Around three years ago, the state of Maryland opened its doors to online sports bettors for the first time. Now, it’s totally legal to bet on sports online in the state – as long as you’re 21 years old or over.
But what’s been going on in the state since this happened? How has this new law changed things? Today’s article explores the past three years and its impact on the gambling industry in MD.
A History of Legal Online Betting in MD
In November 2020, the people of Maryland voted in a referendum in favor of the legalization of sports betting. This led to the signing of House Bill 940 in the summer of next year, specifically in May 2021.
It took a little while for things to get off the ground as they always do, but later that year, in December, in-person sports betting kicked off in Maryland for the very first time. The first in-person bet in the state, as reported by the Washington Post, took place in the early days of the month.
Gov. Larry Hogan then started calling for the legalization of online sports betting, and it was 2022 when this got into the swing of things. On November 23rd of that year, desktop and mobile sports betting started.
Latest Updates for Sportsbooks in Maryland
A lot has changed since the full legalization of online sports betting in Maryland on November 23rd, 2022. Here are some major things that have happened for online sports betting in the state.
- More sports betting sites in Maryland: Over the past few years, we’ve seen the introduction of many new sports betting sites throughout the state. Once upon a time, players barely had any choice, and now there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options.
- Mix of offshore and state-licensed bookies: The reason for the wide range of choices is that players are choosing to access offshore sportsbooks more and more. The simple fact is that the options for state-licensed bookies are limited, even though there are some awesome ones.
- Higher revenue: The revenue for sports gambling in Maryland was up 13.6% in January 2025 from the previous year, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming. That’s a massive jump.
What’s Next for Maryland Sports Betting?
Based on what we know about the history and current state of the legal online betting scene in Maryland, we’ve been able to make some predictions about what might be around the corner for players in the state.
- Newer sportsbooks: We’re likely to see a whole lot of new offshore sports betting sites in Maryland shortly. The same likely cannot be said for state-licensed sites, although we may see a few more licenses granted.
- More promos: The increase in competition between online sports betting sites in Maryland generally means that there will be more sportsbook promos available to players. The sites will need to do more to attract new customers, which is generally a key tactic.
- Changes in technology: We’re likely to see live betting and mobile betting shortly. We may even see the development of whole new betting technologies. AI, VR, crypto, etc., are likely to come increasingly into play in the future.
Potential Downsides of MD Legal Sports Betting
It’s generally safe to bet on sports in Maryland, but there are one or two potential drawbacks you will want to consider before you get involved.
- State sportsbooks are more limited: There really isn’t that much choice for state bookies in Maryland. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as offshore sportsbooks are great, but we hope to see more state options in the near future.
- Safe gambling can be ignored: Online sports betting will always have a risk factor. Sure, there are a number of secure online casinos out there for players, but these can only go so far sometimes.
- Gambling advertising: The legalization of sports betting means that sportsbooks are being advertised to the public, which could attract vulnerable people into gambling. The state may need to consider how best to address this.
Three Years of Legal Sports Betting in Maryland
The legalization of online sports betting in Maryland has proven beneficial for players. It allows people in the state to place their bets and generates revenue for the state as a whole, which drives the economy.
If you’re looking to bet on sports, Maryland is a pretty good state. There are some great bookies to sign up for there, and that range of choice will only get better in time to come.
