Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland promos and bonuses

PointsBet: 5 second chance bets up to $50 each

PointsBet offers new customers up to five second chance bets for $50 each. If any of your first five cash bets on a fixed odds market loses, you'll receive a bet credit for the losing wager up to $50.

The promotion starts on the day you place your first cash bet. If you do not place a bet over the first five days, you will lose the second chance bets, and it will not be extended.

Caesars: $1,250  on Caesars +1000 Tier Credits + 1000 reward credits

Caesars Sportsbook is now offering its "Go Full Caesar this Football Season" welcome bonus for new users. For prospective bettors, your first bet is on Caesars up to $1,250. If the bet loses, you get 100% of your stake back as a bet credit.

Note that $10 is the minimum wager amount accepted to qualify for this offer. All credits will be added to a user's account within 7 days. The bet credit is for one-time use within 14 days and cannot be divided across multiple wagers.

New users will also receive 1000 Caesars Rewards Tier Credits and 1000 Caesars Reward Credits®, win or lose. Tier Credits contribute to your Tier Status, which gives you more benefits and faster service.

Tier Statuses are as follows:

Gold: 0 – 4,999 Tier CreditsPlatinum: 5,000 – 14,999 Tier CreditsDiamond: 15,000 – 24,999 Tier CreditsDiamond Plus: 25,000 – 74,999 Tier CreditsDiamond Elite: 75,000+ Tier CreditsSeven Stars®: 150,000+ Tier Credits (exclusive invitation only)

Sports bettors can earn 1 Tier Credit for every $5 of potential profit on sports bets placed *Up to 10 times the original amount staked* Users can redeem these points when playing, dining, shopping, or staying at Caesars resorts and casinos.

FanDuel: No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000

New users to FanDuel are eligible for a No Sweat First Bet of up to $1,000 in bonus bets. All you have to do is sign up and make a first deposit of at least $10. If your first bet loses, FanDuel will give you bonus bets equal to the amount of the first bet. The bonus bets will expire 14 days after being issued.

BetMGM: Up to $1000 paid back in bonus bets

BetMGM offers Maryland residents up to $1,000 back in bonus bets when they sign up for an account.

For this bonus bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet up to $1,000. There are no minimum or maximum odds restrictions on your first bet, which is nice since sign-up promos usually feature those.

Barstool: $1,000 first bet insurance

Barstool Sportsbook has an average sign-up bonus offering a $1,000 risk-free bet for new users. They word it differently by calling it a “2-for-1,” but Maryland residents know better: it’s a standard welcome bonus.

With the risk-free bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet up to $1,000. While that’s commendable insurance, it rewards you with nothing if your first bet hits. For that reason, deposit matches are generally slightly more appealing.

DraftKings: Bet $5, win $150 in bonus bets

First-timers with DraftKings Maryland can place a wager of $5 or more on any pre-game moneyline to acquire $150 in bonus bets if their wager wins. 

Only the initial wager of at least $5 counts as the qualifying wager. The bonus will be paid as six (6) $25 bonus bets and is non-withdrawable, non-transferable, non-refundable and will expire after seven days.

The offer lasts until May 28, 2023.

Maryland sports betting quick facts

Maryland betting apps

Approval has been granted for 10 different online sportsbook/mobile sportsbook apps, all of which have partnered with a physical casino and sportsbook operator in order to ensure  SWARC approval among other reasons. Some of the sportsbooks set to launch include:

• Barstool (Penn Maryland OSB LLC)
• BetFanatics (Washington Commanders)
• BetMGM (MGM National Harbor Casino)
• Caesars (Horseshoe Baltimore Casino)
• DraftKings (Maryland State Fairgrounds)
• FanDuel (PPE Maryland Mobile LLC)
• Parx Interactive (Greenmount OTB LLC)
• PointsBet (Riverboat on the Potomac, LLC)
• Rush Street Interactive’s (BetRivers – Arundel Amusements Inc.)

There will eventually be many more options to choose from since Bill HB 940 allows for up to 60 online Maryland sportsbooks and 30 retail licenses. Specific markets will still be unavailable to wager on including those concerning politics and pop culture, but most (if not all) sports betting markets will be legal including Esports.

