Maryland Sports Betting

⚖️ Is sports betting legal in Maryland?	Yes. Licensed sportsbooks take bets online across the state, and retail sportsbooks operate at casinos, stadiums, and other approved venues.
💸  What are the requirements to bet online?	You must be 21 or older and physically inside Maryland. Residency doesn't matter, so visitors can bet. Your app confirms your location by GPS, or by a desktop plugin.
📒 What online sportsbooks are available in MD?	Eleven sportsbooks currently take bets: bet365, Bally Bet, BetMGM, betParx, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, LetsBetMD, and theScore Bet. Crab Sports, the state's only locally owned sportsbook, holds a license but paused operations in July 2026.
🏈 What sports can I bet on?	All the major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS), college football and basketball, including Maryland and Navy, plus soccer, tennis, golf, motorsport, cricket, rugby, and esports. Maryland doesn't allow prop bets on individual college athletes.

Maryland Sportsbooks

Sportsbook	Current Promotion
bet365	Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose!
Fanatics Sportsbook	Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash! OR Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!
BetMGM	Get Up To $1,000 In No Sweat Tokens Over 10 Days Promotion! OR Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!
DraftKings	Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets!
FanDuel	Get $250 in Bonus Bets!
theScore Bet	Bet Reset up to $1000!
Caesars Sportsbook	No welcome offer currently available
Crab Sports	Paused operations, no longer taking bets

bet365

bet365 arrived last in Maryland and brought the sharpest live betting product with it. If you bet in-game, this is the app to have. It runs through Riverboat on the Potomac's license, which took over from PointsBet.

bet365 Promo

Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose!

bet365 Promo Code

Click to claim the code TAN365

Terms & Conditions

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21+ and physically present in IN. Please gamble responsibly. New customers only. Claim via app. $10 min. Deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. Time limits, min. Odds and T&Cs apply. This code is used for marketing and tracking purposes only. Void where prohibited.

Action Network Score

9.8/10. See our full bet365 Bonus Code and review for more sportsbook details and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
bet365 vs Other Sportsbooks

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics Sportsbook launched its app in Maryland first, before any other state, and opened its retail book at Northwest Stadium in January 2023. FanCash rewards convert into Fanatics merchandise, which is either a genuine perk or irrelevant depending on how you shop.

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo

1) Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash!

OR

2) Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code

1) ACTION350

2) ACTION26

Action Network Score

9.7/10. See our Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code for more in-depth information about Fanatics and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Terms & Conditions

_{1) New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $20+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $50 in FanCash each day for your first 7 days. Must opt in each day to claim FanCash. FanCash issued in connection with this Promotion expire 24 hours from issuance. Terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.}

_{2) New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. FanCash rewards will equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app.}

BetMGM

BetMGM runs the sportsbook at MGM National Harbor, the largest casino in the state, and partners with the Baltimore Ravens. The parlay boosts around Ravens games are worth checking on a Sunday.

BetMGM Promo

1) Get Up To $1,000 In No Sweat Tokens Over 10 Days Promotion!

OR

2) Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!

BetMGM Bonus Code

1) TANGET

OR

2) AN1500

 BetMGM Terms & Conditions

_{1) 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. New player offer for new players only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in NJ, MA, MI, NV, NY, ON, PA, PR, and WV.}

_{2) 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-470 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in MS, NY, NV, ON, PR, MI, NJ, PA, or WV. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.}

Action Network Score

9.6/10. Read our BetMGM Maryland Bonus Code and review to discover more details and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
BetMGM vs Other Sportsbooks

DraftKings

DraftKings is a popular sportsbook with roots in daily fantasy sports. Using lessons they learned through the DFS field, DraftKings has created a reliable and user-friendly sportsbook that is simple to use. This household name provides Maryland sports bettors with both fantasy and sportsbook options to enjoy, as well as a great bonus offer below.

DraftKings Promo

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets!

DraftKings Promo Code

No Code Needed

DraftKings Terms & Conditions

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 10/18/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Action Network Score

9.2/10. See our DraftKings Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about DraftKings and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
DraftKings vs Other Sportsbooks

FanDuel

FanDuel operates through Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, and its retail book there is one of the better rooms in the state. The app remains the easiest to learn if you've never bet before.

FanDuel Promo 

Get $250 in Bonus Bets! 

FanDuel Promo Code

No Code Needed

FanDuel Terms & Conditions

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C., WY) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. Min $5 wager required for 5 consecutive days. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 5 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).

