Maryland Sports Betting Regulations

Maryland is a state, which has played an essential role in American history, and which now has a population of just over 6 million people. Ranking second in terms of household income and fifth in terms of population density, Maryland is also known for the wide variety of regulated gambling markets it is home to.

History Sports Betting Industry Today Lotteries and Bingo Gaming Regulatory Bodies Types of Licenses Responsible Play Policies

In fact, gambling activities are not a novelty in Maryland as they were used as a source of income back in colonial times. Even though gambling became less common during the 19th and 20th centuries, lotteries, off-track betting, and casino games started to gain traction a couple of years ago. The openness to change of lawmakers has also helped for the creation of the gambling-friendly environment Maryland is celebrated for.

Today, Maryland is home to several leading teams, the likes of NCAA’s Maryland Terrapins, NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, and MLB’s Baltimore Orioles, which goes to show why it is said to be a fertile ground for sports betting.

Maryland follows suit after its neighboring states like Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania that have already approved sports betting. In spite of the fact that voters gave the green light to betting on sports on the ballot back in 2020, the industry is yet to become up and running. Continue to read to learn more about the sports betting regulations and the legal forms of gambling in Maryland.

A Walk Through The Changes in the Gambling Industry

Maryland also lists among the states that are looking to expand their gambling profile, and the year-long history of gambling activities, coupled with the openness to gambling of the neighboring states, go to explain the move towards a more liberal market.

As for the gambling prevalence in the state, it should be noted that when the figures for 2017 are compared to those for the period prior to the introduction of casino gambling, it turns out that the number of gamblers has remained stable throughout the years, and it has been around 87%.

It should be pointed out that casino games continue to garner lots of attention and, in spite of the fact that the revenues have significantly dwindled because of the Coronavirus outbreak, the casinos in Maryland held up better in comparison with the casinos in the other states.

Maryland’s legislation is unambiguous when it comes to the availability and illegality of the different forms of gambling, and the current legal framework is determined by the following changes in the legal landscape.

1793

1920

1947

1973

2008

2010

2020

---

1793

As it turns out, gambling is deeply entrenched in the lifestyle of people from Maryland as lotteries were legalized back in 1793. Being the first form of gambling to become legal on the territory of the state, lotteries were back then used for public work purposes and churches.

Lotteries began to pick up steam and corruption and cheating started to loom because of the failure of authorities to properly oversee their conduction. As a result, a couple of years later, the lottery licensing was suspended and entirely eliminated.

---

1920

Horse races also attract a huge amount of attention in Maryland, and it all started with the foundation of the horse racing oversight board back in 1920. This is also when pari-mutuel betting was also made available within the state.

---

1947

In spite of the fact that it is hard to determine when exactly slot machines were offered legally for the first time in Maryland, there are shreds of evidence that such were used back in the 1940s. Slots got people in Maryland in a tizzy, and their number started to soar, thus hitting 5,000 in next to no time. The revenues also skyrocketed to such an extent that Maryland even outpaced Las Vegas.

Still, slot machines did not get universal approval within the state, and there were lots of calls for their prohibition from gambling opponents. The legislative changes took effect back in 1968, and in spite of the dismay at the lost revenues, slot machines were ultimately removed from the territory of Maryland.

---

1973

Naturally, not all lawmakers disapproved of slots, and as a result, several bills that aim for their re-establishment were introduced. As likely as not, the most obvious reason why the state lottery was universally approved by voters during the referendum held back in 1972 was the enthusiasm caused by slots. During it, 77% of people voted in favor of the idea for the state lottery, and it is interesting to point out that in some counties, the share of people who said yes during the referendum was even greater. Thus, the first lottery tickets were made available in the following years, and the gambling craze in the state started out again.

---

2008

The enthusiasm of people for slots did not wane, and after an interruption of almost 40 years, they were reintroduced again back in 2008. What is interesting to point out, however, is that the machines that were made available within several counties in Maryland only have a visual resemblance with slot machines but have more in common with video lottery terminals.

---

2010

The doors of the very first land-based casino in Maryland were opened back in 2010 when Hollywood Casino Perryville admitted its first visitors. A couple of months later, four more brick-and-mortar casinos were opened, thus giving gambling enthusiasts a significantly larger range of options to choose from.

Two years later, voters supported the idea of placing table games within land-based casinos. The amendments that were introduced back then have to do with the working hours of the gambling premises, and according to these changes, land-based casinos were allowed to provide their services 24/7.

The opening of a sixth brick-and-mortar casino was also agreed to, and in this way, Maryland turned into a hotbed of gambling within the span of eight years.

