Maryland Gambling Laws: What's Legal in 2026 (Complete Guide)

TL;DR: Maryland Gambling at a Glance

• Sports betting is fully legal — retail launched December 2021, online/mobile in November 2022, available to those 21+
• Six commercial casinos operate statewide — no tribal casinos, minimum age 21
• Online casino gambling is NOT legal — only daily fantasy sports and sports betting are available online
• Lottery available at 18+ — includes scratch-offs, draw games, and Keno
• Offshore gambling sites are illegal — using them puts you at risk with no consumer protections

Understanding Maryland Gambling Laws in 2026

Maryland gambling laws permit several forms of legal wagering, including commercial casinos, sports betting, lottery games, and daily fantasy sports, while prohibiting others like online casino games. The state has taken a measured approach to gambling expansion over the past two decades, with each major addition requiring voter approval through ballot referendums.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) serves as the primary regulatory body overseeing all legal gambling operations in the state. This agency handles licensing for casinos, sports betting operators, and lottery retailers while enforcing compliance with state gambling statutes. You can verify any operator's license status directly through the agency's official website at https://www.mdgaming.com/.

Maryland gambling laws 2026 reflect a state that's still evolving its gambling landscape. While sports betting has fully matured since launching in late 2021 and 2022, legislators continue debating whether to authorize online casino games — a revenue source neighboring states have already tapped into.

Legal Gambling Age in Maryland: Know Before You Play

The legal gambling age depends entirely on what type of gambling you're participating in.

21 and older required for:

• All casino gambling (slots, table games)
• Sports betting (retail and online)
• Poker rooms at casinos

18 and older required for:

• Maryland Lottery games (scratch-offs, draw games, Keno)
• Daily fantasy sports (DraftKings, FanDuel contests)
• Charitable gaming events (bingo, raffles)

Casinos actively enforce age requirements with ID checks at entrances. Attempting to gamble underage can result in being banned from the property and potential criminal charges. The age split exists because lottery games have historically been treated differently than casino-style gambling under Maryland law.

Casino Gambling in Maryland: Six Licensed Properties

Maryland is home to six commercial casinos, all operating under licenses issued by the MLGCA. There are no tribal casinos in the state.

Maryland voters approved casino gambling through a 2008 ballot referendum, and the first casino opened in 2010. A subsequent 2012 referendum authorized table games, which had initially been excluded. The six casinos now offer full gaming floors with slot machines, table games, and poker rooms.

Maryland's Licensed Casinos

1. MGM National Harbor — Prince George's County

The state's largest casino, opened in 2016, featuring over 3,300 slot machines and 170+ table games. Located just outside Washington, D.C.

2. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland — Anne Arundel County

Formerly Maryland Live!, this Hanover property is the second-largest with approximately 4,000 slots and 200 table games. Operates a poker room.

3. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore — Baltimore City

Opened in 2014 with roughly 2,200 slots and 150 table games. Features one of the state's largest poker rooms.

4. Hollywood Casino Perryville — Cecil County

The first casino to open in Maryland (2010), located near the Delaware border. Smaller property with around 850 slots and 20 table games.

5. Ocean Downs Casino — Worcester County

Combined casino and horse racing track near Ocean City. Offers approximately 900 slots and table games.

6. Rocky Gap Casino Resort — Allegany County

Western Maryland property combining a casino with a golf resort. Features about 650 slots and table games.

All six casinos contribute significant tax revenue to Maryland's Education Trust Fund, which was the primary selling point when voters approved casino gambling. According to MLGCA data, casino gaming revenue has generated billions for state education funding since operations began.

Maryland Sports Betting: Retail and Online Options

Sports betting is fully legal in Maryland for anyone 21 or older, with both retail sportsbooks and mobile betting apps available statewide.

Retail sportsbooks launched in December 2021, initially limited to the state's casinos and professional sports stadiums. Mobile sports betting went live in November 2022, significantly expanding access for Maryland bettors.

The legal framework came from legislation passed in 2020 after voters approved a sports betting referendum on the November ballot. The Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC), operating under MLGCA, oversees licensing and regulation.

Where You Can Bet on Sports

Online/Mobile Apps (21+):

Multiple licensed operators offer mobile betting throughout Maryland. You must be physically located within state borders to place a bet, verified through geolocation technology. Licensed mobile operators include major national brands that have received approval from SWARC.