Action Network Score

9.5/10. See our FanDuel Promo Code and review for more details and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
FanDuel vs Other Sportsbooks

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook has taken Maryland bets since the retail market opened in December 2021, and it now runs two of the state's retail sportsbooks: Horseshoe Baltimore, a short walk from M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards, and Long Shot's in Frederick, which it took over in December 2024. No welcome offer is available in Maryland at the moment, though the app is fully licensed and worth holding an account with for price comparison.

Caesars Sportsbook Promo

Bet $1+, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Wagers!

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code

ACTION22DYW

Caesars Sportsbook Terms & Conditions

Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. Min. qualifying bet amount: $1. Tokens max. bet amount: $25 per token. Tokens bet max. add'l winnings: $2,500 per token. Token(s) expire 14 days after receipt. Not reissued for voided/pushed bets. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS, ME, NC, PA: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ( 1-800-426-2537 ) or MD: visit mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit 1800gambler.net; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; LA, Washington, DC: Call 1-800-MY-RESET. ©2026, Caesars Entertainment

Action Network Score

9.4/10. Take a look at our Caesars Maryland Promo Code for more details and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
Caesars Sportsbook vs Other Sportsbooks

theScore Bet

As of December 1, 2025, ESPN Bet has become theScore Bet. The welcome offer is available in the following states: AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV. 

theScore Bet Promo

Bet Reset up to $1000!

theScore Bet Promo Code 

TANBONUS 

Terms and Conditions

New users only, 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be physically present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, and VA in order to wager. Players must sign up using a specified Promotion code and then place an Eligible Wager on an Eligible Game during the Promotion Period. Please Gamble Responsibly.

Action Network Score

9.1/10. See our theScore Bet Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about theScore Bet and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
theScore Bet vs Other Sportsbooks

betPARX Sportsbook

betPARX is the digital sportsbook of Greenwood Racing, the group behind Parx Casino outside Philadelphia, and it brings a regional operator's approach to a market dominated by national brands. The app launched in Maryland in August 2023 through the Greenmount Station license, and betPARX also runs the retail sportsbook at Greenmount Station in Hampstead.

No welcome offer is available in Maryland at the moment. The app is fully licensed by Maryland Lottery and Gaming, and it is worth an account if you line shop, since regional books sometimes price differently from the national ones.

betPARX Sportsbook Promo 

Get a 100% Bet Insurance up to $50 Bonus Bet!

betPARX Sportsbook Promo Code

TANBONUS

betPARX Sportsbook Terms & Conditions

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21+. Located in PA. Offer valid in PA. New users only. T&Cs apply. See website for details. Sports bonus must be wagered.

Action Network Score

Coming soon. See our betPARX Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about betPARX and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Crab Sports

Crab Sports paused operations on July 12, 2026. Withdrawals closed on July 19, and final statements and payments went out by the end of July. Crab Sports says "this isn't goodbye," so stay tuned for updates from Action Network should this Maryland sportsbook resume operations. The section below stands as a historical account of Crab Sports.

How to Place a Mobile Sports Bet in Maryland

Now that online sports betting is legal and live in Maryland, it's time to start betting. Here's a quick five-step guide on how to get started:

Step 1: Choose a Sportsbook

Maryland licenses a wide field of sportsbooks and the law allows for as many as sixty over time. Before you sign up anywhere, check the brand appears on the Lottery's licensee list at mdgaming.com. Offshore sites advertise heavily here and look nearly identical to the real thing, and the difference only becomes obvious when you try to withdraw.

If you sign up with Fanatics with the promo code ACTION350, you can claim the following offer: Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash! Let’s start there.

Eventually, you’ll want multiple sports betting accounts so you can shop for the best lines, but for now, let’s just use Fanatics Sportsbook as an example.

Step 2: Sign Up

Create a new account at Fanatics by following the prompts. You may need to provide proof of identity, like a driver’s license and Social Security number, to verify you are of legal age and to prevent multiple accounts created with fake names.

You may already have a Fanatics account if you've used it in another state. If so, just log in.

Pro Tip: If you already hold a DraftKings or FanDuel account from Pennsylvania or Virginia, you log into that same account here and the app switches to the Maryland market on its own. Don't open a second one, because duplicate accounts get both locked.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

Maryland sportsbooks take debit cards, online bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, PayNearMe cash deposits, and the book's own prepaid card. Most set a minimum deposit of $5 or $10.

