Is gambling legal in Maryland, and if so, what forms of gambling are permitted? The quick answer is yes, gambling in person at your local casino is allowed. However, there are only six state-licensed casinos in Old Line State, and online gambling at native casino sites is still illegal. Therefore, for those wanting to play at home, the best option for a Maryland online casino remains an offshore one.
These offshore casinos offer a much bigger selection of games than land casinos, are very safe to use, and offer great bonuses too. Below, we present a list of the best online casinos in Maryland based on bonuses, games, payment options, security, customer service, and other key factors to help you choose one that suits you best.
Key Things You Need to Know
- If you wish to gamble online from Maryland, you must be over the age of 21. If you are playing online lottery games, then you must be at least 18 years of age.
- Online gambling is not legal at a local, regulated level. You can only play on offshore casino sites that have a license from a different jurisdiction (Curacao, Panama, etc.)
- These sites are often better for cryptocurrency users given the fast transactions, including payouts, you will be able to complete with such currencies.
Is Gambling in Maryland Allowed? The Legality of Gambling in Maryland
Maryland gambling policies are regulated by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. There are quite a few options for players wanting to wager in Maryland compared to many other states, with Maryland having commercial casinos, pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and a state-controlled lottery.
There are also two race courses in Maryland – Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park – that offer scheduled races with pari-mutuel betting. Pimlico is home to the Preakness race, which is part of the Triple Crown.
Because the law does not specifically mention online gambling, the legality of playing on offshore sites is murky, as it is in most other states around the country. It’s worth noting that no anti-gambling laws have ever been applied to offshore players, and no one has ever been penalized for gambling at out-of-state casinos.
Simply put, the authorities aren’t interested in prosecuting clients of offshore casinos, which is why most analysts believe Maryland to be an iGaming-friendly jurisdiction.
The minimum legal gambling age in Maryland is 18 years for lotteries, racing, and charitable gaming, while the legal gambling age for land-based casinos is 21 years or older.
Is it Legal to Play at Maryland Online Casino Sites?
Off-track horse racing gambling is allowed on apps and registered websites, and Maryland was the first state to permit fantasy sports betting.
Regarding Maryland casinos online, Section 12 of the Maryland code states that betting, wagering, or gambling without a license is illegal within the state’s borders.
However, it’s worth noting that, unlike in other states, Maryland doesn’t have separate punishments for players and operators, and there are no specific local regulations that refer to online gambling sites. There’s no recent history of the state ever trying to stop players from participating in gambling on our recommended offshore casino sites.
The vast majority of offshore online casinos will accept Maryland residents as customers, and there’s a definite hope of further progress when it comes to the legality of Maryland betting sites in the not-too-distant future.
When Will Online Casinos Be Legal in Maryland?
Although currently still not legal, there is a good chance this could change in the future. Several forms of gambling are already legal in the state, including retail Maryland casinos, sports betting, horse racing, and dog racing. This bodes well for mobile casinos, and even though there is no current legislation in the works, it probably won’t be too long before a push is made to legalize online casino gambling.
Who Can Legally Play at Online Casino in Maryland?
To legally gamble at a retail casino, you must be 21 years or older in the state of Maryland. In other forms of gambling, like horse racing and lottery, the legal age is 18+. To legally sign up to and use any of the offshore casinos we have reviewed, you must be at least 18 years old.
How to Play at Maryland Online Casinos
It’s a very simple process to join a new online casino in Maryland which should only take just a few minutes of your time.
Using Wild Casino as an example, let’s look at the general procedure for joining online casinos.
Step 1 – Register your Account – After visiting Wild Casino and clicking ‘Join,’ the first step is to create an account with a few personal details, such as your full name, phone number, email, and postal address. Then you need to create a password for your new account, which you need to keep safe.
Step 2 – Make an Initial Deposit – After you’ve set up your account, you’ll then need to decide the payment method you’d like to use to deposit funds. Credit cards, debit cards, eWallets, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies are among the payment methods accessible. If you want to claim a welcome bonus, this is when you’ll need to enter any appropriate promo or bonus code.
Step 3 – Start Playing! – That’s it. It’s that simple! You are now all set to place bets on the casino game you wish to play. Table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat are all available with live dealers.
History of Gambling in Maryland
There’s a long history of gambling in Maryland, with horse racing first held at the Pimlico Race Course way back in the 1740s. Maryland legalized charitable bingo in 1952, and residents voted in favor of establishing a state lottery in 1973.
