Maryland Sports Betting

When did Maryland Sports Betting Become Legal?

People in the great state of Maryland had something to celebrate in 2021--Sports Betting is now legal, and online sportsbooks are aiming to launch their apps as early as September (just in time for football season)!

Governor Larry Hogan passed an emergency bill in April 2021, making online and retail sports betting legal for anyone over 21 that lives in or is visiting Maryland. It is rumored that sportsbook operators were already starting to prep their impending launches before lawmakers passed the law, as they knew the bill had major bipartisan support.

Maryland is the fifth state to legalize sports betting in 2021 and joins more than 24 other states that take online and in-person sports bets. Because we want our readers to be the most informed, we have put together everything you might be interested in knowing about sports betting in the Old Line State. Read on so you can go get your parlay on!

Is it Legal to Place Online Sports Bets in Maryland?

Almost, but not quite yet. Yes, lawmakers signed off on the legalization of sports betting in Maryland in late 2020, and Gov. Hogan passed the bill in April 2021; however, there’s still a little work to do. The process of assigning licenses and launching online sites still needs to be worked out.

Please don’t fret, sports betting fans; we heard from a little Oriole bird that everything standing in the way of placing your first sports bet would be settled by the fall. This means you could place your first Ravens bet at the start of the season! Get your over/under bets ready!

Does Maryland have any Legal Sports Betting Apps?

Not yet, but there will be lots to choose from when they do become legal and are ready to launch. When the bill passed, the Maryland General Assembly decided to allow for 60 online licenses and 50 retail licenses, which could mean that there could be over 100 sportsbook outlets throughout Maryland. If all 60 licenses are awarded, Maryland could have the most online sportsbooks in the US!

According to an article written by the action network, many of the state’s land-based casinos have already secured partnerships for retail and online sportsbook launches. These sportsbook partners include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, William Hill, and Twin Spires. Along with in-person betting at the six Maryland retail casinos, you will also be able to place sports bets at M&T Stadium where the Baltimore Ravens play, Camden Yards, which is home to the Baltimore Orioles, and FedEx Field, where the Washington Football team calls home.

Maryland Sports Betting Locations

As we mentioned, Maryland granted over 100 sports betting locations (retail and mobile), so we’d be here all day if we listed them in total, but to keep things interesting, we’ll give you a breakdown of the possible locations.

First off, though, it’s important to understand how licenses are granted. The law divides each license into two groups; Class A and Class B. The licenses are granted as follows:

Sports Betting License Class A Locations

• The six retail casinos in Maryland, including MGM National Harbor, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, and Maryland Live! Casino and Hotel.

• Maryland Jockey Club (they also own Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park Racetrack)

• FedEx Field - Washington Football Team - Landover, MD

• M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore Ravens

• Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles

So that the playing field remains fair, three Class A licenses are reserved to incentivize NBA, NHL, or MLS teams to relocate to Maryland. The obvious teams that might consider relocating to the Old Line state are the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and DC United. These teams all play in Washington D.C., but to take advantage of the sports betting, location opportunity would simply need to change their home stadium.

Sports Betting License Class B Locations

Typically granted to non-sports-related companies interested in offering sports betting, Class B licenses are given to bars, restaurants, or other retail establishments. These licenses are subject to a super competitive bidding process that includes a hefty $60,000 fee and an additional 15% tax on all revenue. Most locations granted a Class B license are so happy to have sports betting, they don’t mind footing the bill.

The locations we’re aware of at this time include:

• Maryland State Fair/Timonium Race Course

• Two commercial bingo parlors - Bingo World and Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort

• Four standalone Off-Track Betting locations - G Boone’s Restaurant and Bar, Greenmount Station, Long Shot’s, and Riverboat on the Potomac

Online Sportsbook Apps in Maryland

We won’t know which sportsbook apps you’ll have to choose from until late August, but if we take a gander at neighboring states where sports betting is legal, we can make a few predictions. The online sportsbook apps that we’re almost positive will be launching in Maryland include:

• 888

• Bet365

• BetMGM

• BetRivers

• Caesars

• DraftKings

• FanDuel

• Fox Bet

• PointsBet

• William Hill

• Unibet

The above are all fully active in the states where sports betting is legal, and typically when a retail location opens a sportsbook, they also do everything they can to launch an app so players can place bets on the go.

As we said, these are all educated guesses. The actual list of sports betting sites is finalized through partnerships, regulations, and applications.

How will Sports Betting Work in Maryland?

Once retail and mobile sports betting locations have officially opened and launched, you will want to make sure you know the basics of sports betting. This includes the general rules and types of bets you are placing. There are many sources online for learning more about how sports betting works.