Credit cards sit in a grey area, and plenty of sites get this wrong. Maryland leaves the decision to each operator, and any app that accepts a credit card has to warn you if your issuer treats the deposit as a cash advance. Many do, which means a higher interest rate and no grace period. At a retail sportsbook, you can only bet with cash, a check, or a debit card.

Lawmakers tried to ban credit card funding in 2026 and the bill didn't pass. If another site tells you Maryland has already banned it, that site hasn't checked.

Step 4: Place Your First Bet

Once you’re at Fanatics Sportsbook, all you have to do to bet is simply click on a line you like, and it will be highlighted.

Once it’s highlighted, the bet will populate your bet slip, where you’ll select how much you want to bet from your available funds that you deposited earlier. That bet slip is in the middle of the bottom menu on your phone.

Sportsbooks build a margin into every price. A spread at -110 means you risk $110 to win $100, and turning a profit means winning about 52.4% of the time. Set a deposit limit in the app before your first bet, which takes a minute.

Maryland Sports Betting Background and Legalization Timeline

There are 11 live mobile sportsbooks available in Maryland! Here's a list of them below:

• theScore Bet
• BetMGM
• betPARX
• BetRivers
• Caesars
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Fanatics
• Bally Bet
• Lets Bet MD
• bet365

Retail sports betting launched in Maryland in December 2021 as mobile bettors in the state anxiously-awaited to go live for two years.

Maryland’s sports betting bill authorizes the SWARC to award up to 30 additional retail and 60 online sportsbooks to state businesses. Though Maryland will license as many as 60 statewide mobile sportsbooks, it could take years to reach that cap.

State lawmakers have created two licenses that operators can apply for:

• Class A license: 17 Class A licenses are given to six casinos, three professional sports teams, and other retail locations throughout the state.
• Class B license: 30 licenses will be given to additional retail locations such as gas stations, facilities with gaming kiosks, etc. 

If an operator is able to attain both Class A and B licenses, they will be eligible to apply for an online wagering license in the Old Line State.

The legalization of sports betting in the Old Line State was a lengthy process. Maryland had the longest go-live periods in U.S. sports betting history after legalizing during the 2020 election. Most states go live within 6-12 months, and at most 18 months because they need to draft regulations, approve books, etc. Maryland took over two years to get mobile betting up and running. 

Arizona and Connecticut, which both approved sports betting around the same time as MD, had launched both retail and online sportsbooks long before Maryland finished its legalization process.

Line Shopping, Odds and Whether It's Worth It

Why one account is not enough

Sportsbooks price the same game differently. One book posts the Ravens at -3.5, another at -3, and a third prices -3.5 at -105 instead of -110. Those gaps look trivial and they are the whole difference between winning and losing over a season.

Take the half point. A spread of -3 against -3.5 in the NFL is worth a meaningful amount, because so many games land on exactly three. Taking the better side of that number across a season does more for your results than any tipping service.

How to set it up

Open accounts at three or four books. Fund each one modestly. Before you place a bet, check the same market at all of them and take the best number. It adds twenty seconds to a bet and it is the single highest-value habit available to a recreational bettor.

Which books to hold depends on what you bet. If you bet NFL sides and totals, you want the books that price those most competitively. If you bet smaller markets, you want the ones with the widest board, because the price gaps between books get larger the further you go from the NFL.

Vig, and what it actually costs you

Every price carries the book's margin. Standard -110 on both sides of a spread means the book collects about 4.5% of the total handled. You have to win 52.4% of your bets at that price simply to break even.

Some books price at -105 on selected markets, which lowers the number you need to hit. Over hundreds of bets that difference compounds substantially.

What line shopping actually returns

Honestly: it improves your results without making you a winner. Beating the closing price consistently is what separates profitable bettors from everyone else, and line shopping is the easiest way to do it. It will not turn a losing bettor into a winning one, because the underlying picks still have to be good.

Arbitrage, where you back both sides at different books to lock a guaranteed profit, does exist. The returns run thin, usually low single-digit percentages on the money you tie up, and the opportunities disappear within minutes. It also takes real capital spread across many accounts. The bigger problem is what happens next.

Your account gets limited, and here is why

If you win consistently, or if you bet in patterns that look like arbitrage, your sportsbook will restrict your maximum stake. You will not get an email. You will discover it when a bet you could place last week gets rejected, or when your maximum on a market drops from $2,000 to $18.