- 1791: Lottery grants are legalized for churches and public work purposes
- 1920: The horse racing oversight board is formed in Maryland
- 1943: Slot machines are permitted to be placed in several counties after a local options bill allows for licenses to be awarded
- 1952: Charitable bingo legalized
- 1963: A law to stop the renewal of licenses for slot machines is passed, with the last license for slot machines expiring in 1968
- 1973: The Maryland Lottery starts
- 2007: The General Assembly passes legislation to legalize slot machine gaming, allowing up to 15,000 machines to be spread over five different venues.
- 2008: Approval is given for slot machines to be placed in five privately owned venues in Maryland
- 2010: The Hollywood Casino in Perryville, Cecil County becomes the first casino to open
- 2011: Maryland’s second casino opens at Ocean Downs Racetrack in Worcester County
- 2012: Casino table games are legalized
- 2012: Maryland Live Casino opens at Arundel Mills Mall
Future of Maryland Online Gambling
While things are never certain when it comes to the changing landscape of online casino gambling in Maryland, it does look likely that this state may be one of the next to change to a local, regulated set-up online. Sports betting is already legal on online platforms, and they are in an area of the United States that has tended to make moves to legalize casino gaming.
Tax on Online Casino Winnings in Maryland
All gambling winnings are taxable in the state. The state tax on gambling winnings is fairly small. Depending on your total income, the tax rate will fall between 2-5.75%.
When you combine your gambling winnings with your annual income, there is a chance you will move into a higher tax bracket, so it’s important to bear that in mind.
Maryland Online Casinos Comparison – Payment Methods
In the next table, we detail the various payment methods available at each of our top Maryland casinos, payout times & any fees.
Gambling Sites | Cards | eWallets | Crypto | Deposit
Time |
Withdrawal
Time |
Fees |
Wild Casino | Visa, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin | Instant | 24 -72 hours | Variable |
TG Casino | Visa, MasterCard | N/A | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 1-5 minutes | None |
Bovada | Visa, American Express, MasterCard | Zelle, MatchPay | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
Everygame | Visa, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
BetOnline | Visa, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum | Instant | 24 -72 hours | 4.9% |
BetNow | Visa, American Express, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
Mega Dice | Visa, MasterCard | N/A | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 1-5 minutes | None |
Lucky Creek | Visa, MasterCard | N/A | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 1-5 minutes | None |
Slots.lv | Visa, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
SlotoCash | Visa, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
Drake | Visa, American Express, MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
BetUS | Visa, Discover, American Express MasterCard | Person to Person | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple | Instant | 24 – 72 hours | None |
What Real Money Games Can You Play at Online Maryland Casinos?
When it comes to playing at online casinos, Maryland residents have many gaming options, way more than your average land-based Maryland casino can accommodate. Although the exact variety of games will vary from one online casino to the next, all the familiar favorites such as blackjack, roulette, poker & slot games will be present along with many different variations, live dealer tables, and exclusive online tournaments and promotions.
In this next section, we will look at various online casino games available to Maryland gamblers and the best online casinos to play.
- Roulette – BetOnline is our top choice for playing online roulette in Maryland. You can play both American and European versions with or without a live dealer of your choice. With bet limits ranging from $1-$300 up to $10-$3,000 for high rollers and 7 different roulette varieties, there is a table for all types of players.
- Blackjack – Blackjack is the most popular card game at every online or live casino, and as such, blackjack players are spoilt for choice. Our top-rated Wild Casino has 11 different blackjack tables with variants like Pirate 21, Super 21, and Multi-Hand Blackjack.
- Poker – Maryland also has a thriving online poker scene. While the popular Texas Hold’em Poker can be found everywhere, the best Maryland online casinos will also offer a variety of other poker variants, including No-Limit Hold’em, Fixed Limited Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, Americana, 32 Card Draw, 3 Card Poker, Let It Ride Poker, and Pai Gow Poker. BetOnline and Everygame came out on top of the Maryland online casinos we tested for poker.
- Slots – The Maryland online casinos in our top 10 list will offer hundreds of different slot games. They range from simple penny slots to progressive jackpots where you can win life-changing amounts of money. BetOnline, with over 300 titles, is our best overall pick for slots players in Maryland for the sheer volume and diversity of games.
Playing Live Dealer Games at Maryland Online Casinos
If you want to play live dealer table games in Maryland, then an offshore online casino is the only option and a great alternative to traveling to a proper casino. Maryland online casinos have dozens of live dealer games, including Live Baccarat, Live Roulette, and many others available at each of the casinos on our list.
