Steve is a gaming industry veteran with more than a decade of experience covering legal and legislative developments in the U.S. gambling sector. His primary focus is the ongoing legal and legislative developments in the U.S. and the convergence of terrestrial and online gaming.
Jon Young is a writer and magazine editor with over 12 years' experience in the gaming sector. He has written on everything from poker and slots to casino, sports betting and mobile gambling. When not trying to take down the Mega Moolah jackpot he can be found playing poker tournaments in casinos.
Gambling options continue to expand in Maryland. State lawmakers in May 2021 approved online and retail sports betting, with betting apps going live in November 2022.
Online casino gambling, now legal in several neighboring Mid-Atlantic states, may not be far behind. Whether you’re looking to find the latest updates on Maryland online casinos or other gambling developments in the state, Gambling.com can be a valuable resource. We help players place legal and secure wagers, offer in-depth reviews and recommendations and provide the latest news and updates on Maryland online casinos.
Social Casino Disclaimer: Due to regulations in the state, we are unable to show operators that only operate as social casinos. However, as online sports betting is legal in this state, we can list any operators that have both a social casino and a sportsbook.
Best Maryland Online Casinos Sites
Affiliate Disclosure:At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you. All product reviews and recommendations are still impartial as our editorial standards are designed to be commercially independent and follow a professional methodology.MoreLess
Maryland gambling law allows for online wagering on a range of sporting events and daily fantasy sports. The gambling legislation was signed into law in May 2021, with retail operations opening first during the fall of 2021 and betting apps launching in November 2022. Including big names such as DraftKings Maryland likely to go online once the online betting market regulates in the state.
The state also offers a Maryland Lottery App, which allows players to purchase and renew electronic subscriptions, scan tickets and set jackpot alerts.
Maryland Online Casino Laws
Online casino gambling is not legal in Maryland, which applies to slots, table games and poker sites. At the moment, there is no immediate timetable to move forward with online casino legislation, as state lawmakers are focusing instead on implementing online and retail sports betting.
At some point, Maryland lawmakers may consider adding online casinos to the state’s growing mix of gambling options. Neighboring New Jersey generates more revenue from online casino gambling than any state in the U.S., and Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia also offer legal online casinos. After MD retail and online betting for sporting events settles in, casinos could be the next form of online gambling. It might expect high revenue, especially if brands offer similar promotions to NJ online casino bonuses.
For now, Maryland online casino players can play slots, table games and poker for free at a variety of sweepstakes casinos.
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The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission oversees and regulates casino gambling in the state. The commission has seven members, each appointed by the governor and approved by the State Senate.
The state agency is responsible for licensing and ensuring that all Maryland online casino sites and bookmakers adhere to state gambling laws and regulations. It also provides monthly revenue reports and oversees a division dedicated to responsible online gambling in Maryland.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Maryland
Sweepstakes or social casinos such as Chumba Casinos and Luckyland Slots are legal, popular and available. Sweepstakes casinos offer many of the slots and table games you would find at retail or online casinos, but with no real money changing hands. Instead, players use virtual currencies to win contests and prizes. The games are available on Sweepstakes casino websites, Facebook and other apps. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland offers its own social casino. Gambling.com provides ratings and recommendations for the top sweepstakes casinos.
What Online Casinos in Maryland Are Likely?
At least four gambling companies that already have a presence in Maryland would be expected to move forward with online casinos if and when online casino gambling is legalized in the state.
Penn National Gaming: The parent company of Penn Interactive operates online casino operations in several states and is purchasing Hollywood Casino Perryville. Penn National Gaming also has a significant equity stake and partnership with Barstool, which offers an online casino app.
BetMGM: The online gambling arm of MGM Resorts International is expanding aggressively across the U.S. with sites in nearly a dozen markets. BetMGM Casino already has a significant presence in Maryland with MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, near Washington D.C.
Caesars: Iconic gambling name is the owner of Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Caesars Online Casino is available in nearby New Jersey and Pennsylvania and offers some form of mobile betting in at least 13 states after the recent purchase of global gambling operator William Hill.
Would Promo Codes Be Available at Online Casinos in MD?
Promo codes provide a way for online casinos to allow players to receive bonus offers. These bonuses come in a variety of forms, such as a sign-up welcome bonus, a deposit match or a specific number of free slot spins.
If Maryland online casinos are legalized, promo codes to claim bonus offers are likely to be widely available. Some online casinos will provide you with the code to type in and claim your bonus. Others may fill in the code automatically, while others may not even require a code to claim your bonus.