This is standard practice across the industry, not unique to Maryland, and it is legal. Sportsbooks manage risk by identifying customers who cost them money and reducing what those customers can stake. Recreational bettors keep full limits. Winners do not.

What tends to trigger it:

• Consistently beating the closing line
• Betting the same market at several books within minutes
• Always taking the maximum on a boosted price
• Betting unusual amounts, such as $137.50 instead of $100
• Focusing on small markets where the book's pricing is weakest

What you can do about it is limited, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. Spreading action across more books helps, because it takes longer to draw attention at any one of them. Some bettors round their stakes and mix in recreational bets. Neither prevents it, and both delay it.

The honest framing is this: line shopping improves your expected results, and the better you get at it, the sooner your accounts get restricted. Both halves of that are true, and anyone telling you only the first half is selling something.

Banking, Payouts and Taxes

Deposits

Maryland sportsbooks accept debit cards, online bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, PayNearMe cash deposits at retail stores, and the book's own prepaid card. Minimums usually sit at $5 or $10.

Credit cards depend on the operator. Maryland leaves the decision to each book, and any book that accepts one must warn you if your card issuer treats the deposit as a cash advance. Many issuers do, which means interest from day one and no grace period. Lawmakers tried to ban credit card funding in 2026 and the bill did not pass.

Withdrawals

Speed depends on the method:

• PayPal is usually fastest, often within 24 hours
• Debit card typically runs one to three business days
• Bank transfer typically runs two to five business days
• Check runs longest, sometimes over a week

Most books require you to withdraw by the same method you deposited with, at least up to the amount you deposited. That is an anti-money-laundering requirement rather than an obstruction.

Your first withdrawal almost always takes longest, because the book verifies your identity properly before releasing money. Budget several days for it and it will stop feeling like a problem.

Maryland tax on winnings

Two separate things get confused constantly, so take them separately.

Withholding happens automatically when you win more than $5,000 on a wager. Maryland withholds 9.5% from a resident and 8.75% from a nonresident, and the federal government withholds 24%. That money goes to the tax authorities on your behalf, and it is an advance payment rather than a final bill.

What you actually owe depends on your total income for the year. Maryland taxes gambling winnings through its graduated income tax, and then your county adds its own rate, starting at 2.25% and varying by where you live. Withholding may cover your liability, exceed it, or fall short of it.

If you win more than $500 and nobody withheld Maryland tax, you must file Form PV and pay the estimated tax within 60 days of receiving the money. That rule catches a lot of people, because a $700 win feels too small to trigger anything.

You owe tax on every dollar you win regardless of amount. The thresholds govern paperwork, not liability.

The federal change worth knowing about

From the 2026 tax year, federal rules let you deduct only 90% of your gambling losses against your winnings, rather than the full amount. The reporting threshold for a Form W-2G also rose from $600 to $2,000.

The 90% cap creates a genuine problem for anyone who bets in volume. Win $50,000 across a year and lose $50,000, and you have made nothing, but you can only deduct $45,000, so you pay tax on $5,000 you never kept.

Two qualifications. The cap only matters if you itemize deductions, and most recreational bettors take the standard deduction, in which case they cannot deduct losses at all and never could. And Congress has seen several bipartisan attempts to repeal the cap, none of which has passed.

Should I track my bets?

Yes, and the books will not do it for you in a form the IRS accepts. Most operators publish an annual win/loss statement, usually available in January, and that is your starting point. Keep your own record of dates, amounts staked, and outcomes if you bet in any volume, because you need it if you ever intend to claim losses.

Troubleshooting

The app says I'm not in Maryland, but I am

Maryland has a lot of border, and this is the most common complaint in the state.

Work through it in this order:

1. Turn wifi off and use cell data. Wifi is the usual culprit, because a router registered to an out-of-state address confuses the check
2. Set location permission to Precise rather than Approximate in your phone settings
3. Close the app fully and reopen it
4. Move away from a window, or away from a road that runs along the border
5. Check for VPN software, which will block you every time, including a corporate VPN you forgot was running

If you are within a mile or two of the DC or Virginia line, expect this to happen occasionally no matter what you do.

ID verification will not complete

Almost always a mismatch between what you typed and what public records hold. Check your legal first name rather than the one you use, your current address rather than a recent one, and your name as it appears on your Social Security record if you have married or divorced.

When that fails, the book will ask you to upload a photo of your ID. Photograph it flat, in good light, with all four corners in frame. Most rejections are unreadable photos rather than genuine problems.

Do not open a second account while you wait. That is the one action that turns a delay into a real problem.

