Quick answer: No. Online casinos are not legal in Maryland as of September 2026. SB 885, the 2026 bill that would have legalized them, got one hearing and then stalled. Sports betting is legal, though. If you’re 21 or older, you can bet online anywhere in Maryland through 12 state-licensed apps, or in person at a licensed sportsbook.
No, online casinos are not legal in Maryland in 2026. You can’t legally play real-money online slots, blackjack or roulette on a state-licensed site. But you can bet on sports from your phone, walk into one of six casinos, or play the lottery. The state’s rules are clear. They’re just split down the middle.
This guide covers what’s legal right now, which sportsbooks hold a Maryland license, why the online casino bill died, how your winnings get taxed, and what might change in 2027. We checked everything against state sources on September 25, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Sports betting is legal: Retail betting started in late 2021 and mobile apps launched in November 2022. You must be 21 and inside Maryland.
- 12 licensed apps: The state lists Bally Bet, bet365, BetMGM, betParx, BetRivers, Caesars, Crab Sports, DraftKings, theScore Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel and LetsBetMD.
- Online casinos are not legal: SB 885 had a March 11 hearing, but its companion referendum bill (SB 761) was withdrawn on March 13. Neither passed.
- Voters must approve: Maryland needs a statewide referendum to add new forms of commercial gambling, so online casinos need a bill and a public vote.
- Higher sportsbook tax: Mobile sportsbooks now pay 20% of taxable proceeds, up from 15% in July 2025. Retail sportsbooks still pay 15%.
- Your winnings are taxable: Maryland taxes gambling winnings. Starting in 2026, federal law lets you deduct only 90% of your losses.
This guide is built on official sources: the Maryland General Assembly’s bill records for SB 885, Maryland Lottery and Gaming’s licensed operator list, its monthly sports wagering and casino revenue reports, a Maryland Comptroller tax alert, and an IRS bulletin on the new gambling loss rule. We also used news reporting from the Southern Maryland Chronicle, SBC Americas and Covers for details about the 2026 session. Offshore availability comes from each brand’s own site where we could find it, and from independent trackers where we couldn’t. Laws change, so check the official links before you bet. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Affiliate Disclosure: Daily Wager Zone may earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our analysis or recommendations.
What’s Legal in Maryland Right Now
Maryland voters approved sports betting in November 2020. Lawmakers passed the rules in 2021 (HB 940). Retail sportsbooks opened in December 2021, and mobile apps went live in November 2022. The regulator is Maryland Lottery and Gaming, which runs the lottery and regulates casinos and sports betting.
Here’s the part most people miss. The regulator says licensed sportsbooks and registered fantasy sites are the only legal real-money online gambling in Maryland. Nothing else online is legal.
| Type of gambling | Status in Maryland | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile sports betting | ✅ Legal | 21+, must be inside state lines, 12 licensed apps |
| Retail sports betting | ✅ Legal | At casinos, some stadiums and other licensed venues |
| Land-based casinos | ✅ Legal | Six casinos with slots and table games |
| Online casinos | ❌ Not legal | SB 885 failed in 2026; would also need a voter referendum |
| Daily fantasy sports | ✅ Legal | Only operators registered with the state |
| Lottery | ✅ Legal | Run by Maryland Lottery and Gaming |
| Horse racing | ✅ Legal | Pari-mutuel betting at licensed tracks and off-track sites |
Maryland’s Six Casinos
If you want real slots and blackjack, you have to drive. Maryland’s six casinos are:
- MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill
- Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover
- Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore
- Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin
- Hollywood Casino in Perryville
- Rocky Gap Casino in Flintstone
Sweepstakes Sites and Prediction Markets
Maryland Lottery and Gaming has sent cease-and-desist letters to dozens of sites, including sweepstakes casinos like Chumba, McLuck and Stake.us. It also sent letters to prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Robinhood. A 2026 bill aimed at sweepstakes-style games (HB 295) did not become law. But the regulator’s position is plain: if a site isn’t on its licensed list, it isn’t legal in Maryland.
Licensed Maryland Sportsbooks
These are the only online sportsbooks Maryland Lottery and Gaming says can legally take bets in the state:
| Licensed Maryland sportsbook apps |
|---|
| Bally Bet |
| bet365 |
| BetMGM |
| betParx |
| BetRivers |
| Caesars Sportsbook |
| Crab Sports |
| DraftKings |
| Fanatics Sportsbook |
| FanDuel |
| LetsBetMD |
| theScore Bet |
The market is busy. Bettors wagered about $466 million in August 2026 alone, up 7.3% from a year earlier. From July through August 2026, handle topped $962 million, up 20.5%. Those are Maryland Lottery and Gaming’s own numbers.