How to bet in Maryland

Choose your sportsbook

If you're interested in signing up for a sportsbook, you can consult our top list for the best sports betting options available to you. Our interactive list will allow you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses, and quality of customer service.

If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in Maryland once sports betting is legalized. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.

Register online

Registration requirements will vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.

Deposit and claim your bonus

Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it will be time to make your initial deposit and claim that sweet bonus. The majority of first-time offers for Maryland residents should come in one of two forms:

Risk-free bets: This offer guarantees you a refund on your first wager if it is graded as a loss. The sportsbook will refund your initial bet amount (up to a specific limit) either as cash or as site credit.Deposit match: This offer sees the sportsbook match your initial deposit dollar-for-dollar, though there are two caveats. The deposit match will come with a maximum limit, and in the majority of cases you will be required to “play through” your initial deposit by a certain multiple in order to earn the bonus.

Select and finalize your bet

Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app interface before diving in. Most mobile operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still a good idea to know where everything is.

From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread, or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.

Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply click the “Bet” button – and you’re off!

Maryland legal sports betting history

There was nothing simple about the passing and ratification of Bill HB 940. Maryland legislators hit their fair share of barriers during the assembly process, but have now finally seen the fruits of their labors with the official launch of online and mobile sports gambling within the state on November 23. How exactly were they able to get it all done in the end?

Here’s a look at Maryland’s sports betting history:

2022: High hopes for mobile wagering

With retail wagering in place, the push was on to move forward with mobile sports betting, but there would be no quick path thanks to wording in the signed bill that emphasized the participation of minorities and women in the state’s betting industry.

A disparity study by SWARC began in March marking a critical step toward launching online betting by the end of the year. The first non-casino retail sportsbook in the state opened in August after BetRivers partnered with Bingo World.

On September 16, Lottery and Gaming Control Agency Director John Martin expressed his optimism for online sportsbooks launching before the end of 2022 with up to 60 mobile licenses to be available in the state. Six days later, the Maryland SWARC announced that mobile sports betting licenses would be awarded on a rolling basis.

DraftKings Sportsbook was the first to get approved, offering a promo for $200 in free bets to those who sign up early. Greenmount Station joined seven other organizations in Maryland offering retail sports betting in October, partnering with Parx. GeoComply was given a Tier One Contractor license for its geolocation and ID verification services on November 1, marking an important step towards a mobile launch.

On Wednesday, November 16, the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission awarded 10 mobile sports betting licenses to the following sportsbooks: Barstool, Betfred, BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel and PointsBet.

On Friday, November 18, following one last series of regulatory testing, it was announced that online and mobile sports are about to follow suit and will officially be available on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022, ahead of an enticing Thanksgiving NFL slate.

Unfortunately, Greenmount OTB LLC, Long Shot's LLC, and Maryland Stadium Sub LLC (Washington Commanders) are not ready for opening day but will launch shortly afterward.

2021: Retail sports betting launches

The new Maryland sports betting bill (Bill HB 940) made great progress early on in the year. It was passed by both the House and the Senate in April, by an overwhelming majority, and Governor Hogan officially made it law in May. A couple of months later, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency released its first set of rules and regulations.

While the specifics of regulation and licensing were still being worked out, sportsbooks began moving toward partnership agreements. Caesars announced an agreement with the Baltimore Ravens and was one of five operators to join forces with casinos that had been awarded betting sports betting licenses in November.

Finally, Governor Hogan placed the first official sports bet at MGM National Harbor on December 9 which signified the launch of retail sports betting in the state. Four other casinos joined them over the next 14 days.

2020: Bill inches closer to approval

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were confident that sports betting would become a reality in 2020 – but with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a truncated legislative session, a more detailed bill was scrapped in favor of a limited measure.

Voters subsequently approved sports betting in a November referendum, which made the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission the regulatory agency for sports betting in the state. Yet, despite the referendum passing, there was still a lot of work to do.

2019: No referendum? No bill

Maryland intended to move quickly after the Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) but couldn’t finalize a sports betting bill before the end of the 2018 legislative session. Lawmakers then got to work early in 2019, seeking to pass a bill (HB 1132) that would allow for horse racing licensees and VLT operators to offer sports betting.

The bill was seen as a workaround to Maryland law, which stated that any amendment revolving around the legalization of sports betting would need to first be decided by a voter referendum. That ended up being the exact conclusion reached by the attorney general’s office, resulting in the bill being tabled until the following year.

Responsible gaming in Maryland

Like most states, Maryland has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots. 

The Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling offers quick access to a number of important resources, including a volunteer exclusion program and a counselor search feature where those struggling with gambling addiction can seek help.

Visit the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling site.

Sports leagues to bet on

It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to Maryland bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):

• NFL
• NCAA Football
• NBA
• NCAA Basketball
• MLB
• NHL
• Golf
• Auto Racing
• Tennis
• Soccer
• MMA
• Esports

That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are two major markets in which wagering in Maryland is prohibited:

• Politics
• Entertainment (including major awards ceremonies)

Maryland teams to bet on

It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see sportsbooks lining up to partner with one of Maryland’s two professional sports teams. Maryland sports fans are very passionate about the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and the MLB’s Baltimore Orioles, and their deep roster of collegiate programs are also quite popular. With several other marquee franchises right next door in D.C., Marylanders have no shortage of live sports options at their disposal.

Here’s a look at the current betting partnerships between Maryland professional and college sports teams and their affiliated sportsbooks:

Baltimore Ravens betting

The Ravens have multiple sportsbook partnerships in place with some of the biggest names in the game including DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars. M&T Bank Stadium has been approved as a Class A-1 licensee — meaning it can legally host one or several online sportsbooks. The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, which is owned by Caesars, is also less than a mile away from the stadium.

Baltimore Orioles betting

The Orioles have also been approved for a Class A-1 license and in August 2022, they announced a long-term partnership deal with SuperBook Sports. This includes a blueprint for a sportsbook lounge within Oriole Park at Camden Yards itself, potentially as early as the 2023 season. Food and drinks will be served and fans will be given a comfortable space to place bets and enjoy the game.

Washington Commanders betting

Try to follow along: The Commanders claim Washington, DC as their home city, but they actually play in Maryland and are considering a move to Virginia, where their team HQ and training facility is located. One major carrot: Virginia would provide a sports betting license to the team if it were to move to the state and build a stadium there.

As of November 17, the Commanders signed a partnership deal with Fanatics Sportsbook – meaning they’ll be staying put for now in wake of the Maryland sports betting legalization news.

University of Maryland betting

Collegiate sports are more popular than professional sports in some areas of the United States, and Maryland is certainly a state that could help support that narrative. The University of Maryland Terrapins is a force in men’s basketball as they play in the Big Ten Conference against some of the country’s best.

Other states require collegiate betting to be done in person at a retail sportsbook location or don’t allow it whatsoever, but Maryland allows it in all forms including online and on mobile.

Georgetown University betting

Some Maryland residents would rather cheer for the Georgetown Hoyas, who play in the Big East Conference. Their basketball program is also quite renowned, having made the NCAA Final Four on several occasions throughout their history. From now until March Madness, there will be plenty of opportunities to get your wagers in.

Maryland retail sportsbooks

All five retail locations began offering in-person sports betting within a two-week span in 2021, instantly giving Marylanders the opportunity to wager on their favorite teams. Four other facilities subsequently obtained a sports betting license in the state, meaning the number of retail options should grow in short order. One has already opened up at the Riverboat on the Potomac in Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Here’s a list of the six in-person sportsbooks available to those residing in Maryland:

Maryland sports betting tax & handle

Maryland’s handle opened with a trickle but saw impressive growth from the first to the second month of operation. January is generally the best operating month for most states, but Maryland did well to carry the momentum of the NFL season into March Madness and beyond. October 2022 saw an all-time monthly high of $39.7 million, thanks in large part to five NFL Sundays and five college football Sundays. Profits will only progress from here as well, given the inevitable uptick in betting volume from the legalization of online and mobile sports betting.

Here’s a look at Maryland’s monthly sports betting handle beginning in December of 2021:

2021

2022