My card keeps getting declined

Card issuers block gambling transactions by default more often than people realize, and the sportsbook never sees why. Call the number on the back of your card and ask whether they block gambling merchants. Many will lift it on request, and some will not.

If your issuer refuses, use a debit card from a different bank, PayPal, or an online bank transfer. Prepaid cards frequently fail at sportsbooks, so they are not a good workaround.

My withdrawal is taking too long

Check first whether it is your first withdrawal, because those take longest while the book verifies you properly. Then check whether the book has asked you for a document and you have missed the message. That is the most common cause of a withdrawal that appears stuck.

If neither applies and you are past the stated timeframe, contact support and ask for the specific reason and the specific document, if any, they need. If you get nowhere, Maryland Lottery and Gaming takes complaints about licensed operators through its casino and sports wagering complaint form, and a licensed book has to answer to them. That is the practical advantage of betting with a licensed operator over an offshore one.

My account got locked or limited after I won

Two different things, and it matters which one you are dealing with.

Limited means your maximum stake dropped. The account still works and you can still withdraw. This is risk management and the Line Shopping section above explains why it happens.

Locked means you cannot do anything, and that usually points to a verification issue, a suspected duplicate account, or a compliance review. Contact support and ask directly which one it is.

Your balance stays yours in either case. A licensed Maryland operator holds reserves against what it owes customers and cannot simply keep your money. If a book refuses to release funds, file a complaint with Maryland Lottery and Gaming.

Responsible Gambling and Support in Maryland

Tools inside the apps

Maryland requires every licensed sportsbook to offer responsible gambling controls, and they all sit in your account settings:

• Deposit limits, set daily, weekly or monthly. Increases take effect after a delay, and decreases apply immediately
• Time limits and reality checks, which interrupt you during a session to show how long you have been betting
• Cool-off periods, which lock the account for a short fixed spell
• Self-exclusion, which closes the account for a longer period

Set a deposit limit before your first bet, not after a bad weekend. It takes a minute and it works best as a decision you make while nothing is at stake.

Maryland's Voluntary Exclusion Program

Maryland runs a state-level exclusion program, separate from anything an individual sportsbook offers, and it covers sports wagering, casinos, the lottery, regulated bingo halls and daily fantasy sports as separate categories.

Two details worth knowing before you start:

You have to apply in person. You cannot enroll online. Submit the application at Maryland Lottery and Gaming headquarters in Baltimore by appointment, or at any Maryland casino. To arrange an appointment, contact the Responsible Gambling Program Director at responsible.gaming@maryland.gov or on 410-230-8798.

The terms are long. You choose two years or lifetime, and removal after two years is not automatic. You apply, and the agency decides.

The categories interact in ways that surprise people. Excluding yourself from casinos also blocks you from sports wagering at those casinos and through affiliated mobile books. Excluding yourself from sports wagering blocks you from entering any Maryland casino that has a retail sportsbook.

Only you can add your name. Nobody can enroll someone else.

Free treatment for Maryland residents

Maryland funds problem gambling treatment at no cost to residents, paid for by the Maryland Problem Gambling Fund, which draws on gambling revenue including expired sports wagering prizes.

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, based at the University of Maryland, manages the state's treatment network. Residents can be referred straight to a counselor through the helpline, and the service costs nothing.

1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) runs 24 hours a day. You can call or text, and an online chat service is available too.

Peer support connects you, or a family member, with someone who has lived through problem gambling and come out the other side. Ask for a Peer Support Specialist when you contact the helpline.

helpmygamblingproblem.org and mdgamblinghelp.org carry the state's own resources; the latter is run by the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling.

If you're worried about someone else

You cannot enroll another person in the exclusion program, and there is no mechanism to close someone's betting account for them. What you can do is real, though.

Call the helpline yourself. 1-800-GAMBLER supports family members, not only the person gambling. You do not need permission and you do not need to give a name.

Gam-Anon runs meetings for people affected by someone else's gambling, and it works on the same principle as Al-Anon.

The Maryland Coalition of Families provides support to family members navigating a relative's gambling, and it is a Maryland-specific service rather than a national one.

Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings across Maryland for the person gambling, in person and online.

Practical advice from people who work in this field: raise it when nothing has just gone wrong, rather than after a bad night, and talk about what you have noticed rather than what you assume. Getting the person to ask for help themselves does more than any intervention you can stage.