Online casinos use bonus offers as a way to incentivize new account holders. Some of the casino bonuses are small, others can be quite lucrative. Most include some form of wagering requirement that must be met before the bonus money can be redeemed in full.
Commercial Casinos in Maryland
Maryland is home to six casinos located across the state, all of which opened between 2010 and 2016. Each is permitted to offer Las Vegas-style gaming, including slots, table games, electronic games and poker.
Name
Address
Type
Owner/Operator
Live Table Games?
Hollywood Casino Perryville
1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville
Casino
Penn National Gaming
Yes
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
11525 Russell Street, Baltimore
Casino
Caesars Entertainment
Yes
Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
7002 Arundel Mills, Circle 777, Hanover
Casino
The Cordish Companies
Yes
MGM National Harbor
101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill
Casino
MGM Resorts International
Yes
Ocean Downs
10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin
Racino
Churchill Downs Inc.
Yes
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone
Casino
Golden Entertainment
Yes
Deposit methods at Maryland gambling sites will vary based on the operator, but you can expect to find the following gambling payment options at the vast majority of them: e-wallets such as PayPal and Neteller; Play+ (often branded by the operator); online banking; debit and credit cards; PayNearMe (with a voucher at 7-Eleven, Family Dollar Store and CVS); and cash at an affiliated brick-and-mortar casino.
In general, operators will require you to withdraw your funds using the same methods you used to deposit them, if possible. Typically, you’ll have access to fewer withdrawal options than deposit methods, since you typically can’t withdraw funds back onto a credit card. Withdrawal methods often include PayPal, Play+ casino payments, online banking, mailed paper checks and cash at an affiliated casino/sportsbook cage.
Withdrawal times can range from 24–72 hours, based on the method used and the operator. E-wallets and Play+ tend to release funds the quickest of any method, but again, check with each specific operator.
About Maryland Casinos
Hollywood Casino Perryville: The state’s first casino to open in 2010 is located about 40 miles north of Baltimore. More than 800 reel and video slots, table games, live poker, off-track betting. In May 2021, final regulatory approval to acquire the property was officially granted to Penn National Gaming, which initially developed the property.
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore: Two-story casino has more than 2,200 slots (including $500 machines in high-limit area), 150 video poker machines, more than 150 table games, 22-table World Series of Poker room, off-track betting. Located less than one mile from Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.
Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland: Largest casino floor in Maryland includes about 4,000 slot machines, more than 200 table games, poker, electronic table games. Centrally located about 15 miles from Baltimore and 25 miles from Washington D.C. Live! Casino Maryland had a 36 percent share of the state’s casino market during the first quarter of 2021, the second-highest in the state.
MGM National Harbor: Opened on Dec. 8, 2016, the last of the state’s six casinos to open. Offers nearly 3,000 slots, table games, hybrid electronic games (which allow you to play craps, roulette and casino war at the same time), poker, off-track betting, The state’s closest casino to Washington D.C. (11 miles) is the leading revenue-producing casino in Maryland, with a 39 percent market share.
Ocean Downs: Combination casino and harness track, which offers year-round simulcast racing and a live racing schedule during the summer months. Casino includes more than 800 slot machines, table games, video poker. Located in Berlin, about six miles west of coastal resort town Ocean City.
Rocky Gap Casino Resort: Located in Western Maryland-based Rocky Gap State Park, an expansive public recreation area. Casino is less than 15 miles from the West Virginia and Pennsylvania borders. The casino features 665 slot machines, 17 table games and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.
Of the six casinos, Hollywood Casino Perryville, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, MGM National Harbor and Ocean Downs would be the most likely to launch Maryland online casino sites — the owners of each actively manage online casino operations in other states.
What Legal Gambling Options in MD Are Available Now?
Maryland is a progressive gambling state with online casino gaming one of the few gambling options that is not legally permitted. The state is home to six commercial casinos and several horse racing tracks. Betting on sporting events was recently legalized with in-person wagering expected to begin during the fall of 2021, followed by online sports betting (with as many as 60 potential licensed operators) the following year.
With this in mind bettors now have some great options in Maryland. Well established brands soon to launch there like
A look at which gambling options are legal in Maryland:
Type of Gambling
Allowed?
Date Legalized
Land-Based Casinos
Yes
2008
Online Casinos
No
N/A
Horse Racing
Yes
1870
Land-Based Sports Betting
Yes
2021
Online Sports Betting
Yes
2021
Daily Fantasy Sports
Yes
2012
Lottery
Yes
1972
Charitable Gaming
Yes *
1952
*-Maryland charitable gaming such as raffles and bingo is regulated at the county level and legal in most counties.
