Online Gambling in Maryland in 2024

Scott Kacsmar
July 11, 2024

Maryland is one of the oldest pro-gambling states in the country. It is the host site for The Preakness Stakes and is essentially the birthplace of major horse racing in North America.

Under the state’s sports betting legislation, sports fans have been allowed to wager on their favorite professional sports teams since 2021. Since 2022, sports bettors can place bets online with legal sportsbooks and offshore online sports betting sites in the state.

As you can tell, gambling goes back deep with this state, but that history of openness doesn’t extend to all types of gambling. Online casino games like poker, online slots and table games are still prohibited.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the world of online gambling for Maryland residents. Find out what is legal, where you can play online casino games for real money today and how to choose the offshore sportsbooks for gambling in Maryland.

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Resources:

Offshore Sportsbooks Betting Sites Guide

Best Maryland Online Gambling Sites 2024

We have prepared a top 10 list of the best online betting sites that Maryland bettors can join immediately. We go through hundreds of sites and grade them by our set of important criteria, and these were chosen as the highest-graded options.

BookMaker – Early lines and great VIP program
Heritage Sports – Unique perks and live betting
Bovada – America’s busiest poker room and a great racebook design
BetOnline – Elite payout speed and great casino game library
BetAnySports – Play the lottery from home
JustBet – Sister site to Bookmaker
BetUS – Produces their own TV service with expert analysis
WagerWeb – Good for crypto users
Everygame – The best site design in the industry
SportsBetting.ag – Sister site to BetOnline

Is online gambling legal in Maryland?

Yes, online gambling is legal in Maryland under the state’s gambling sports betting laws, but it is not a state like nearby Pennsylvania or New Jersey where all types of gambling are legal. We break down the two most popular forms and how they differ in legality later in this guide.

The Best Maryland Gambling Site Reviews

Our top 10 offshore sportsbooks are all located in Costa Rica or the Caribbean – areas where online gambling is legal for adults. The offshore aspect of these sites means they do not need to be regulated by Maryland’s laws, so that is why you could join them today and play casino games despite the state not legalizing that activity yet. You can feel safe to join any of these sites, but for your reference, we have written a detailed review for each site in our top 10 list.

1. Early Lines & Elite Rewards Program: BookMaker

BookMaker

Established 1996

Visit Bookmaker

9.8

Best For

Professional Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$500 Cash Bonus

Claim Bonus

Key Features

BookMaker is a Costa Rica-based sportsbook that has been operating since 1996. It is an A+ rated site with arguably the best online sportsbook for sports bettors. By getting the lines up so early, you can pounce on the odds at Bookmaker before they inevitably move later in the week after money comes in heavy on one side.

You don’t get as many props as some of the competition, but for betting sides and totals, BookMaker is the top of the class. They also do a very good job with their racebook, and while the casino only has 33 slot games, you can see the RTP (return-to-player rate) on each which is not something the competition shows. The higher the RTP, the better it is for you to play that game as you’ll win more of your money back on average. Additionally, BookMaker features some generous welcome bonuses for new users.

2. Unique Perks : Heritage Sports

Heritage Sports

Established 2001

Visit Heritage Sports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.6

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.7/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

20% Cash Bonus

Claim Bonus

Key Features

Formerly an invite-only site, Heritage Sports has expanded its clientele by allowing anyone to join the Costa Rica-based sportsbook, which has been operating since 2001 and receives an A+ rating from Bookmakers Review.

Sports bettors will love the reduced juice-cash back program, the deep live betting markets that work well on a mobile device, and the plethora of transaction methods that are accepted. If you want to live bet on a South Korean baseball game at 3:00 AM, Heritage Sports is your go-to site. But they also do props and parlays well too.

The esports section is as good as any in our top 10 list. The casino does not have the most flashy slot games or even many games that look like they were designed in the last five years for that matter, but they have a wide variety available and you can test them all for free with demo versions, which is always a nice touch.

The bonuses are not as big as the competition, but Heritage Sports is proud of its ongoing promotions like the cash-back programs, giving you a free birthday parlay (value of $500), or making every eighth deposit on the house (taking the average of previous seven deposits).