Maryland's Legalization Timeline

We'll bet you care more about the sports of it all than the legal history, but here are some of the important events along the way:

July 2026

Crab Sports pauses operations. Maryland's only locally owned sportsbook stops taking bets on July 12 and closes withdrawals on July 19. The company says the pause isn't permanent. [July 12]

April 2026

House Bill 518 passes the House of Delegates 132-0, then dies in the Senate at the end of the session. The bill would have written the college player prop ban into law, banned credit card deposits and required deposit limits. None of it took effect. [April 13]

August 2025

bet365 becomes the newest operator to launch in Maryland. [August 30]

July 2025

Maryland raises the tax on mobile sportsbook revenue from 15% to 20%. Retail stays at 15%. [July 1]

July 2024

Bally Bet officially launches in Maryland. [July 29]

May 2024

Betr Sportsbook receives sports betting license approval from the Maryland Lottery. SWARC needs to approve of Betr's request before the micro-betting app can launch in Maryland. [May 24]

March 2024

Maryland Lottery and Gaming bars sportsbooks from taking bets on individual college athletes. Season awards such as the Heisman remain available. [March 1]

June 2023

Fanatics Sportsbook beta tests in Maryland. The new and exciting sportsbook has officially joined its fourth beta state in 2023, with Tennessee, Ohio and Massachusetts leading the way. [June 1]

November 2022

Maryland mobile sports betting launches on Nov. 23. DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel, BetMGM, and BetRivers go live in the state. [Nov. 23]

Maryland online sports betting will go live on Nov. 23. After a highly-anticipated wait, the Maryland Lottery has confirmed that online sports betting will be available in Maryland right before Thanksgiving. [Nov. 17]

 State lawmakers confirm that SWARC will announce sportsbooks on November 16. The original Nov. 21 announcement date was changed because the state is hoping to launch mobile sports betting around Thanksgiving. [Nov. 14]

GeoComply is granted a Tier One Contractor license by Maryland. As MD approaches their online sports betting launch, geolocation security is a necessity to provide secure and seamless sports betting in any location. [Nov. 1]

October 2022

The MLGCC announce that 10 online sports betting operators are qualified to launch in the state. SWARC will officially award licenses on November 21 before the operators go through a trial period to ensure they are prepared to launch. [Oct. 31]

September 2022

Maryland regulators announced that Maryland is on pace to start online sports betting before the end of 2022. The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission will let online sportsbooks start taking bets once they’re licensed, instead of making them wait to launch together. [Sept. 22]

April 2022

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission is set to study market-inclusion opportunities for minority- and female-owned businesses.This new commission was formed due to a referendum in the November 2020 sports betting ballot with hopes of addressing inclusion and then moving onto the rules and applications process, which could take up to half a year or longer. [Apr. 27]

December 2021

Maryland advances mobile sports betting rules. The state has begun to clear the path for online sports betting after advancing several mobile betting rules. [Dec. 16]

Retail sports betting goes live. BetMGM, FanDuel and Caesars launch retail sportsbooks in Maryland, meaning sports bettors can place in-person wagers for the first time. [First legal sports bets placed, Dec. 9]

November 2021

Sports Wagering Application Review Commission announces initial sports betting locations. MGM, Hollywood Casino in Perryville, Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover and Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin were approved by the SWARC to begin taking wagers. [5 casinos approved, Nov. 18]

September 2021

Licensing opening begins at earliest late September. Licensing opening will begin sometime after the public comment window closes on Sept. 27, so we’re not looking at legal Maryland sports betting happening until the 2021 NFL season is well underway. [Public Comments, Sept. 30]

August 2021

Regulators announce opening of 30-day public comment period. This is a public comment period for the final sports betting rules that have been approved by the legislators. This commenting period closes Sept. 27. [Aug. 27]

July 2021

Regulators advance regulations. Regulators advanced hundreds of pages of key sports book regulations without opposition. [July 15]

May 2021

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed the state’s betting law.The bill passed as an “emergency” which allows it to take effect immediately. Regulators still need to approve rules and regulations and then license each sports book. [May 18]

 April 2021

Maryland House of Delegates Approves.The final measure was approved in the House with 122 members voting yes and 16 voting no. This comes hours after the Senate approved it unanimously. This bill will permit as many as 60 online operators and 30 retail sports books between casinos, professional sports stadiums, and scores of other organizations. [Apr. 12]

November 2020

Maryland Sports Betting Approved by Voters. The ballot measure amended the constitution to permit sports betting. Maryland lawmakers still need to agree and vote on regulations and draft up the details. [MD Voters Approve, Nov. 3]

