Are online casinos legal in Maryland?
So the basic answer to this is that online casinos are illegal in Maryland. The only way that you can play slots and table games online is to play for free at one of the Maryland sweepstakes casinos.
Why you can’t play at real money online casinos in Maryland
The state’s current gambling laws make it illegal to wager real money at an online casino in Maryland. While online sports betting was recently legalized in the Old Line State, there were no updates in the law for playing online casinos games for money. This applies to everything from online slots to table games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker.
Why you should only use licensed Maryland online casinos
Don’t be tempted to play at one of the many offshore casino sites. They might say that they accept customers from the US, but they are all acting illegally. The fact that they are based offshore means that they don’t comply with US gambling laws.
As a result, you won’t receive any customer protection at these offshore casino sites. This means that there’s no guarantee that the games you play are fair, and no reassurances that you’ll get paid whatever you win.
Plus we should mention the fact that such offshore casinos rarely feature legit payment methods such as cards, eWallets and bank transfers. Instead, you may be forced into using an alternative form of digital payment which also carries an extra level of risk. This all means that you should definitely avoid using offshore casinos.
Alternatives to using a real money online casino in Maryland
While you can’t play online casino games for real money in Maryland, there are plenty of alternative gaming options. Perhaps the most traditional way to play is to visit one of Maryland’s physical casinos.
This might not be the most convenient option, but there are a handful of quality physical casinos everywhere from Baltimore and Perryville to Hanover and Forest Heights.
These all let you play casino games like slots and table games for real money, and you should be able to bet on sports at one of the retail sportsbooks located on their premises too.
Showcasing the best Maryland social casinos
The only kind of online casino legal in Maryland is one where you don’t play for real money. These are known as social casinos or sweepstakes casinos and they are becoming increasingly popular across the whole of the US.
Because you don’t play with real money, social casinos cannot really be classed as having any kind of gambling. This makes social casinos exempt from the kinds of gambling laws that govern regular online casino sites. Just bear in mind that you’ll still usually have to be at least 18 years to play at most social casino sites.
How to play at Maryland sweepstake casinos
Playing at a sweepstakes casino is remarkably similar to playing at a real money casino. This means that you’ll get to try your luck on standard slot games as well as table games like roulette and blackjack.
The main difference comes from the fact that you will be playing with a kind of virtual credit rather than real money. You simply cannot make deposits at social casino sites.
The virtual credit used at social casinos has no cash value and cannot be transferred or exchanged for anything else. While you might be able to purchase some kinds of virtual credit, you won’t be able to redeem any prizes should you do so.
Getting bonuses at Maryland social casinos
We found that all good social casinos will give you lots of virtual credit for free as a kind of bonus. Here’s what you can usually do to get some extra credit:
- Sign up to the social casino and get a handy welcome bonus
- Login to your social casino account every day
- Take part in social media giveaways
- Compete in special tournaments, challenges, battles and races
- Send in a postal request for more credit to the social casino
Awesome prizes at Maryland sweepstakes casinos
We should mention the fact that many sweepstakes casinos serve up impressive prizes that can range from things like gift cards and merchandise to cash.
You will only be able to win these prizes if you are using a kind of virtual credit that allows you to enter into the sweepstakes promotions. Here it is the taking part that gives you a chance of winning a prize, rather than it being a direct result of your gameplay.
Which is the best online casino in Maryland?
We think that Stake.us is currently the best online casino in Maryland. Stake.us is a social casino site which means that you get to play for free, but you can pick up some impressive prizes if you are lucky.
While Stake.us features all of the standard slot games that you’d expect, it’s gone above and beyond to include some amazing Stake Originals. These exclusive games vary from exciting updates of classic table games like roulette and blackjack to some seriously innovative titles like Crash and Plinko. So sign up to Stake.us for a great way to play online casino games in Maryland!
Will Maryland online casino laws change?
There’s every possibility but no one knows for sure. After all, if nearby states such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey can legalize online casino gaming, then surely Maryland could follow suit.
Plus we have to remember that online sports betting has recently been legalized in Maryland. All of this gives us a small glimmer of hope that you might be able to play online casino games for real money in Maryland sooner or later.
Conclusion - check back for updates about online casinos in Maryland
So you can’t play at an online casino with real money in Maryland, but there are some great alternative gaming options out there. Alongside the state’s physical casinos, there are plenty of excellent Maryland social casinos that let you play for free.
Plus it’s worth remembering that there’s every chance that you might be able to play with real money at online casinos in Maryland at some point in the future. So watch this space to see when this finally becomes a reality!
Top social casino sites in MD
1.
5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE + 30 Sweepstake Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
Get $5 extra in FREE play
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Online casinos in Maryland FAQ
🎁 Where can I get a Maryland online casino no deposit bonus?
Make sure that you read our guide to see just how easy it is to get no deposit bonuses at online casinos in Maryland. Plus we’ll help you understand the laws regarding online gambling in Maryland so that you can see whether this bonus lets you win real money when you play.
💰 Can I play at an online casino in Maryland with real money?
Check out our guide to see whether you can play online casino games with real money in Maryland or whether you have to use one of the Maryland social casinos instead. After all, while sports betting in Maryland is now legal, things are a little more complicated when it comes to playing casino games.
❓ What kinds of Maryland online gambling are legal?
Be sure to read our guide to see what kinds of online gambling you can legally enjoy in the Old Line State. This means that you’ll quickly get to see whether you can legally play at online sportsbooks, online poker sites and even real money online casinos in Maryland. Failing that, we’ll show you how you could still try your luck at one of the Maryland sweepstakes casinos.
🎰 Who has the best online slots in Maryland?
Read our guide to see whether the best online slots can be found at one of the many Maryland sweepstakes casinos or whether you can play these games at a real money online casino. After all, it’s important to understand the answer to the question, ‘Is it legal to gamble in Maryland?’ to see what kinds of online slots games you can play.
👀 Can you gamble online in Maryland?
There are many laws that determine what kind of gambling you can enjoy in the Old Line State. So read our guide to understand everything from the age for gambling in Maryland to whether you can play casino games for real money or whether you’ll have to visit one of the Maryland social casinos instead.