3. Ideal Spot for Prop Betting & Poker: Bovada

Bovada

Established 2011

Visit Bovada

9.9

Best For

Mobile Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.9/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 8.9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$750 Cash Bonus

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Key Features

Whether you are looking to join an offshore casino for the first time or are an experienced gambler, Bovada offers an all-around, high-quality experience.

There are multiple areas in which Bovada ranks as the best or at least ranking in the running for the best in our list. Those would be the poker room that has the highest poker traffic of U.S. players, the prop builder for many sports markets, the design of their racebook with tracks from around the world and their interesting choices of virtual racing games that work much like video slots.

Bovada also offers a casino with over 130 slots, seven types of blackjack and live dealer games. You do not get demo versions to play or RTP rates, but the casino section is sufficient if you were to make Bovada your primary online casino for your gambling needs. They are also very crypto-friendly with their bonuses. Additionally, the promo codes at Bovada are excellent.

4. Known for Opinionated Lines & Poker: BetOnline

BetOnline

Established 2001

Visit BetOnline

9.8

Best For

Bonus Hunter 8.5

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 9.2/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$250 Free Bet

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Key Features

BetOnline is another home run for Costa Rica as its A+ rating shows. You get access to one of the best sportsbooks with opinionated lines on the most popular American professional league markets. The prop builder is right up there with Bovada’s. The poker tournaments are also right up there with Bovada’s, though the traffic is not as high volume.

The casino section is huge, and the games run well on the mobile site. One complaint would be a lack of demo versions, but you’ll be impressed with the choices, many of which are found exclusively at BetOnline. They also do horse racing and esports better than most.

The first-deposit bonuses are generous, and there are also reload bonuses and rebates for losses. We like the unique promo codes at BetOnline for sports like getting your wager back if your NFL team gets shut out, but we wish the reduced juice (-105 lines) was available for more than just the NHL, the least popular of the four major American leagues.

5. Good for Sports & Lottery Fans: BetAnySports

BetAnySports

Established 2002

Visit BetAnySports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.9

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 9/10

Bonuses 8.7/10

Odds 9.6/10

Customer Service 8.5/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

30% Cash Bonus

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Key Features

BetAnySports is not as flashy as other sites, but it still offers one of the best player prop builders in our list. They also feature a wide variety of games at seven different casinos, and they do live betting well.

BetAnySports also differentiates itself in the market in two ways. First, their reduced juice on sports betting is -105 odds, besting the competition that offers -108. The other way is this is the only online casino where you can bet on the state lottery drawings done by various states each day. Unfortunately, none of the Maryland drawings are included here, but if you ever wanted to play your number in another state drawing, you can do it here from your favorite mobile device. The bonuses and promos at BetAnySports help to increase the overall experience as well.

Current State of Online Gambling in Maryland

In 2021, a bill was passed to legalize online sports gambling in Maryland. Governor Larry Hogan even went to a casino in December 2021 and made the first legal bet himself at an in-person sportsbook.

The state has fallen behind, though, when it comes to issuing online sports betting licenses, but before the end of 2022, the first mobile licenses were finally issued.

Online Casino Gambling in Maryland

It seems silly, but while you can download a DraftKings or FanDuel app to play Daily Fantasy Sports, and will soon be able to use those apps for mobile wagering on sports, you will not be able to play casino games online in Maryland. This is the case for many states at the moment, including Colorado.

The big bill passed in 2021 only covered sports wagering. It does not encompass the kinds of casino games you can expect an online casino to have like poker (tournaments and video poker variants), table games, baccarat and specialty games (keno and scratchcards).

Maybe there will be a change in the near future to the legal status for casino games if the sports wagering goes as well as it should but, for now, they are technically not legal in Maryland. However, gambling on online casino games is still available to you today if you use reputable offshore sportsbooks such as Bookmaker, Heritage Sports, Bovada and BetOnline.

