Online Casinos Maryland
Welcome to this page dedicated to gambling in the state of Maryland! We will provide you with an overview of the current gambling laws, as well as the history of gambling in the state and the ongoing legalization efforts. For now, online casinos Maryland are illegal, but we hope this changes in the near future.
- Maryland online gambling laws discussed by experts
- Exploring current Maryland online gambling regulations
- The future of online casinos Maryland
- 0 Legal Online Casinos
- 0 Legal Land Based Casinos
- 0 Legal Social Casinos
- 0 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games
- Responsible Gaming
- Maryland Lottery and GCA
Maryland Online Casinos: Laws
Right now, online gambling is not legal in the state of Maryland. It might take time before Maryland online casinos appear on the stage, which is why citizens of the Old Line state use offshore websites to play online games of chance.
The prognosis is certainly not bleak though, Maryland seems to be ready for an expansion in its gambling legislature as evidenced by recent developments. If you want to follow the ongoing legalization efforts in the state, you can track the progression of Maryland bills. We’ll also keep you updated on any future Maryland online gambling laws.
History of Gambling in Maryland
The first type of legal gambling in Maryland was pari-mutuel (horse racing betting), which was legalized in 1870. Off-track betting wasn’t legal until 1988 and even then, it only operated when live racing didn’t. This changed with another law from 1993.
The Maryland state lottery, similarly to other state lotteries, was legalized in the 1970’s (1972). In November 2008, there was a question on the state referendum regarding the opening of land-based casinos, which was positively received by voters. So was the referendum in November 2020, which saw the legalization of sports betting. Maryland online gambling laws still don’t allow online casinos, but there’s hope as it seems Marylanders are ready for it.
History of American Gambling
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
- West Virginia Lottery
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Wire Act of 1961 Today
The Wire Act of 1961 made it illegal for businesses to accept wagers from interstate or foreign punters via wire communications. Some argue this law applies to online gambling, despite the internet not existing back then. Theoretically speaking, the Wire Act might affect Maryland online gambling laws, but since there are states with legal online industries already, it likely won’t matter.
Black Friday 2011
On April 15, 2011, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were charged with violating the UIGEA along with bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling. This resulted in the operators immediately suspending their operations in the US.
A similar operation, known as Blue Monday, occurred in Maryland in May 2011, which saw the seizure of various sports betting websites and one payment processing website. We hope that Maryland online casinos open soon enough, so both players and operators are safe and secure.
The Popular Online Casino Games in the US
Online Blackjack in Maryland
Blackjack remains one of the most popular casino games, but what you might not know is that it’s just as popular in online casinos. Apart from classic blackjack, there are many more new types developed online.
We suspect that a popular type of online blackjack in Maryland would be Infinite Blackjack (getting its name from the infinite number of players who can join). This game is mostly played with a live dealer and it’s streamed to the players. The Six Card Charlie (having 6 cards whose value is less than 21) makes the game stand out and makes you win instantly if you have this combo!
Online Roulette Maryland
The next popular online game in states with legal industries is roulette. While some players crave the experience of playing roulette in physical casinos, others choose to experiment by playing newer versions of their favorite casino game.
One such version is Blazing 7’s. We predict this would be one of the most, if not the most, popular online roulette in Maryland. It operates like a classic American roulette, but upon landing on 7, 17, or 27, the side bets are activated and you can win way more than you imagined! We love these little twists that spice up the gameplay.
Maryland Online Slot Machines
You can’t discuss popular online games without mentioning slot machines. One can even argue that slots experienced their natural evolution on the internet as evidenced by the thousands of slots with more and more complex graphics and mechanics that come out every month.
Online slots in Maryland are still not a reality, but once the state legalizes them, we believe a popular game would be Bonanza. Bonanza is popular worldwide, and it’s already featured in many American online casinos. Considering the slot’s high RTP and the fact it has more than 100,000 paylines, we can see why everyone loves it!
Online Poker Maryland
Online poker has suffered a lot in the US. First with the UIGEA of 2006, which severely damaged online gambling, then with Black Friday 2011 that put the final nail in the coffin. However, we hope online poker in Maryland soon becomes legal, so players won’t have to look for legal loopholes to play their favorite game.
We predict that a popular type of online poker in Maryland would be Four Card Poker. As the name suggests, you use 4 cards to make your combination, but you’re dealt 5, so you have one extra. This type of online poker is quite popular in New Jersey.
Land-Based Casinos in Maryland
| Live! Casino & Hotel | 🍒 3994 slot machines 🃏 206 table games |
|---|---|
| Horseshoe Casino Baltimore | 🍒 2202 slot machines, 🃏 178 table games |
| MGM National Harbor | 🍒 3139 slot machines, 🃏 165 table games |
Comparison between Land-Based and Online Casinos
Once more types of gambling in Maryland are legalized, players might wonder whether they should choose a land-based or an online casino. Both options have their advantages and their disadvantages.
For instance, land-based casinos have an incredible atmosphere and usually other types of entertainment. On the other hand, online casinos offer juicy bonuses to new and to loyal players. In the end, it all depends on you, the player.
The Future of Online Casinos in Maryland
Gambling in Maryland – What Now?
The state’s legislature would soon have to change Maryland online gambling laws to include sports betting, which was formally legalized in 2021 after voters supported the measure in the November 2020 elections. Marylanders can now bet at physical venues and soon even online. There’s certainly hope that legal online casinos in Maryland would be next.
Conclusion: Gambling in Maryland
FAQs About Online Gambling in Maryland
Thank you for reading our article dedicated to gambling in the state of Maryland! We hope you now know everything about online and offline gambling in the Old Line state. Below you can find the most frequently asked questions.
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
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- New Mexico
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- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming