Sports Betting Maryland 2026: When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in Maryland?

An article for all types of Maryland sports betting fans

You don’t have to be an experienced sports bettor to take advantage of our Maryland sports betting knowledge and expertise. In fact, far from it! Here at CaptainGambling.com, we keep on top of all the latest news across all the legal gambling states, bringing you insightful reviews and comparisons for all the top operators. So whether you’re hoping to track down the best Maryland sportsbooks, or the leading New York sports betting operators, we’ve got invaluable information to help you.

But we’ve also got an entire section of our website devoted to betting strategies and guides, so even if you’ve never placed a sporting wager before, you’ll be in safe hands. And our operator reviews and bonus comparisons are packed with useful tips to help enhance every wagering experience, so we’re by your side every single step of the way.

The History: Maryland sports betting online is finally coming!

Ever since the PASPA regulations were overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018, more and more states have been opening up their doors to retail and online sportsbooks. And although there aren’t any active online Maryland sportsbooks just yet, you can rest assured that they’re heading this way – and soon!

December 9th, 2021 was the date when Governor Larry Hogan made history in the Old Line State, by placing the very first legal Maryland sports bet at MGM National Harbor Casino. His $50 wager based on the prospect of the Washington Football Team facing off against the Baltimore Ravens at the Super Bowl was busted when Washington was eliminated from the playoffs, but it certainly set the ball rolling!

Retail sportsbooks have already launched in Maryland

Gov. Hogan has been pushing for changes in the laws surrounding sports betting for some time now, in an attempt to bring Maryland sports betting laws in line with surrounding states. And with figures in the region of $100 million being projected, there’s certainly plenty at stake! The rollout commenced with the launch of retail Maryland sportsbooks at BetMGM National Harbor, Caesars Sportsbook at Baltimore Horseshoe and FanDuel Sportsbook at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover. Provision has been made for self-service kiosks at TwinSpires Sportsbook at Ocean Downs, and at Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casinos in Perryville.

All sports betting licenses in Maryland have to be approved by the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, otherwise known as SWARC. So far, 30 retail sportsbook licenses have been approved, with 60 licenses reserved for online Maryland sportsbooks.  The launch date for online sports betting is confirmed for November 23 2022, and many sports bettors are looking forward to mobile betting sites to launch in time for the start of the 2022 NFL season.

Editor’s recommendation for the best Maryland sports betting site

Regular site visitors will know that we try to avoid recommending any single operator as being suitable for everyone, since all sports bettors have different requirements. But if we had to recommend only one sportsbook once they go live across the Old Line State, we’d have to pick BetMGM.

Not only is BetMGM a globally-recognized operator with a massive fanbase, but it’s also appropriately licensed and regulated, so you’re guaranteed a safe and secure wagering experience. And you can rest assured that the BetMGM Maryland sportsbook promo Is one of the most generous introductory offers you’ll find online, with a risk-free first bet offer that could be worth as much as $1,000 in bonus bet funds.

Whether you’re a first-time sports bettor or you have years of experience under your belt, you can be assured of an entertaining and intuitive wagering session, with some generous rewards on offer too. Collect M Life Reward points to grab some fantastic benefits, including discounted holidays at your preferred BetMGM Resort!

Five top tips for a safe, secure and fair Maryland sports betting experience  

Online sports betting is about to go live in Maryland, so we strongly recommend you take a moment to familiarize yourself with some tips and tricks for staying safe when wagering online.

Here’s what we look for when evaluating Maryland sportsbooks

We aim to cover all the research when preparing our Maryland sports betting operator reviews, saving you the time and trouble. That means you’ll need to spend a lot less time deciding which sportsbook operator to sign up to, leaving you more time for researching and placing your sporting bets!

Here at CaptainGambling.com, we know exactly what’s required to deliver a detailed and insightful operator review, presenting all the necessary information in an easy-to-read format. You can see at a glance whether a sportsbook might be right for you, making it exceptionally easy to track down your perfect options – as well as claiming a generous bonus that will help your funds to go that bit further.

These are just some of the checks we make to make sure you have the full facts about each operator:

• Licenses: we check for a valid license from a reputable industry regulator
• Security: we make sure that client data is securely encrypted to keep it safe from hackers
• Financial protection: we expect client funds to be stored in a separate account away from the operator’s other financial affairs
• Usability and navigation: we expect clear design and navigation, so it’s easy to find your way to every part of the site
• Excellent range of sports and odds: you’ll want to see all your favorite sports represented, with a range of odds suitable for all types of budgets
• Helpful customer support: we expect to see a helpful customer support team, preferably available 24/7, with a broad range of contact options, including live chat
• Loyalty programs and VIP rewards: in addition to a generous introductory bonus offer, we like to see plenty of ongoing promotions, which reward regular bettors with extra incentives

How to find your perfect Maryland sports betting operator

With Maryland sports betting sites on the verge of launching, it makes perfect sense to start planning ahead of time, so you can hit the ground running as soon as they go live. And you can be certain that we’ve got absolutely all the information you need to know about Maryland sports betting to get started right now!

A great way of discovering which Maryland betting sites are likely to be a good fit for you, is to start by answering a few simple questions about the sports betting experience you’re hoping for. Try answering these questions to help you to narrow down your options and be sure of finding the operator that’s perfect for your needs.

How risk averse are you?

If you’re not a high-risk, high-stakes bettor, make sure you look for an operator offering low odds and plenty of promotions, to help your bankroll stretch that bit further!

What time of day do you like to wager?

Daytime bettors will find customer support teams tend to be active when they’re needed. If you prefer to wager late into the night, be sure to look for a support team that’s active around the clock.

Do you enjoy the thrills of in-game betting?

Some Maryland sportsbooks offer the chance to place wagers during play, so look for that option if it’s something you think you’d enjoy. Some sportsbooks also offer live streaming, so you have all the thrills and spills of watching play as it progresses, for an even more immersive experience.

Do you want to learn as you wager?

We’ve got a wealth of betting information on our site that you can explore at your leisure, to improve your knowledge of sports betting and enhance your enjoyment of the activity. But some sportsbooks also offer helpful betting guides too, so these are a good entry point for anyone just dipping their toes into sports betting waters for the very first time.

Conclusion – your Maryland sports betting journey starts right here!

Now you’ve come to the end of our article on finding your perfect Maryland sports betting site, you should be ready to start seeking out the leading operators – and we’ve got them all listed right here! We make a point of reviewing the very best US betting sites, so you’ll be guaranteed a fair and legitimate sports betting experience, and it’s something we’re extremely passionate about.

As Maryland has given the go-ahead to online sports betting, we’re ready to bring you news of all the leading operators, as well as their introductory bonus offers, carefully designed to get you off to a flying start. Be sure to check back regularly to find out what’s new for sports betting fans in the Old Line State!

An Overview of Gambling in MD

Other Maryland Gambling Guides

MD Gambling

MD Lotto

FanDuel Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook

Barstool Sportsbook

BetRivers Sportsbook

PointsBet Sportsbook

Maryland Sports Betting FAQ