Why Maryland Will Be a Top Online Sports Betting State at Launch

Sports fans in Maryland can officially place their bets online and on their mobile devices come Wednesday, November 23 — and that's great news, as Maryland is shaping up to be a top online sports betting state.

To start, Maryland will launch with some of the biggest, most polished, most popular sportsbooks in the industry. These books have had years of experience across the United States, constantly improving their products while continuing to add more and more options for fans to bet on.

Those books that have been approved for licenses, each of which will partner with an existing retail sportsbook in the state, include:

• Caesars — Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
• Betfred — Long Shot’s of Frederick
• BetMGM — MGM National Harbor
• betPARX — Greenmount Station Off-Track Betting & Restaurant
• BetRivers — Bingo World
• Barstool — Hollywood Casino Perryville
• DraftKings — Maryland State Fairgrounds
• FanDuel — Live! Casino & Hotel
• PointsBet — Riverboat on the Potomac
• SuperBook Sports — Oriole Park at Camden Yards
• BetFanatics — Coming Soon

Obviously, those are some of the most well-known names in sports betting, which should give Maryland bettors peace of mind that they're betting with the best books in the country and that they have access to the best markets and prices.

Over time, Maryland bettors won't be limited to those 10 books, however, as state law allows for as many as 60 online sportsbook operators in the state — more options than virtually any other state. Sixty! Friends, full diclosure: I live in a different legal betting state which has nearly a dozen legal online sportsbooks, and I feel like my cup runneth over already.

Having access to 60 online sportsbooks? That would be a dream come true, as it will continue to ensure fans in Maryland have access to the widest array of potential bets at the best odds. (In addition, it means you'll need the Action Network app to help you keep track of all of your bets and the best lines across all of those books!)

To that point, Maryland sports bettors will be happy to know that there are no prohibitions against betting on college sports in the state. Several states that have legalized online and/or retail sports betting, such as New Jersey, do prohibit fans from betting on college sports.

Whether you want to bet on the Maryland Terrapins, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, the nearby Washington Commanders, or any other team in professional or college sports around the country, you'll be in luck in Maryland.

Bettors in Maryland will also be free to bet on both team and player futures markets, meaning bets like championship winners and league MVPs will be available; in some states, bettors are prohibited from wagering on player awards such as NFL MVP.

When you add it all up — the quality and quantity of sportsbooks, the availability of wagering across both college and professional sports, and what should be more markets to bet on than in any other state — there is no doubt that Maryland is set to be one of the best online sports betting states in the country.