---

2020

People from Maryland continued to show unfaltering interest in gambling, and back in 2020, they declared beyond doubt that the idea of increasing the available gambling options appeals to them. After the US Supreme Court revoked the ban imposed on sports betting, the idea of its legalization within the state was broadly supported by voters during a referendum, which took place in November 2020. Fortunately for fans of betting on sports, legislatures have moved forward to pass the needed bills, and this form of gambling is expected to become widely available by the end of 2021.

Of course, Maryland’s Penal Code is the most essential piece of legislation to examine when you wish to get a better idea of the legal status of the different forms of gambling in the state. There, gambling enthusiasts will find descriptions of gambling devices, credit, and explicit the penalties that will be imposed when the gambling-related rules are violated.

What Is Happening with The Sports Betting Industry of Maryland Today

Overview

Horse Racing

Daily Fantasy Sports

Most people hope that sports betting will be a reality soon, all the more so considering what widespread approval the expansion of commercial sports betting got. In spite of the fact that legislators gave the nod to several bills that pave the way for sports betting, its launch is yet to come, meaning that legally betting on sports in the state is not an option at the moment. Yet, there are still offshore sports betting platforms that operate in Maryland without the needed authorization.

It should be pointed out that the attempts for the legalization of sports betting started several years ago, and initially, the idea of lawmakers was to make this form of gambling available at racetracks and lottery retailers. Still, this proposal was largely frowned upon, which in practice set the stage for the changes that took place in 2020 and 2021, thus showing that legislatures come out serious on that issue.

Gov. Larry Hogan was the one to sign in the HB 940 bill, which legalizes betting on sports in Maryland in May this year, and the purpose of this piece of legislation is to provide the basis for the future development of the industry. According to the provisions of the bill, a two-tiered licensing system will be in place, and the permit operators will be given will be determined by the scope of their offerings.

As it turns out, Senator Craig Zucker is one of the biggest proponents of sports betting and can be described as a figure with a significant contribution to the shaping of the sports betting industry of the state. In fact, he was the one to introduce the sports betting bill, which was unanimously approved.

It goes without saying that a larger amount of time will be required until Maryland’s gambling industry becomes fully-fledged, but the good news is that gambling enthusiasts are already just a few months away from betting on sports without violating the law.

Horse Racing in Maryland

Horse racing is one of the things Maryland is best known for, and this is hardly a surprise considering that the sport has a 150-years old history in the state. During that time, Maryland has hosted numerous major events, and say nothing of the fact that it is home to Pimlico Race Course, which is one of the oldest tracks in the US.

Today, there are a total of six racetracks on the territory of the state, and these include Timonium Race Course, Pimlico Race Course, Fair Hill Races, Laurel Park, Ocean Downs, and Rosecroft Raceway.

Betting on horse races is possible at all of these racetracks, but as they head over to Timonium Race Course or Pimlico Race Course, punters cannot enjoy live racing there. Aside from being one of the six brick-and-mortar casinos in Maryland, Ocean Downs stands out as the only racino within the state.

These are not the only options gambling enthusiasts will have when they feel like placing a few bets on horse racing, as there are several standalone OTBs across the state. These include Riverboat on the Potomac, Greenmount Station, and Long Shot. In addition to this, three of the casinos in Maryland have off-track betting parlors.

Fortunately for gambling enthusiasts, they are not required to go all the way to one of the casinos or the OTBs in order to bet on horse races, as they can do so also over the Internet, which is the case in most other US states.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Maryland

Interestingly enough, Maryland was the very first state to make daily fantasy sports contests legal, and this happened back in 2012. The introduction of the Maryland House Bill 7 (2012) made betting on daily fantasy sports an option for residents of the state to enjoy because they were no longer included in the definition of gambling. In this way, such betting options were added to the line-ups of covered sports of all majors sportsbooks that cater to this market.

Operators are not required to apply for a license or pay such fees in order to offer daily fantasy sports contests to residents of the state. With this in mind, it is a must for operators to impose a deposit limit of $1,000 at the most. Besides, colleague sports contests cannot be included in the agenda of operators. Another essential thing that should be taken into account is that officers, employees, contractors, or principals are not allowed to engage in daily fantasy sports contests.

Paid-entry fantasy sports contests became a hot topic in Maryland a few years ago, and there were even calls for the introduction of a blanket ban on such. In spite of the fact that a bill was made out, it was not put forward.

Are Lotteries and Bingo Available in Maryland

As far as bingo goes, it should be mentioned that only charitable games are allowed and the laws that apply to these games vary wildly between the different counties and cities. An important thing to mention about bingo halls is that the permissions required to operate such are not granted on a state level, but on a county level instead.

There are requirements about the charge for admission, which cannot be greater than $5, jackpot prizes cannot go over $5,000, and license holders cannot conduct bingo for more than 125 days per year.