You also need to be over 21 to place any sports bet within Maryland. Maryland state law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from betting on sports in a retail location or on a mobile app.

How to Place a Bet at a Retail Sportsbook

You can place a bet one of two ways. The first is to simply go to the teller window at the sportsbook. You give them your money, and your bet is recorded. The other way is to use an automated betting kiosk. These are touch screen machines that display all bet types and games. You will choose your bet, pay, and the kiosk will spit out your bet ticket.

Either way, you choose, you will want to keep your bet ticket in a super safe place. You’ll need it to collect your winnings.

How to Place a Bet on a Mobile Sports Betting App

Betting on your mobile device gives you the freedom to choose where you place your bet. As long as you are within the borders of Maryland, you can use your smartphone’s location services to place sports bets.

Once sports betting actually becomes a thing, you can set up your betting account within minutes. Be warned that you might have to initially set your account up in person at a retail casino as some states require you to prove who you are in real life. If that is the case, you would need to visit the closest sportsbook only once to set up your account. When that’s complete, you can then place bets from anywhere within the state borders.

As soon as each sports betting app is live, we will be sure to give you all the links and bonus codes you need to set you up for success. To open a new account, you will want to follow the provided links and fill in your personal information. These details generally include:

• First and Last Name

• Birthdate

• Email address

• Home address

• SS#

• Contact information (phone number)

You will then be prompted to choose a username and password. After that, you can start placing your bets. If you choose to use the sportsbook’s mobile app, you will need to be sure to download it from the App Store or the website. In most cases, Apple users will have the option to go straight to the App Store, whereas Android users will download from the website.

Maryland Sports Betting Banking Options

So that you can actually place bets, you will need to have funds in your account. Similar to other sports betting platforms or retail locations, you will first need to make a deposit before you can withdraw.

One nice thing about online sports betting platforms is that they try to be as accommodating as possible by accepting many forms of payment. As an online banking account, when you make a bet, money is taken from your account. When you win, money is then credited to your account for withdrawal.

Making a Deposit

Because online sportsbooks haven’t launched yet, we can’t be 100% sure which deposit methods will be accepted, but like other online platforms, the following are commonly accepted.

• Major credit or debit cards

• Prepaid cards

• Wire transfers

• E-checks

• PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller

• Cash

• Money Order

Once your account is funded using one of the above methods, you are free to begin placing bets.

Withdrawing your Winnings

Withdrawals are just as simple as deposits and are easiest if the same method is used. Depending on the method you choose will depend on how fast your money shows up in your account. For example, if you choose for the online sportsbook to send you a check, that will take longer than requesting it be directly deposited into your bank account.

Do I have to be a resident of Maryland to Place Sports Bets Online?

No, you do not have to be a resident of Maryland to place sports bets online. However, you do need to be within state borders to place bets. As long as you are within state limits and over 21, you can bet to your heart’s desire.

What Sports Can You Bet on in Maryland?

If we’re being hopeful, you will probably be able to bet on just about any sport in Maryland. The most common sports other states' bettors wager on are the NFL, MLB, and NBA. It’s unlikely that you will be able to place bets on in-state college teams, and you are never allowed to bet on high school teams since those teams are riddled with minors.

Word on the street is that the bill that’s under consideration doesn’t have any restrictions and specifically notes that allowance of betting on the Olympics and the Oscars (who knew!). Some of the sports you can expect to bet on include:

• Football

• Basketball

• Baseball

• Hockey

• Soccer

• Australian Rules Football

• Badminton

• Boxing/MMA

• Cricket

• Cycling

• Darts

• Esports

• Golf

• NASCAR

• Rugby

• Table tennis

• Tennis

We will be sure to update this list once we know which companies and platforms are available. If you’re getting excited like we are, start doing some research on your favorite leagues and think about the types of sports bets you might want to wager.

Types of Sports Bets Available in Maryland

Like we mentioned a bunch, we won’t be sure until everything has been opened and launched, but here are the most common sports bet types that could be available in Maryland.

• Futures - Betting on events in the future

• Parlay - Selecting winners of several games

• Moneyline - Wagers on a specific team or player

• Spreads - Betting on the difference between the final scores in one game

• Totals - Wagering on the combined total of both teams’ score in one game

• Teaser  - Similar to a parlay, but the legs of the parlay are only on totals bets or spread bets, and you can move the line in your favor

Now that you know just about everything, keep your eyes peeled for more information on sports betting online in Maryland! Check back mid August for updates, and check out our reviews and other market pages to find out more online gambling details!