up to $1,000 Claim Your Bonus Now Top 3 online sports betting sites that accept players from Maryland If you have an interest in sports betting and you are in Maryland, you have plenty of different out-of-state platforms to check out for your specific needs. We have selected reputable offerings that have stood the test of time and have great sports offerings. 1. BetOnline - Best odds (50% deposit bonus up to $1,000) BetOnline has been around since 2001 and it has one of the biggest customer bases in the sector today. It mainly focuses on American sports, with a great range of betting limits for these various markets. There are always great promotions that are balanced around the notable games taking place each week in these sports seasons. As well as the sportsbook, there is a decent online poker platform at BetOnline that you might want to check out. In terms of the sports betting odds, they are some of the best around and are always posted early in the week. This means that you can quickly place your wagers and sit back to relax. If you are creating an account with BetOnline, you can get your first deposit matched 50% up to $1,000. Our Rating Great odds Nice variety of betting limits Focuses on United States sports Welcome bonus up to $1,000 Sometimes slow withdrawals Claim Your Bonus 2. BetNow - Great live betting (100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000) BetNow is a relative newcomer to the offshore online sports betting scene, starting its operations in 2015. Licensed in Curacao, it offers sports betting markets on all popular events, with a particular focus on major league US sports. The software that runs the platform is some of the best that you will come across. This allows you to seamlessly find the exact markets you are looking for and quickly placing bets as you please. The live betting section is particularly impressive, with NFL live player prop bets being a fan favorite type of market. Transactions tend to be pretty fast and there is a great loyalty program in place. For people signing up for a new account, there is a 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000 on offer. Our Rating Great live betting offering Fast transactions 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000 Top-quality platform Not as mature as other options Claim Your Bonus 3. MyBookie - Massive market selection (100% first deposit bonus up to $500) MyBookie has been around since 2014 when it was set up in Costa Rica. Currently available in three languages, their staff is made up of many veterans of the online betting scene. The types of markets on offer are some of the best around. If you can think of, they have it. New management meant that slow withdrawals are now a thing of the past. As time goes on, it is constantly expanding its offering even further and it is becoming a popular choice for a lot of US players. The software for both desktop and mobile platforms is up there with the best of them. One issue for some bettors will be that the minimum bet for a lot of markets is $10, so this might not suit small stakes bettors. If you want to create an account with MyBookie, you can get a 100% first deposit bonus up to $500. Our Rating Massive selection of markets Optimal platform software 100% first deposit bonus up to $500 Fast withdrawals High minimum bets Claim Your Bonus How we rate the best Maryland online bookmakers You will come across many different types of online sportsbooks. Each will have its own strengths and weaknesses. The best approach is to initially take an overview of all of the major sports betting sites and then narrow down this list into a handful of options. When looking at these options, we like to follow the same set of criteria so all of the reviews are unbiased and objective. Here is a list of some of the vital criteria that needs to be considered with sports betting in Maryland: Sports selection Betting markets for each sport Number of sports events offered Live betting Competitiveness of odds Platform ease of use Mobile betting Payment methods Customer support Licensing and security What to consider when choosing a betting site Now that you have a list of just a few operators for sports betting in Maryland, you can then pick your final offering. To do so, a goods approach is by deciding what your preferences are with an online sportsbook and work from there. Some people may want to have a good mobile sportsbook, while others like juicy welcome bonus offers. Here are some of the other important aspects to think about: Legal standing While there are no legal sports betting platforms in Maryland as of yet, you want to make sure that the offshore site you use is licensed somewhere and has a good reputation. This gives you peace of mind that your money and data will be safe. Customer support If you ever run into a problem while playing at a sportsbook, you want to be sure that this will be easily and quickly resolved. This means looking at what support options are offered at a platform and the quality of responses. Payment methods For a sports betting site, there will normally be a range of payment methods offered. Make sure that one of these suits your needs. Also have a look at the associated fees, transaction limits and the processing times. Promotions A welcome bonus offer is a great way to start a new account. This is usually some sort of free bet offer or deposit bonus. Also have a look at promotions for current bettors and any loyalty rewards program. Competitive odds To get the best bang for your buck, make sure that the odds in an offering are competitive. This allows you to maximize your return when you win, being a key difference when trying to be profitable over time. Live betting Many people enjoy placing bets during the course of a sporting event, reacting to what they are seeing on the screen. Have a look at how many events are offered with live betting section and the variety of markets. The future of online gambling in Maryland The future of online sports betting in Maryland looks bright. The recent legalization of sports betting through the referendum is a big plus. While it is not yet known if there will be legal sports betting online, it is likely that this will be the case with the expansion of casino gaming in recent years, it seems like we could see online casinos becoming legal in the coming years also. The situation can change quickly as state lawmakers push through legislation, so it is worthwhile keeping an eye on the latest news about online gambling in Maryland. Where else is online gambling legal in the US? There are many US states now that have legal online gambling. The catalyst for this movement among legislators was largely thanks to the Supreme Court voting to end the federal ban on sports gambling (PASPA) back in May 2018. Since then, there has been a flurry of states legalizing online sports betting. While not as many states have gone for legal online casinos, this list also looks set to grow as time goes on. This includes states close to Maryland, such as Delaware and Washington, D.C. Some tribes in certain states like Arizona and California are trying to block sports betting as much as possible. Some other states making great strides with sports betting include Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, West Virginia, and New Jersey. If you want to see the specific legality of online gambling in a certain state, you can look at the interactive maps seen below AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC Bottom line Maryland sports betting is on the way in a regulated manner. Until everything is in place and ready to launch, sports fans in the region will still need to rely on offshore betting sites. Now that you are armed with the knowledge to find a good platform for your needs, you can get started with your online betting journey. FAQs What is the legal gambling age in Maryland? If you are looking to go to one of the casinos in the state and gamble, you will need to be 21 years old. However, if you want to place a bet on a horse race or to buy a ticket for the state lottery, you only need to be 18 years old. Can you get free bet welcome offers from offshore platforms? Yes, most online sportsbooks today will offer some form of free bet welcome offer. This could be through a despot bonus, risk-free bet, matched bet, no deposit free bet and so on. Make sure to read the terms and conditions of an offer before going for it. Are there any sports you can't bet on in Maryland? As the regulatory framework for sports betting in Maryland has not yet been developed, there is no indication if certain sporting events such as college sports cannot be bet on. Until then, you can bet on whatever events are offered by the offshore sportsbooks. The likes of the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB are well-catered for in particular. You can bet on great local sports teams like the Baltimore Ravens when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers for example. Can you place sports bets on mobile devices? If you are in Maryland, you have the ability to use your mobile phone for sports wagering. Most operators will have a decent mobile offering, whether this means downloading an app or betting straight through the device’s web browser. What is the best sport to bet on in Maryland? This decision is entirely down to the individual. At the moment, the likes of NFL betting are particularly popular, while other American sports also get a lot of attention from bettors, as well as the likes of golf and soccer. About Andrew O'Malley Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space. View all posts by Andrew O'Malley →