The Rules You Need to Know
- Age: You must be 21 or older.
- Location: You must be physically inside Maryland. The app uses location checks to confirm you’re in the state. You don’t have to live here.
- No college player props: Maryland banned bets on individual college athletes in March 2024. You can still bet on college game lines, spreads and totals.
- Approved bets only: Sportsbooks can only offer events and bet types on the state’s approved catalog.
- Retail cash rules: At in-person sportsbooks, you bet with cash, check or debit card, not a credit card.
Why Online Casinos Aren’t Legal Yet: The SB 885 Story
State Sen. Ron Watson, a Prince George’s County Democrat, led the 2026 push. He filed two bills that had to move together. SB 761 would have asked voters to approve online casinos in November 2026. SB 885 would have set up the rules if voters said yes.
What SB 885 Would Have Done
- Licenses: Maryland’s casinos and some sportsbook license holders could have applied to run online casinos. Online bingo licenses were in the bill too.
- Fees: $1 million for an online casino license, or $500,000 for live-dealer-only. Online bingo licenses were $500,000. Each license would last five years.
- State share: Operators would keep 80% of live-dealer proceeds and 60% of other online casino proceeds. The rest would go to the state, including schools and the Problem Gambling Fund.
- Player protections: No credit card deposits, plus required links to 1-800-GAMBLER and other responsible gambling tools.
- Worker fund: Up to $10 million in first-year money for casino workers hurt by the change.
Watson projected $1.6 billion in tax revenue over five years, according to SBC Americas. He also argued that Maryland players already spend about $200 million a year on illegal sites, and none of it helps the state.
How It Fell Apart
The timeline was short and brutal. SB 885 got its first reading on February 6. It had a hearing in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 11. But the SB 761 hearing was canceled on March 10, and Watson withdrew that bill on March 13. Without the referendum bill, SB 885 had no path forward.
SB 885 then missed Crossover Day on March 23, the date bills usually must pass their first chamber. The session ended April 13. The state’s bill page still shows the bill stuck at its hearing.
Why did it die? Opposition came from several sides. Casino interests, including Ocean Downs, warned about lost jobs and tourism. Labor groups and problem gambling advocates worried about 24/7 casino games on every phone. Worcester County leaders raised concerns too. And in an election year, lawmakers had little appetite for a fight. “I feel pretty confident there’s not an appetite for it this year,” Del. Wayne Hartman said, according to Covers.
Maryland Gambling Taxes
There are two tax stories here. One is what the operators pay the state. The other is what you owe on your winnings.
What Sportsbooks and Casinos Pay
| Operator type | State tax or share | Where the money goes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile sportsbooks | 20% of taxable proceeds (15% until July 2025) | 15% to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, 5% to the General Fund |
| Retail sportsbooks | 15% of taxable proceeds | Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund |
| Casinos | Varies by casino and game; about 43% of revenue went to the state in July–August 2026 | Education Trust Fund, local aid, horse racing and more |
The sportsbook hike came from Maryland’s 2025 budget law. Since sports betting began in December 2021, it has sent about $289 million to the Blueprint fund through August 2026. Casinos are a much bigger engine. They made about $318 million in July and August 2026 and sent about $137 million of that to the state. Casino revenue was down 6% year over year in August, the fourth straight monthly drop.
What You Owe on Your Winnings
Gambling winnings are income. That’s true for federal tax and for Maryland tax. It doesn’t matter if you won at a casino, on an app, or at the track. Here’s what the Maryland Comptroller says:
- Residents and nonresidents pay: Anyone who wins in Maryland owes Maryland income tax on it.
- Big wins get withheld: On winnings over $5,000, Maryland withholds 9.5% for residents and 8.75% for nonresidents (rates effective July 1, 2025).
- The $500 rule: If you win more than $500 and no Maryland tax was withheld, you must file Form PV and pay within 60 days.
- New federal loss rule: Starting with 2026, you can deduct only 90% of your gambling losses, and only up to your winnings. You still have to itemize to claim any of it. That comes from the IRS bulletin on the change.
Say you win $5,000 on sports bets in 2026 and lose $5,000. You broke even. But you can deduct only 90% of your losses, which is $4,500. So you could owe tax on $500 of “income” even though you didn’t make a dime. Keep a clean record of every bet so you can back up your numbers.
Offshore Alternatives for Maryland Bettors
Let’s be blunt. Offshore sportsbooks and casinos are not licensed in Maryland. The state regulator says no real-money online gaming outside its licensed list is operating legally here. It has sent cease-and-desist letters to many offshore brands. If something goes wrong on an offshore site, no Maryland agency can help you.
