Gambling In Maryland Laws

Maryland can be considered a regional gambling hotspot, especially when it comes to horse racing and tournament poker.

The first races at the Pimlico Race Course were held in the 1740s, and the industry was allowed to operate with no dedicated regulations until 1870. Charitable bingo was legalized in 1952, and in 1973 Maryland residents voted in favor of establishing a state lottery.

Maryland has some active neighbors when it comes to legal gambling opportunities. Delaware, DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia surround the Old Line State, and residents can get to them quickly. So, to keep as much money in the state as possible, Maryland needs to stay competitive. Maryland has its own set of gambling laws, and these Maryland Gambling Laws are some of the most long winded and drawn out pieces of legislation to ever be codified. There are so many laws associated with gambling in Maine that you may have some trouble coming to a decision over whether or not what you are doing is legal. The Southern Maryland counties circumvented a governor’s veto in 1947 and individually legalized their slot machines in the late 1940s. Although more money was wagered in Nevada, Maryland had three. GAMBLING LAWS IN MARYLAND Maryland has the following domestic gambling options legally licensed and regulated by the state: sports betting lounges (launch TBA), casinos, racinos, horse racing betting, lotteries, and charitable gambling.

Atlantic City-style brick and mortar casinos were approved in 2008, following a statewide referendum. Six venues were built between 2010 and 2016.

Maryland Gambling Law Summary

Maryland defines gambling as “wagering or betting in any manner to receive something of value dependent upon the result of any race, contest, or contingency.” This definition is broad enough to cover internet games. Even worse, the description of a gambling device is also extensive and may arguably be applied to any computer or mobile device used to play real money games over the internet.

At one time, the punishment for engaging in illegal gambling as a player was quite severe, as getting convicted on the associated misdemeanor charge carried a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and a hefty fine. In April 2019, Maryland lawmakers updated the regulations – under the new rules, anyone caught placing an unlawful bet could be subjected to a $500-$1,000 citation, depending on the amount of money on the line.

Most gambling-related matters are covered by the Maryland Code, Criminal Law, Title 12, Subtitle 1, Section 1-102 et seq. and Maryland Business Regulations, Title 11, Subtitle 1, Section 11-101 et seq.; Business Regulations, Title 10, Subtitle 5, Section 10-502. The minimum gambling age is 18 for bingo, lottery games, and pari-mutuel betting and 21 for casino-style games.

Online Gambling in Maryland

Section 12 of the Maryland code states that betting, wagering or gambling without a license is illegal within the borders of the state. Unlike the other states, Maryland doesn’t have separate punishments for players and operators. However, the local regulations don’t refer specifically to online gambling and the state has never tried going after people who engage in real money gaming on offshore sites. Since most of those sites accept Maryland residents, many people believe that online play isn’t prohibited by the current regulations. Nevertheless, if you have any doubts about signing up for a specific site, we recommend contacting a local lawyer first as the penalties for breaking the law are rather harsh.

Maryland Casinos

Maryland casinos operate under the oversight of the Maryland Lottery. The venues are located in Hanover (Maryland Live!), Oxon Hill (MGM National Harbor), Baltimore (Horseshoe Casino Baltimore), Perryville (Hollywood Casino Perryville), Berlin (Ocean Downs), and Flintstone (Rocky Gap Casino Resort). All Maryland casinos are allowed to offer slots and traditional table games, such as roulette and blackjack. Also, charity organizations in select counties are permitted to host casino nights and card game nights.

Online gambling is illegal in Maryland, but local businesses are allowed to operate social gaming sites. One example of such a site is Live! Social Casino, which is operated by Maryland Live! and which allows local gambling enthusiasts to play free slots, table games, and tournaments. Just like MyVegas, Live! has a special loyalty program for its most dedicated players.

Maryland Poker

Four out of six Maryland casinos operate their own poker rooms. These casinos are Maryland Live! (52 tables), MGM National Harbor (39 tables), Horseshoe Casino Baltimore (25 tables), and Hollywood Casino Perryville (8 tables). Most of the action revolves around No-Limit Hold ’em, but there is a lot of variety when it comes to tournament play. Also, Maryland Live! is an annual stop on the World Poker Tour. The Old Line State does not have a regulated internet poker market. Playing on offshore sites is illegal. Home poker games were legalized in 2016.

Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland is an important thoroughbred horse racing hotspot and is home to one of the most famous racetracks in the country, the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Baltimore facility operates its own racebook, as do three other Maryland racetracks: the Rosecroft Raceway (Fort Washington), Laurel Park (Laurel), and the Timonium Race Track (Lutherville-Timonium). Off-track betting is available exclusively over the internet via TwinSpires and XpressBet. Greyhound races are illegal.

Maryland lawmakers are currently working on a sports betting bill, which was introduced by Del. Jason Buckel and Del. Kevin Hornberger. The new legislation would authorize Maryland Lottery to conduct sports betting via horse racing licensees and VLT operators. However, legal experts have indicated that the issue might need to appear on the ballot for a referendum vote before it could take effect.

Maryland Daily Fantasy Sports

Maryland was the first state to regulate paid DFS contests. The relevant bill was passed in 2012, but it took five years for the State Comptroller to implement clear regulations. As it stands, DFS operators are authorized to offer their services to Maryland residents with no registration or individual licensing fees. However, they are required to enforce a maximum deposit limit of $1,000 and are not allowed to offer any college sports contests.

In February 2016, Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. introduced a bill designed to ban all paid-entry DFS companies from the state, but his proposal was never put to a vote.

Maryland Lotteries

Maryland Lottery offers interstate draw games, such as Pick 3/Pick 4, as well as multi-state games, such as Mega Millions and Powerball. The lottery also offers keno and scratchers, as well as Racetrax, which can best be described as simulated horse racing with a keno-like payout structure. Lottery tickets cannot be purchased online, but with 4,400 retailers located across the entire state, all Maryland residents can enjoy easy access to Maryland Lottery’s products and services.

Maryland Bingo

The largest live bingo halls are located in Baltimore (Bingo World), Mechanicsville (ADF Bingo) Boring (The Mason Dixon Bingo Hall), Owings (Optimists Club Bingo), and Solomons (Island Bingo). In addition, residents of Anne Arundel and Calvert can play bingo using electronic instant bingo machines.

Regulated online bingo is not available in Maryland. Playing on offshore sites is illegal even under the new regulations.

Maryland Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in Maryland?

Maryland has commercial casinos, pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and a state-controlled lottery. The local gambling industry is currently undergoing a rather rapid expansion, which started in November 2012 with a vote on less restrictive gambling laws and which resulted in the launch of Caesar’s Entertainment’s Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in 2014. The state of Maryland hasn’t regulated online gambling yet, but many experts believe that the state is planning to launch its own iGaming market over the next few years.

What laws cover online gambling in Maryland?

Land-based gambling is covered extensively in Section 12 of the Maryland code. Online gambling, on the other hand, isn’t really regulated, so most people believe that there’s nothing to stop Maryland residents from enjoying their hobby on one of the quality offshore sites. However, we recommend seeking professional legal advice if you have any doubts about joining a specific site.

Is real money online gambling legal in Maryland?

The Maryland law doesn’t list online gambling as an offense. Consequently, some industry experts claim that playing online is both legal and safe. Nevertheless, if you have any doubts about joining a specific site, you should consider consulting a lawyer first just to stay on the safe side.

Which offshore gambling sites accept Maryland residents?

Many high-traffic offshore sites have absolutely no qualms about accepting Maryland residents, but there are some exceptions to this rule. Generally speaking, if you live in Maryland, you should be able to access some of the best casino, poker, and sports betting offers available on the web by joining one of the Bovada sites.

What are the most popular banking options supported by Maryland -facing sites?

Offshore sites don’t support all that many banking options, so most people decide to stick with basic credit card or debit card payments for deposits and wire transfer for payouts.

Does Maryland offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. If one of the sites you visit is pretending to be licensed in Maryland, you’re most probably dealing with a fraud attempt.

Is it likely for Maryland to regulate online gambling?

The local lawmakers are introduced in allowing Maryland-licensed iGaming sites to operate on the local market, but changing the current regulations is going to take some time.

One of the most difficult things to maintain in the United States is a responsible hobby gambling for recreation and a little bit of profit. It’s not because the act itself is hard to do, but rather because the legal landscape surrounding gambling in the state of Maryland is so murky and restrictive.

Scratch that. There are actually plenty of ways that an honest citizen may legally gamble without running into any legal interference from Maryland gambling laws, unfortunately, popular opinion to the contrary, incorrect though it may be, has influenced more prospective gamblers than any honest information they may come across. The purpose if this webpage is to rectify that problem by providing a comprehensive and in depth look at all the laws the state of Maryland enforces which may prohibit gambling.

While federal law which governs all US citizens clearly turns the facilitation of gambling into a criminal act, it specifically leaves out any wording that may pertain to those who merely wish to participate in gambling or betting. From here, there are many states in the union that opt to take policy a bit further in their own hands, further muddying the situation Maryland is one such state.

Legality: Is Gambling Legal In Maryland...Is It Safe?

The first and most important thing to point out is that the State of Maryland did actually bother to define gambling, as well as a punishment for the act. Maryland state code chapter 12-102 heading (a) subsection one clearly states that a resident of Maryland may not bet, wager or gamble, and that anyone caught doing so, in accordance with heading (b) of the same chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The punishment for this crime could be six months to one year of jail time as well as a fine of up to $1000.

This is the bad news. However, there is some good news as well. First of all, with new legislation as of 2007 that has allotted the construction of more state sanctioned, land based casinos, policy towards gambling in the state of Maryland has become more relaxed. As a result, the act of merely “gambling,” even outside of state sanctioned facilities, has never been charged against otherwise honest citizens living in Maryland.

In fact, even if one searches the books back as far as the 1960’s for gambling arrests, they will fail to find an instance in which a citizen has been brought in simply for gambling charges. Interestingly enough, the only cases of arrests for gambling in Maryland have been in cases in which citizens ban themselves from casinos, and are subsequently arrested for violating restraining orders that they themselves filed.

In Maryland, it seems that as long as a resident takes care not to file a restraining order against themselves, that all casual gamblers should be able to avoid any legal attention.

This is not to say that all gambling acts within the state are free from any consequence. Maryland residents must be careful to avoid what the law calls “forwarding gambling.” As defined in chapter 12-102 heading (a) subsections 2,3, and 4 of the Maryland gambling laws, forwarding gambling actually carries the exact same penalties as gambling in accordance with the law, but is really the only way in which one who gambles in “the old line state” could get in trouble for gambling.

Difference Between Gambling & Forwarding Gambling

Luckily for those in Maryland who have an interest in casual gambling for a hobby, there is a bigger distinction between the acts of “gambling” and “forwarding gambling” then simply whether or not one will be prosecuted for doing one or the other.

Whereas gambling is simple to define as the act of placing a bet or wager, in order for a bet or wager to be placed, at least two parties must be present. One to place the bet, and the other to take the bet. The one who takes the bet is more than likely guilty of forwarding gambling. In order to fully meet the bill for this criminal offense, there is usually one more stipulation.

In addition to facilitating the bet, the guilty party usually must also profit in some way off of the gambling event. In this case, profiting from gambling does not mean coming out ahead in bets or wagers, but rather setting oneself up to profit from a gambling event without actually placing a bet or wager themselves.

Some popular ways of doing this are running a private poker game in which the offender either charges admission for the privilege to play or collects a “rake” (a small percentage of each pot given to the house as profit,) owns or operates a sportsbook in which they are responsible for paying out winners and collecting money from losers, or even operating a casino game as the “house,” who by definition always has the greatest odds to win the game.

So long as Maryland residents avoid these specific actions and signing restraining orders against themselves, they should be able to avoid any legal complications when attempting to gamble within their home state.

Gambling Laws In MD: What They Say & What they Mean

In accordance with several Federal Laws, the facilitation of sports betting for profit is strictly forbidden in all but four states in the country. As a result, no land based facilities or riverboat casinos may offer legal sports betting to Maryland residents.

However, all hope on the subject is not lost. Maryland residents take advantage of legal online sportsbooks every day in order to place bets on the Ravens, Orioles, or any other team that catches their interest. Even though bookmaking is criminalized by both federal and state law, there are no laws against the actual act of placing a bet or wager on a sports event.

While there was a surge in Maryland that allowed construction of several land based casinos, legislation slowed down on the subject for a time and no new licenses were issued. Thankfully, in 2007 legislation picked back up and the sanction for Maryland’s biggest casino yet was approved to begin construction. Once the casino is complete in winter of 2016, it’s expected there will be more in the works, quietly turning Maryland into one of the biggest gambling states in the union.

Gambling In Maryland Laws Regulations

Even for gamblers who do not enjoy gambling in loud casinos, the news is fairly good. With lax enforcement towards the act of gambling, many Maryland residents have signed up for legal online casinos and are logging in every day for a fully customizable gaming experience away from all the bright lights and labyrinth like designs.

Whereas there are certain states who define poker differently from other forms of gambling so they may set up cheaper, profitable standalone poker rooms, Maryland is not such a state. Even so, with a high plethora of casinos open to the general public, there is no shortage of poker tables open to Maryland residents. They may play in tournaments or sit-n-go style in a casino setting.

