Solly Lawrenson Sports Betting in Maryland
Sports betting is legal in Maryland and throughout the DMV, which is Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Maryland sports betting has still not launched, which has caused bettors in the state to venture to DC and VA. This will not be the case for long as sports betting is expected to launch in the next few months.
Marylandβs goal for retail sports betting is to launch by week one of the NFL season, which is a realistic possibility. Every state that recently passed sports betting legislation has this goal to take advantage of the profits that come from football season.
Maryland is home to the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, who are always contenders in the National Football League, as well as a huge community partaking in daily fantasy sports contests. Maryland and the remainder of the DMV is a professional and collegiate sports hotbed, so the Maryland betting market is expected to be vast when it goes live.
| Sportsbook | Available in Maryland |
| FanDuel | β |
| DraftKings | β |
| Caesars | β |
| FoxBet | β |
| BetRivers | β |
| BetMGM | β |
| PointsBet | β |
| Unibet | β |
Maryland Sports Betting-Recent Updates
Here is a compressed version of the history of the legalization of sports betting in Maryland. Most of the intense action happened over just a few months between May 2021 and December of that same year. Ever since Governor Hogan signed sports betting into law, things have really heated up!
But the process to bring legalized and locally-based sportsbooks to Maryland bettors is much longer. We could say it started in 2018 when the Supreme Court made it a possibility. In that yearβs Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Supreme Court struck down Nevadaβs monopoly on sports betting. You see, previously, that was the only state allowed to host sportsbooks.
Of course, bettors from Maryland and other states have long been able to access offshore sportsbooks. Because they have their servers based out of the US, they can operate according to the laws where they are based. Not only are they more easily available, but they also tend to have better deals in terms of odds and bonuses.
- February 25, 2023 – College partnerships are bringing sports betting to campus. Does this threaten students?
- January 21, 2023 – In December, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported that $478.2 million worth of bets were placed on Maryland sports betting apps, with an additional $70.9 million as free promotional bets.
- January 3, 2023Β – Ohio reported an increase in online sports betting during the New Year’s weekend.
- December 21, 2022 -Between Nov. 21 and Nov. 30, Marylanders placed bets worth $186.08 million in their first nine days of legal online sports betting.
- November 30, 2022 – On Thursday, Ballyβs Interactive and WynnBet are expected to qualify for mobile sports wagering licenses from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming (MLG) Control Commission.
OffShore Bookies Available in Maryland
Offshore sports betting is still being utilized in Maryland. An offshore sportsbook collects bets outside of the United States. These sportsbooks were a primary reason that wagering was legalized in the United States. The offshore sites were collecting money in bets, which was causing the state to lose tax revenue. Maryland lottery game remains popular despite changes to betting laws in recent years.
Offshore sportsbooks are still in use throughout the United States. This is especially true in Maryland because legal betting has not gone live. However, when sports betting goes live, offshore sportsbooks should disappear in the state. There are no reasons to use offshore sportsbooks when legal sports betting is available.
Many Maryland legislators have been a proponent of sports betting since PASPA was repealed in 2018. The state wanted to be one of the first states to pass wagering after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
The initial bill proposed in 2018 following PASPAβs unconstitutional ruling did not gain enough traction in the Maryland legislature. Yet, the sports betting conversation began in the state, which was critical for sports betting moving forward.
Top 5 Sportsbooks Available in Maryland
Knowing a lot about sports in Maryland is not enough to place great MD sports bets. In fact, even knowing alot of sports betting is not enough. You also have to sign up at a top sportsbook legally available in Maryland in order to really and truly be able to place the best sports bets.
Without a great sportsbook, the meat and potatoes of sports wagering, then all your research, knowledge, and anticipation is for nought. If you have a slow sportsbook, with a difficult user interface, and unfortunate odds, then even if you know which bet you want to place, it may just be impossible.
Similarly, the live betting platform really has to be excellent. If you are with an older and out of step Maryland betting site, good luck placing live bets at all. It will be more of a headache than anything else.
This is why signing up at one of these top 5 sportsbooks available in Maryland is an important part of placing the best sports wagers! Check out these top 5 online betting sites that we recommend for bettors in MD.
Five Reasons to Bet on Sports in Maryland
Maryland could be one of the best wagering markets in the nation. There are numerous reasons that you should take part in Maryland gambling through your phone and at retail locations throughout the state. Here are five reasons to bet on sports in Maryland.
Great Bonuses
In Maryland, there are going to be tons of sports betting providers. This is bad for small betting platforms because they must compete against conglomerates like DraftKings and FanDuel. Although, the central market is fantastic for bettors because it gives people a lot of options.
Bonuses are a significant reason people choose sportsbooks, and there will be plenty of promotions available through Maryland sports betting. You will be awarded matches and risk-free bets up to $1,000 in the state.
Nobody has ever lost wagering house money. The Maryland market gives you the ability to play with house money all the time.
BetUS offers a generous bonus for new customers. Bovada offers a sign-up bonus and it gets even better if your first deposit is made with your preferred cryptocurrency.
Line Shopping
Bonus money is great, but you will have to risk your own funds at some point while wagering in Maryland. With numerous sports betting providers, you can line shop to find the best odds. Line shopping is easy for offshore sportsbooks because there are so many sites online.