Casino | # Live Games | Types of Live Games | Software Providers |
Wild Casino | 15+ | Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Punto 2000 | Betsoft, Nucleus Gaming |
TG Casino | 50+ | Blackjack, roulette, baccarat | Pragmatic Play Live, Evolution, Playtech |
Bovada | 20 | Slots, blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno | Real Time Gaming, Rival Gaming |
Everygame | 20 | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno, craps | Real Time Gaming, Betsoft, Visionary iGaming |
BetOnline | 15+ | Blackjack, poker, roulette, keno, craps | Real Time Gaming, Rival |
BetUS | 30+ | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno, craps | Evolution, Playtech |
Mega Dice | 100+ | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno, craps | Pragmatic Play Live, Evolution, Playtech |
Lucky Creek | 90+ | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno, craps | Pragmatic Play Live, Evolution, Playtech |
SlotoCash | 20 | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno, craps | Real Time Gaming, Betsoft, Visionary iGaming |
BetNow | 20 | Blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, keno | Real Time Gaming, Rival Gaming, Betsoft |
Drake | 18+ | Blackjack, poker, roulette, keno, craps | Real Time Gaming, Rival |
Slots.lv | 32 | Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Super 6 | Rival Gaming, Real Time Gaming |
Getting the Best Maryland Online Casino Bonus Codes
Bonus codes come in many shapes and sizes at online casinos in Maryland. They also arrive at different times depending on whether you are a new or existing customer.
- Match Deposit Bonus – Generally, the format of a new customer promo, a match deposit bonus, is where the house matches your opening deposit by a specific percentage, for example, 50% up to $1,000.
- No Deposit Bonus – With a no deposit bonus, you do not have to do anything to claim it other than opt in. Your bonuses will not be as big as with a match deposit bonus, but the wagering requirements are usually higher.
- Free Spins – On free spins, you will be playing a specific slot game with free funds given to you by the house. You will be able to win just as much as if you used your own funds too, so these can often ensure you serious winnings.
Land Casinos Near Maryland: Maryland Casino Locations
There are six land casinos near Maryland, all of which operate under the oversight of the Maryland Lottery. Following a statewide referendum in 2008, Atlantic City-style casinos were allowed to be built in Maryland, and six venues were constructed between 2010 and 2016.
All Maryland casinos are allowed to offer slots and traditional table games, such as roulette and blackjack. It’s also permitted for charity organizations in select counties to host casino nights and card game nights.
Here is a summary of the six Maryland casinos and their locations…
Maryland Casinos | Address |
MGM National Harbor | 101 MGM National, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 |
Hollywood Casino (Perryville) | 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Pkwy, Perryville, MD 21903 |
Horseshoe Casino (Baltimore) | 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 |
Maryland Live! (Hanover) | 7002 Arundel Mills, Circle #7777, Hanover, MD 21076 |
Oceans Downs (Berlin) | 843 N Treaty Hwy, Blackfoot, ID 83221 |
Rocky Gap Casino (Flintstone) | 16701 Lakeview Rd NE | Flintstone, MD 21530 |
Land-Based Casinos vs Maryland Online Casinos
There’s a reasonable selection of gambling options in Maryland for a state of its size, with the six land-based casinos offering a good range of games, slots, and other wagering options.
For those unable or not keen on attending a land-based gambling establishment, offshore online casinos are a much better alternative, especially when taking into consideration the number of games and some of the incredible welcome and reload bonuses on offer, all from the comfort of home.
Responsible Gambling
Any responsible gambling messages you see should not be cast aside but listened to as serious advice regarding your online casino experience. Gambling responsibly is more fun and makes the winnings more rewarding and the losses easier to take.
Local resources you can seek if gambling becomes a more stressful experience are the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling, which consists of various groups working together to help each other’s issues. More nationally, the NCPG (National Council on Problem Gambling) is the most recognized board for resources on responsible gambling across the United States.
Conclusion: Best Maryland Online Casino for Real Money
With state-of-the-art technology, online casinos feature an enormous selection of games of the highest quality. You can choose from a variety of blackjack, roulette, poker, slots, or other table games when you play at an offshore online casino.
Online casinos are also more convenient and offer better bonuses than land casinos which makes them the best option for residents of Maryland. Isn’t it time that you joined the fun and experienced the thrill of online casinos? You can get started by joining Wild Casino by clicking the link below.