However, if s poker fan doesn’t want to visit a casino, Maryland gambling laws will not prosecute home games, be they private games among friends (just so long as the host does not collect a profit or sell goods at the game) or games played over the internet at legal, international poker rooms. If a Maryland resident finds themselves up late at night watching the world series of poker, there should be nothing stopping them from logging on the computer and giving it a try for themselves.

Maryland Legal Gambling Age: How Old To Bet In Maryland?

If nothing else can be garnered from this page, take at least that the situation regarding gambling in Maryland is complicated at best. The last thing any resident interested in legal gambling should want to do is complicate things further by introducing new restrictions into the fold. If anyone in Maryland opts to gamble before they reach 21 years of age, the legal age for gambling in their home state, complicating things is exactly what they will do.

If anyone under 21 is caught gambling, they will not only face penalties from the state including hefty fines, community service, and maybe even jail time, but whichever facility they were gambling in will surely ban them as well as force them to forfeit any winnings they may otherwise be entitled to. There are things in life worth waiting for, and legal gambling is one of them. There is no reason to ruin a good thing by rushing.

Where Can I Gamble in Maryland?

On-Land: Maryland was already home to several casinos, but now that a casino valued at over $950 million will be opening in Baltimore, the state may have a game changer on its hands. While sports betting will not be able to be offered in accordance with current federal law, Maryland residents should be able to occupy themselves with all manner of table games, slot machines and poker tables.

Of course, there are still several other state sanctioned gambling facilities spread throughout the state, and for a state as small as Maryland, a little goes a long way. Still, they may continue to be a bit of a drive for those who do not live nearby one, and an afternoon at a casino will usually eat a huge chunk of time, making a casual gambling hobby unlikely. Still, it’s hard to argue with the facilities that a $950 million dollar building can offer.

Online/Web-Based: In addition to several land based casinos, Maryland residents always have the option to turn to legal online gambling sites open to Maryland residents as well. While we have already established that Maryland gambling laws say a resident is merely taking part in a gambling event is unlikely to be punished, a reader may be wondering how a gambling website can operate in the state of Maryland which has such strict enforcement over unsanctioned gambling within the state.

The answer is simple, the legal gambling networks listed on this page are all located overseas, putting them well outside of not only Maryland jurisdiction, but federal jurisdiction at large. Since Maryland residents can participate in these gambling sites free from fear of prosecution and these sites can simultaneously operate legally in their home countries, there should be no worries attached to a membership with one.

However, the prospect of gambling with a foreign business can make some Maryland residents jumpy. Luckily, there is no cause for concern. In order to operate as legal, legitimate businesses, these gambling networks must not only adhere to strict regulations from their homelands, but also to the standards of reputable, international gaming commissions. These gaming commissions ensure that all products they endorse not only offer fair play to all members, but secure, reliable and speedy payouts that the players are entitled to.

When gambling online as a member of one of these trusted networks, there is no reason to ever believe a payout will not be processed. Maryland residents should consider joining the hundreds of thousands of Americans who log onto these sites every day and finally see what all the fuss is about.

Gambling Sites That Take Maryland Residents

All Types Of Gambling Available - Highly Trusted!

If you need to find a gambling site that is not only backed by one of the most reputable gaming brands in the industry, but also one that has over 20 years of service to a specifically American clientele, the first bet you make be at SportsBetting.ag. In their long years of service they have racked up a stable of millions of loyal customers, including thousands of Maryland residents, and more are signing up every day. In addition, SportsBetting has earned endorsements from US media giants like CBS and ESPN who do not loan out their name lightly. But, don't get fooled by the name! There is much more to this book than what the cover says as SportsBetting has a highly rated live dealer casino, regular casino games, a bustling online poker room, as well as an online racebook that features tons of Preakness Stakes wagers when it is that time of the year...the complete package!

When you do finally settle in with SportsBetting, you’ll find collecting your payouts to be a breeze. As often as once a month, this legal Maryland gambling site will cover all expenses associated with sending you a check by courier, meaning you get to put more of your winnings right back in your bank account where they belong. SportsBetting is always the clear choice!

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Learning More: What To Do If You Need Additional Help

We here at MarylandGamblingLaws.com are gamblers who are passionate about the law, not the other way around. Therefore, while we are confident that all the information on this page is accurate, this cannot be considered a legal consultation. Any further questions about Maryland gambling laws should be directed towards a lawyer, or the official Maryland legislation found at mgaleg.maryland.gov.