So why do people look at them? Mostly for online casino games, which Maryland apps can’t offer. Some also want college player props or crypto banking. If you’re weighing it, get the facts first. Two of the four biggest offshore names appear to be off-limits to Maryland players.
Where the Big Four Stand for Maryland Players
| Brand | Offers | Maryland status (Sept. 25, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Sportsbook and casino | Independent trackers list Maryland as accepted. Confirm at signup. |
| BetUS | Sportsbook and casino | Its terms don’t list U.S. state bans, but Maryland’s regulator sent it a cease-and-desist letter in 2025. |
| Bovada | Sportsbook and casino | ❌ Not available. Bovada’s own help page lists Maryland as a restricted state. |
| MyBookie | Sportsbook and casino | ❌ Independent trackers list Maryland as restricted. |
- BetOnline: A long-running offshore book with a deep betting menu, including college props. It runs both a BetOnline Sportsbook and a BetOnline Casino with slots and table games.
- BetUS: One of the oldest offshore brands, with a sportsbook and casino under one account. Know that Maryland has formally told BetUS to stop serving the state.
- Bovada and MyBookie: Both are big names elsewhere, but they are not options for Maryland residents right now. Don’t use a VPN to get around a block. It breaks their terms and can get your account frozen or your winnings voided.
If casino games are the draw, learn the game before you risk money. Our guide to the best online blackjack sites covers rules, house edge and what to check first.
The Risks You Need to Know
- No state recourse: If a payout stalls or your account gets closed, Maryland Lottery and Gaming can’t step in. There’s no state complaint process for you.
- Crypto swings: Offshore sites push Bitcoin and other coins. Prices move fast. Your balance can lose value between the day you deposit and the day you cash out.
- KYC checks: “Know Your Customer” checks often hit when you try to withdraw. Expect to send an ID and proof of address. Delays are common.
- Withdrawal limits: Offshore sites often cap how much you can pull out per request or per week, and fees can apply. Read the cashier terms before you deposit.
- Taxes still apply: Offshore winnings are taxable. You probably won’t get a tax form, so tracking is on you.
What’s Next for Maryland Gambling
The next shot comes in the 2027 session, which runs January 13 to April 12, 2027. Online casino bills have now stalled in 2024, 2025 and 2026. As of September 25, 2026, we found no 2027 online casino bill filed yet.
Here’s the catch. Maryland’s constitution ties new forms of commercial gambling to a public vote. That vote happens at a general election, and Maryland’s next one after this November is in 2028. So even if lawmakers pass a plan in 2027, voters likely couldn’t approve it until November 2028. Then the state would still need to write rules and license operators. Our read: don’t expect legal online casinos in Maryland before 2029. That’s our estimate, not an official date.
What to Watch in 2027
- Budget pressure: Supporters point to Maryland’s budget gaps as a reason to add online casino revenue.
- Neighbor pressure: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia already have legal online casinos. Virginia debated them in 2026 too.
- Sweepstakes limits: HB 295 failed in 2026, so expect another try at limiting sweepstakes casinos.
- Sports betting tweaks: HB 518, which covered responsible gambling, college athlete props and credit card use on betting apps, also failed in 2026. Parts of it could come back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online casino gambling legal in Maryland in 2026?
No. Real-money online casinos are not legal in Maryland as of September 2026. SB 885 would have created them, but it stalled after its March 11 hearing. Any future plan also needs voter approval in a referendum.
Is sports betting legal in Maryland?
Yes. You can bet online through 12 state-licensed apps or in person at licensed sportsbooks. You must be 21 or older and physically inside Maryland when you bet.
Can I bet on college sports in Maryland?
Yes, but not on individual players. Maryland banned college player prop bets in March 2024. Game lines, spreads and totals on college games are still allowed.
Do I pay Maryland taxes on gambling winnings?
Yes. Winnings count as income for both Maryland and federal tax. Maryland withholds 9.5% from resident wins over $5,000. If you win over $500 with no Maryland tax withheld, you must file Form PV within 60 days.
Are offshore betting sites legal in Maryland?
No. They are not licensed by Maryland, and the state regulator says they are not operating legally. If you have a dispute with one, no Maryland agency can help you get your money back.
Gambling involves risk. Only wager what you can afford to lose. Must be 21+ to participate in sports betting or casino gambling in Maryland. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text the Maryland Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), available 24/7, or call 1-800-522-4700 (National Council on Problem Gambling). Maryland residents can get free counseling through the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, and Maryland Lottery and Gaming offers a Voluntary Exclusion Program for casinos, sports wagering and fantasy sports.