As is the case with the majority of the gambling-friendly US states, the legal gambling age in Maryland is also 21 years. Yet, lotteries, betting on horse races, or playing bingo are much more widely available as players must be at least 18 years old to participate in any of these.

The scope of the gambling options continues to expand, and a Senate Bill was passed to allow residents of the state to play poker and mahjong at home.

Online Sports Betting in Maryland

It is safe to say that gambling has gone back and forth in Maryland, but its gambling industry is much more developed when compared to other states. When online gambling is concerned, at the moment, there are no web-based casinos or poker portals that operate legally in Maryland. Betting on horse races is the only option residents of the state have if they are more into betting over the Internet.

According to the state’s legislation, accepting bets or engaging in gambling activities without the respective seal of approval is not allowed on the territory of Maryland. This is to say that accommodating gambling enthusiasts from Maryland is a no-go for operators at the moment.

In spite of the fact that most other US states envisage penalties for gambling enthusiasts and operators who are found to violate the law, this is not the case with Maryland. Another thing, which is worth noting about the state is that it does not go after gambling enthusiasts who use the services of offshore sports betting platforms.

Gaming Regulatory Bodies in Maryland

The State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency is authorized by the General Assembly and it has been working since 1973. Now, it has five divisions, and initially, its duties included the sale of lottery tickets and the distribution of prizes. Still, when land-based casinos were authorized, their oversight was also added to the list of the responsibilities of the Agency during a special session of the senate.

After the legalization of sports betting, the oversight of such gambling activities was delegated to the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission through House Bill 940. The State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission plays the role of an advisory board to State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, and its responsibilities include overseeing the operations of video lottery terminals, lotteries, and gaming services.

It should also be mentioned that thoroughbred horse racing falls under the purview of the Maryland Horse Races Commission. Its responsibilities also include overseeing and regulating the seven off-track betting sites that operate across the state, as well as guaranteeing the proper distribution of the staked amounts.

The newly set-up Sports Wagering Application Review Commission is authorized by the General Assembly in May 2021, and its responsibilities are to scrutinize and evaluate the applications for sports betting licenses. The licenses the Commission awards can be Class A and Class B, and the first type is given to major sports franchises and video lottery operators. Class B licenses, on the other hand, are given to commercial bingo entities, qualified horse racing, and simulcast betting.

Types of Licenses Operators Can Apply for And Fees

As it was mentioned already, the licensing system, which was established in Maryland is two-tiered. Class A licenses are given for the brick-and-mortar casinos across the state, the Jockey Club, along with the professional sports stadium and teams. Most people hope that in the future, licenses will be granted to the teams of NHL, MLS, and NBA.

Class B licenses are awarded to local businesses that are open for competitive bidding. These include bingo halls that have 200 or more slot machines, off-track betting parlors, and the State Fairgrounds.

The first entities that will get permission to offer in-person sports betting have already become known, and as we explained already, these include five racetracks, six casinos, and three professional stadiums. According to the laws that were already passed, the number of Class B licenses is limited to 30, while digital licenses are capped at 60.

There are several other limitations that have raised concerns among gambling operators, and one of the things they are worried about is that promotional play will not have a ceiling during the first year after they kick off their services in Maryland. Yet, the regulations envisage that once the first year ends, promotional play cannot go over 20% of the sports wagering proceeds of the operator for the previous year.

Operators are also concerned about the duration of the period when disputes should be resolved, the requested changes in their betting menus, and promotions, among others.

Responsible Play Policies in Maryland

Responsible Gambling

Self-Exclusion

Promotions

Considering that gambling is thriving in Maryland, it makes sense that problem gambling is not an unheard-of issue. That being said, this issue is not turned a blind eye to, and there are several programs and organizations that can help problem gamblers along. This is exactly the case with the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling and The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling.

Self-Exclusion Program

Maryland’s voluntary self-exclusion program is another option gambling enthusiasts have when they feel like their betting session is going out of control. In order to take advantage of it, punters are required to fill and file an application, and in this way, they will not be admitted to any of the gambling premises on the territory of the state.

Please note that once the application is filed, the exclusion will remain valid for a period of 24 months, and the procedure cannot be suspended. In certain circumstances, the inclusion in the program might even be permanent.

Sports Betting Promotions in Maryland

As far as bonuses and special deals go, there are a number of key terms gambling operators should be aware of as they will have a significant impact on their efforts to attract new users on board. First off, such bonus incentives should be presented in an unambiguous manner and should not be directed towards individuals who are under the age of 21.

Additionally, individuals who are younger than 21 years old cannot take part in advertisements of activities that are related to sports betting. The information, which has to do with the promotion itself needs to be explained in a clear-cut manner, and these include the offered perks, available bets, and so on.