May 2020

Gov. Larry Hogan doesn’t veto or sign SB 4, which automatically pushes it ahead to the ballot. [TrackBill, May 8]

March 2020

Maryland State Senate votes to approve SB 4. Just days after the House votes to approve, the Maryland State Senate gives approval as well. This means it goes to the desk of Gov. Larry Hogan to sign or veto. [TrackBill, Mar. 18]

Maryland House of Representatives votes to approve SB 4. The Maryland Constitution requires that laws expanding commercial wagering be submitted to a referendum at a general election. The House approves. [TrackBill, Mar. 17]

Maryland Sports Betting by the Numbers

Maryland's sports wagering market has grown into a substantial one. In May 2026, bettors staked $535.4 million and won back $469.6 million, with sportsbooks keeping 12.3% of the handle. That month returned $9.9 million to the state.

Across the first eleven months of Fiscal Year 2026, sports betting contributed $124.7 million to Maryland. Since the program began, $271.4 million has gone to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund, which funds public education programs.

Mobile betting dominates, accounting for the overwhelming majority of activity in the state. Retail sportsbooks remain a small share.

Where the money goes: retail sportsbooks pay 15% of taxable revenue to the Blueprint Fund. Mobile sportsbooks pay 15% to the Blueprint Fund and an additional 5% to the State's General Fund, for a total of 20%. Expired prizes go to the Maryland Problem Gambling Fund, which pays for the no-cost counseling described above.

Can I bet at Camden Yards?

No, not in person. Oriole Park at Camden Yards has no operating retail sportsbook. SuperBook ran one and closed its Maryland operation in July 2024.

The confusion is understandable. The Orioles opened the PureWager Pavilion at Camden Yards for the 2026 season, and PureWager is the club's exclusive sports betting partner. The Pavilion is branded hospitality space rather than a licensed sportsbook, and PureWager does not hold a Maryland license, though it has said it intends to enter the market.

You can still bet at the ballpark using any licensed Maryland app, since you are inside the state and geolocation will clear. You simply cannot walk up to a counter or a kiosk and place one.

Pro Teams in Maryland

There are three pro teams in Maryland — the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, and the Baltimore Orioles.

NFL Betting in Maryland

Baltimore Ravens

Most Marylanders would probably list the Ravens atop their list of supported teams, given 1.) the NFL's overall popularity edge, and 2.) the fact that the Ravens are competitive on seemingly a yearly basis.

Among the Ravens greats, you'll find Jonathan Ogden (an 11-time Pro Bowler and the franchise's first-ever draft pick), Ray Lewis (a 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXV MVP) and Ed Reed (a 9-time Pro Bowler), each of whom is considered among the best all-time at their respective positions.

Ravens Odds

Washington Commanders

The Commanders play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, and have done since 1997. That changes at the end of the decade. The DC Council approved a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site in September 2025, a roughly $4 billion project targeting a 2030 opening, and the team will stay in Landover until it is ready.

Worth knowing if you bet at games: while the Commanders play in Maryland, attending a home game puts you in Maryland regardless of where you live, so you need a Maryland-licensed app. Once the team moves into DC, that flips.

Commanders Odds

MLB Betting in Maryland

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles began play in the American League in 1901 as one of eight charter franchises, though they weren't the Baltimore Orioles at the time. They started as the Milwaukee Brewers, and later became the St. Louis Browns for a time before being purchased in 1953, renamed, and relocated to Baltimore.

The Orioles play their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Among the Orioles best players: Frank Robinson (1966 triple-crown winner), Brooks Robinson (considered one of, if not the best, defensive 3Bs of all time) and Cal Ripken Jr. (MLB record holder for consecutive games played).

Orioles Odds

If you want in on the baseball action, here are a few resources to help you bet with skill in MD:

• How to Bet on Baseball Guide
• Bet with MLB Sharps and check out our MLB Picks
• Go with or against the crowd using our Public Betting insights

College Sports Teams

College Football Betting in Maryland

 Maryland Terrapins Football

The Maryland Terrapins represent the University of Maryland in College Park and compete in the Big Ten. Mike Locksley enters his eighth season as head coach, and it has been a difficult stretch. Maryland went 4-8 in both 2024 and 2025, after three consecutive bowl wins from 2021 to 2023, the longest such run in program history. Athletic director Jim Smith confirmed Locksley's return for 2026 and committed to significantly increasing financial support for the program.