Some legal betting states only have a few providers. In Maryland, this will not be an issue for residents throughout the state. You will have the ability to line shop and find the best bets for the day. Line shopping helps you win big on sports, so take advantage of this in Maryland.
Sports Teams
The sports betting environment in Maryland is fantastic with the Baltimore Orioles (MLB) and Baltimore Ravens (NFL). Having professional sports teams to wager in the state is an excellent thing for bettors. There is nothing like winning a wager on a hometown team. When you do this in Maryland, you will be hooked.
The professional sports teams will have a deal with sportsbooks. The Ravens have already partnered with BetMGM. These sportsbooks will run special bonuses for hometown teams which adds an additional element to Maryland sports betting.
Great Reputation
The books that will operate in Maryland will have an excellent reputation. There will be a ton of sites, so you will have to do your wagering research. Although, it will be tough to go wrong betting on the significant sites in Maryland like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Pointsbet, Caesars sportsbooks, etc.
All these sites have an excellent reputation, and they are safe. You will never have to worry about personal or financial data being stolen. All these sites have stringent security measures, which adds to their terrific reputation. The wagering experience is first-class with all these sites.
Offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie also have a great history and reputation. They are safe, fast and offer several deposit and withdrawal methods.
Customer Service
If you have technical problems in Maryland on your sportsbook, they will be solved quickly. Depending on the sportsbook you are utilizing, you will have access to multiple customer service options.
Most sites have a loaded FAQ page where you will find answers to all your questions. If you would like to speak to a real person, there are phone and text lines that you can contact. The best sportsbooks utilize a live chat feature where all issues are solved immediately.
Problems should be rare in Maryland sports betting because of the superiority of the books. Nevertheless, you will be given a quick answer to any issues you encounter, reducing frustration and allowing you to focus on betting.
Casinos in Maryland
Maryland currently has six casinos up and running. They are all fairly new ventures, the most recent having opened in 2010. This one, Hollywood Casino Perryville, is not the largest. That title belongs to the Live! Casino and Hotel. Of course, the Preakness Stakes is also an important part of the Maryland betting landscape. Really, Maryland bettors are quite spoiled overall.
Live casinos are legal throughout the state, so you can enjoy them without much trouble. Although you will not get as great of bonuses when you go to brick-and-mortar casinos, they can still have their charm and are worth checking out.
Maryland Sports Betting Timeline
Here we provide some more details about all the happenings before and after the legalization of sports betting in Maryland. This is where you can find some of the most exciting stories around this topic.
Online Gambling to be Revisited by 2025
Online gambling in Maryland will be revisited in 2025 by the legislature to determine if more licenses need to be added. Maryland is a heavily populated state considering its size, but it will be one of the largest sports betting markets as the industry develops because of the regulations.
With many licenses available, the top sportsbooks throughout the nation are expected to launch in the state. BetMGM has already inked a deal with the Ravens to be their official betting platform.
Additionally, DraftKings and FanDuel have lobbied the legislature throughout the legislative process. These books are also expected to go live in the state during football season. Residents should be very excited about MD sports betting online because it will be a substantial market in the United States.
May 18, 2021 Governor Hogan Signs Bill Legalizing Sports Betting
On Tuesday May 18, 2021, Governor Hogan signed a bill into law that would implement the structure for legalized sportsbooks in Maryland. It is not clear when the sportsbooks will finally get up and off the ground.
The first licenses are going to the stateβs six casinos and three major sports stadiums. So the Washington Football Team, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Orioles will be able to host sports betting on-site.
With this legislation, up to an additional 30 in-person licenses could be awarded. There are an additional 60 licenses for online and app-based sports betting. The bill goes into effect on June 1 and includes provisions to help smaller and minority-owned businesses to get licenses.
However, according to the WSJ, Maryland mobile sports betting was delayed due to the concern for making sure the wealth form the industry would be spread equally. This was a priority for Maryland voters, but implementing it proved more difficult than voting on it.
2020 – Two Bills go Nowhere
Two senate bills to legalize sports betting were introduced: SB 4 and SB 58. However, the legislatures decided to let Maryland voters decide what to do with the legalization of sports betting.
2019 – Bills do not get approved
In 2019, Maryland tried to pass a sports betting bill without a residential vote. In 2007, Maryland voters approved a measure that required all commercial gambling expansions to be voted on by residents, so this was not an easy task for the legislature.
The state lottery was excluded from the requirement, so lawmakers tried to launch sports betting at lotto retailers and racetracks. The casinos in the state were banned, and leaders of these properties were not happy. This forced Marylandβs Attorney General Brian Frosh to demand that sports betting required voter approval before any law was passed.
In November 2020, voters ultimately approved sports betting in the state. Legislators came together and proposed a bill to voters that was an easy decision for residents. The regulations still had to be established by the legislature following the residential vote.
2018 – Supreme Court Strikes down PASPA
The Supreme Court has handed down a decision in a case that will certsinly have repurcussions for years. With the striking down of Nevadaβs monopoly as unconstitutional, now every stater is free to legalize and regulate sports betting.
While Maryland was by no means the first in line to do so, they will begin the process with this decision. Once they began seeing nearby states starting to bring in some of that tax revenue, it was only a matter of time before they would do the same. Lo and behold, three years later and Maryland sportsbooks were getting the green light.