Can I Visit Offshore Online Casinos?
Gambling.com only recommends Maryland online gambling sites that are legal and regulated. For Maryland casinos, that means venues that are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission.
Among the reasons offshore-based online casinos should be avoided:
Betting with an offshore online casino site violates federal and state laws. Though prosecution is rare, the punishments can be stiff and not worth the risks.
Offshore sites operate with little to no regulation and may abruptly shut down at any time, causing account holders to lose access to some or all of their funds with no legal recourse. Even withdrawals can be risky because U.S. financial institutions cannot knowingly engage with any entity participating in unlawful online gambling.
Maryland casinos provide significant tax revenue and jobs for the state. Offshore online casino sites provide neither of those. We cannot emphasize the importance of playing at a legal, online casinos.
Responsible Gambling
The Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling was formed in 2010 to provide resources and support for Maryland residents who may have a gambling program. The Alliance consists of several separate groups, including the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency and at least one member representing the state’s casinos.
The state operates a voluntary exclusion program in which Maryland players can choose to ban themselves from the state's casinos or the Maryland lottery for a period of two years or longer.
The state’s approved gambling assistance message must be displayed at each customer entrance to the gaming floor of all Maryland casinos. By statute, gaming license revenue must help defray operational costs for the state’s problem gambling hotline. An annual fee for each video lottery terminal and every table game operated by the state’s casinos is required to be allocated to aid problem gambling in the state.
The Future Looks Bright for Maryland Online Casinos
While not yet legal, it seems likely that online casino gambling will eventually become Maryland law. The state allows several other forms of online gambling, including betting on sporting events, which was approved by voters and subsequently signed into law in 2021. While online betting is clearly more mainstream, online casino gambling continues to gain acceptance from both voters and state lawmakers, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region.
It may be just a matter of time before Maryland joins its neighbors. But meanwhile, here's where online casino gambling is available:
Yes. Several forms of online gambling — including online sports betting, horse racing wagering and daily fantasy sports — are all legal in the state. Betting apps have gone live in November 2022. Maryland online casinos, however, are still not legal. You are able to visit retail casinos and bet in person at a number of Maryland locations.
What types of gambling in Maryland are legal?
The following types of gambling are legal in Maryland: In-person casino gambling and poker, online and retail sports betting, online and retail pari-mutuel wagering, daily fantasy sports contests and lottery. Charitable gambling (bingo, raffles, etc.) is legal in most Maryland counties.
What is the legal gambling age in MD?
The minimum legal gambling age in Maryland is 21 and over for online casino gambling and online sports betting; then it is 18 years and over for lottery and online lotto games, pari-mutuel wagering and charitable gaming.
Why am I getting offers to play at a Maryland online casino?
Online casino gambling is not legal in Maryland. You may receive offers from sweepstakes or social casinos, like Hard Rock Social Casino, which are legal and safe, with games played for free, for entertainment purposes, not real money. Any solicitation from an offshore-based online casino has operations violating state and federal laws - it's not recommended nor safe.
What about online poker?
Online poker sites are not legal in Maryland. Poker rooms are available in most of the state’s commercial casinos. Maryland residents who want to play online poker can do so for free at sweepstakes or social sites such as Global Poker and Chumba Casino.
What should I look for when deciding on an online casino in Maryland?
If and when online casinos are legalized in Maryland, limit your search to casino sites that are licensed and regulated. Then check out several different sites and choose the one(s) that offer the games you want, offer the best mobile experience, and provide you with the highest comfort level.
What are the land-based casinos in Maryland?
The state has seven land-based casinos. They are Hollywood Casino Perryville; Horseshoe Casino Baltimore; Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover; MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill; M & T Stadium in Baltimore, Riverboat on the Potomac, Ocean Downs in Berlin; and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone. All open 24 hours except Ocean Downs, operating daily from 8 a.m.-2 a.m.
Does Maryland offer any interstate online gambling?
No. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 prohibits certain types of wagering from other states. Through the years, there have been various interpretations and rulings of the Wire Act and whether it applies to all online gambling forms. You may find this available for online poker in other states. Currently no such allowances are made for online gambling in Maryland.
Steve is a gaming industry veteran with more than a decade of experience covering legal and legislative developments in the U.S. gambling sector. His primary focus is the ongoing legal and legislative developments in the U.S. and the convergence of terrestrial and online gaming.
Jon Young is a writer and magazine editor with over 12 years' experience in the gaming sector. He has written on everything from poker and slots to casino, sports betting and mobile gambling. When not trying to take down the Mega Moolah jackpot he can be found playing poker tournaments in casinos.