Clint Trickett takes over as offensive coordinator, with Ted Monachino continuing on defense.

The Terps play at SECU Stadium in College Park, which opened in 1950 and now seats over 50,000 after renovation. It also hosts Maryland's lacrosse team.

Maryland is one of the few states where you can legally bet on the local college team, so Terps spreads, totals and moneylines are all available. Individual player props are not.

Terps Odds

Navy Midshipmen Football

Navy competes in the American Conference, which rebranded from the American Athletic Conference. Brian Newberry enters his fourth season, and the trajectory has been sharp: 5-7 in 2023, 10-3 in 2024, and 11-2 in 2025 with a Liberty Bowl win over Cincinnati and a final ranking of 23rd. Newberry sits at 26-12 as an FBS head coach.

Drew Cronic returns for a third year as offensive coordinator, running the Wing-T. Eric Lewis takes over the defense.

The Midshipmen play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The Army-Navy game remains the fixture most people know, though Navy has become a genuinely competitive team beyond it, and the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games against Air Force and Army are worth marking on a betting calendar.

Midshipmen Odds

We've got a few recommended resources to help you bet with insight on college football:

• College Football Betting Tips for Profitability
• College Football Betting Tips on Fading the Public
• Check out our expert team with College Football Picks and real-time College Football Odds

College Basketball Betting in Maryland

Maryland Terrapins Men's Basketball

Maryland moved from the ACC to the Big Ten in 2014 and plays at Xfinity Center in College Park.

Buzz Williams took over in April 2025, coming from Texas A&M with a 373-228 record across 18 seasons and two SEC Coach of the Year awards. He inherited a rebuild rather than a reload: almost the entire roster left through the transfer portal and expiring eligibility after Kevin Willard's departure for Villanova, and the first season under Williams finished 12-21. The 2024-25 team before him went 27-9 and reached the Sweet Sixteen, so the gap between recent peak and current position is wide.

Terps Odds

 Navy Midshipmen Men's Basketball

Navy won the Patriot League regular season title in 2025-26, finishing 26-8 overall and 17-1 in conference play under first-year head coach Jon Perry, then reached the NIT. It was a substantial leap for a program that had not been a conference contender in years.

The Midshipmen play at Alumni Hall on the Naval Academy campus in Annapolis.

Midshipmen Odds

We've got a few recommended resources to help you bet on college basketball:

• How to Bet on College Basketball
• Trends to Know Before Betting Conference Tournaments

Other Events

Preakness Stakes

The Preakness is the second jewel of the Triple Crown, a thoroughbred race run since 1873 and known as the Race for the Black-Eyed Susans, after the blanket of Maryland's state flower draped over the winner.

The 151st running took place at Laurel Park on May 16, 2026, the first time in the race's history it ran anywhere other than Pimlico. Napoleon Solo won it, ridden by Paco Lopez and trained by Chad Summers. Pimlico closed for a $400 million rebuild after the 150th running, which forced the move about 20 miles south.

The race is changing in ways that matter if you bet it. In August 2026, Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland Jockey Club and NBC Sports announced that the 152nd Preakness will run at a rebuilt Pimlico on Sunday, May 23, 2027. Three changes are packed into that sentence:

• The race moves from the third Saturday in May to the fourth weekend, landing on Memorial Day weekend in most years
• It moves from Saturday to Sunday, with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes card shifting to Saturday, May 22
• The gap after the Kentucky Derby stretches from 14 days to 22

That last one is the one to think about. Derby winners have skipped the Preakness repeatedly in recent years because two weeks is a hard turnaround. Three weeks makes a Derby-to-Preakness double far more likely, which changes the shape of the field and the prices you'll see. Handicappers working from historic Preakness trends should treat 2027 as a fresh start.

The state also completed its acquisition of the intellectual property rights to both the Preakness and the Black-Eyed Susan, and the Maryland Jockey Club extended its NBC Sports deal through 2032.

Learn more about the available sportsbooks and promo codes in Maryland:

bet365 Promo Code | Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code | BetMGM Promo Code | FanDuel Promo Code | Caesars Promo Code | theScore Bet Promo Code | DraftKings Promo Code | Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code | Bally Bet Sportsbook Promo Code

Do you or someone you know have problems with gambling behavior? Help and Hope is available right now, it’s free, confidential and 24/7. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or text 1-800-426-2537.

• Must be 21 years or older
• Learn about Maryland's self-exclusion program