Advantages of Online Gambling Sites for Maryland Users

There are six main brick-and-mortar casinos in Maryland as well as some bingo halls, card rooms and other small gambling establishments.

But there are advantages to using an online betting site that these commercial casinos cannot compete with. Here are some of those advantages if you use offshore gambling sites like the ones we just reviewed:

Get access to some of the deepest sports markets from around the world with online sportsbooks that also offer live betting.
Enjoy gambling on your time at your leisure.
Avoid touching dirty cash.
Save on gas money, especially if the nearest casino is far away from your location.
Do your transactions with crypto and a variety of other payment methods.
Avoid picking up germs from crowds.
Get paid in your account of choice in a timely manner.
Better bonuses and promotions than going to the casino in person.
Play free demos of casino games to decide if it’s worth your real money or not.

Is my financial info safe with an online gambling site in Maryland?

In an age of so many online schemes and phishing attacks, you do have to be careful about sharing any personal and financial info online.

We understand that you may not feel comfortable about sending a picture of your photo ID card to a site located in Costa Rica, but we can assure you all the companies in our reviews are legitimate, safe and trustworthy for you to use. They have been operating legally for years in Costa Rica. We would not recommend a site if we thought it had a tarnished or shady reputation.

Each of these sites accepts a variety of online banking methods, including debit cards, credit cards, bank wire transfers and even crypto options, so you can use the withdrawal and payment options that you’re most comfortable with while enjoying online casino gambling or sports betting.

What kind of online gambling is legal in Maryland?

The legal forms of online gambling in Maryland include horse racing, daily fantasy sports and sports betting. You can also subscribe to a state lottery service to play four different games online.

Online casino games (poker, slots, table games, etc.) are not currently legal in Maryland. Even now that apps like the DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook have launched in Maryland, you are not able to play their casino offerings as that was not part of the 2021 bill to expand online wagering in the state.

Until there is a change on this front, your best bet is an offshore casino such as Bookmaker, Heritage Sports, Bovada and BetOnline They will have all your gambling needs taken care of today.

When will online gambling be fully legal in Maryland?

No one could give an accurate date for this question. Given how things are moving on the gambling front across the United States since PASPA was overturned in 2018, it could very well be in this decade that you will be able to pick up your phone in Maryland, place a bet on the Ravens or Orioles and then play a few slot games or video poker.

But there has to be movement on the legal side of things for that to happen with the U.S.-based companies that need to be regulated by the laws in Maryland. Currently, there is no proposed bill to legalize online casino games despite retail sports betting being legalized. The hope is that if sports betting goes really well and starts bringing in revenue to the state that is supposed to go into funding education, then maybe it’s just a matter of time before the online casino games are legalized too. Until it happens, you can do all your gambling with the trusted online betting sites that we have reviewed.

Make Your Best Bets Online in Maryland

By now, you should have an idea of where your personal preference lies but choosing the best one comes down to what you like the most. We recommend checking out all our top online betting sites, but some do specialize in areas better than others:

If your main interest is sports betting, then sign up for Bookmaker, Bovada and Heritage Sports.
If your main interest is poker, then sign up for Bovada, BetOnline and Everygame.

FAQs – Maryland Online Gambling

Can I gamble online if I live in Maryland?

Yes, there are various forms of online gambling that are now legal in the state of Maryland. Not every type is considered legal as of 2024, however. Offshore sites are still the only way to play casino games online in the state.

What is the legal gambling age in Maryland?

At 18 in Maryland, you can visit retail sportsbooks, play the state lottery and play Daily Fantasy Sports. If you visit a land-based casino, you need to be 21 in order to enter because they all serve alcohol.

What sportsbook is legal in Maryland?

You can use any offshore sportsbooks to bet on your favorite teams in the state of Maryland. We highly recommend that you use one of our top picks for the best online gambling sites in Maryland.

Can you bet on apps in Maryland?

You can use any offshore mobile app or mobile-optimized gambling site to engage in responsible gambling in the state of Maryland. Currently, online casino gambling is not legal, making offshore mobile sports betting apps or offshore sites your best bet while also offering a wide range of gambling activities.