Retail Locations:

• All six Maryland casinos
• Professional sports venues (FedEx Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium)
• Select licensed facilities

What You Can Bet On

Maryland permits wagering on:

• Professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.)
• College sports (with restrictions on Maryland schools for certain prop bets)
• International sporting events
• Olympic events

Prohibited wagers include:

• High school sports
• Esports events involving minors
• Certain proposition bets on college athletes (injury-related, individual performance for in-state schools)

Online Casino Gambling: Still Not Legal in Maryland

Online casino games — slots, blackjack, roulette, and other traditional casino games played via websites or apps — remain illegal in Maryland as of 2026.

This is a crucial distinction that confuses many people. While you can legally bet on sports through apps like FanDuel or DraftKings in Maryland, you cannot legally play online slots or table games through these same platforms. The sports betting authorization did not extend to casino-style games.

Neighboring states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey have all legalized online casinos, creating a situation where Maryland residents may be tempted to use offshore sites. This is both illegal and risky, as we'll discuss later in this guide.

Legislative Efforts

Bills to legalize online casino gambling have been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly in recent sessions. Proponents argue it would generate significant tax revenue and allow the state to compete with neighbors. Opponents cite concerns about gambling addiction and the difficulty of enforcing responsible gaming measures online.

As of early 2026, no online casino legislation has passed, though the issue remains under active discussion. Any legalization would likely require another voter referendum, consistent with how Maryland has approached previous gambling expansion.

Poker Laws in Maryland

Poker exists in a legal gray area depending on how and where you play it.

Legal poker options:

• Casino poker rooms — Several Maryland casinos offer live poker, including dedicated tournament series and cash games. Horseshoe Baltimore and Live! Casino are known for their active poker rooms.
• Charity poker tournaments — Permitted under Maryland's charitable gaming laws when properly licensed and operated by qualifying organizations.

Illegal or unregulated poker:

• Home games for profit — While casual home games among friends in a social setting occupy a gray area, games where a host takes a rake (percentage of pots) are illegal.
• Online poker — No licensed options exist. Playing on offshore sites is illegal.
• Underground poker rooms — Unlicensed card rooms operating outside the law are illegal and periodically raided by law enforcement.

If you want to play poker legally in Maryland, your clearest path is visiting one of the licensed casinos with poker rooms.

Maryland Lottery: The Longest-Running Legal Option

The Maryland Lottery has operated since 1973, making it one of the oldest continuously running state lotteries in the country.

Minimum age: 18 for all lottery products.

Available Games

Draw Games:

• Powerball (multi-state)
• Mega Millions (multi-state)
• Multi-Match
• Bonus Match 5
• Pick 3 and Pick 4 (daily)
• Pick 5
• Cash4Life

Scratch-Offs:

Hundreds of instant games at various price points, from $1 to $50 tickets.

Keno:

Drawings every 4 minutes at participating retailers. Popular in bars, restaurants, and convenience stores.

Racetrax:

Virtual horse racing available at lottery retailers.

Lottery proceeds benefit the state's General Fund, supporting education, public health, and safety programs. Information about specific allocations is available through the Maryland Lottery website at https://www.mdlottery.com/.

You can purchase lottery tickets at thousands of licensed retailers statewide. Maryland also offers online lottery purchases for select draw games through the official Maryland Lottery app — this is different from illegal online casino gambling because it's operated directly by the state.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Legal and Regulated

Daily fantasy sports are legal in Maryland for participants 18 and older.

DFS platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel (for their fantasy contests, not sports betting, which requires 21+) operate legally under regulations established in 2017. Players can participate in contests where they draft teams and compete based on real-world player performance.

Maryland law distinguishes DFS from gambling because outcomes are determined by skill in selecting players, though this distinction remains debated nationally. The key point for Maryland players: participating in DFS contests through licensed platforms is legal.

Charitable and Social Gambling

Maryland permits several forms of charitable gambling when operated by qualifying nonprofit organizations with proper licenses:

Legal charitable gaming includes:

• Bingo
• Raffles
• Casino nights ("Las Vegas nights")
• Paddle wheels and tip jars
• Charity poker tournaments

Organizations must obtain permits from local jurisdictions and follow strict rules about prize limits and how proceeds are used. Information about charitable gaming permits can be found through individual county regulations.

Social gambling among friends in private settings — poker night at someone's home, for example — generally exists in a gray area. Maryland law prohibits professional gambling operations, but enforcement against truly social games among acquaintances is rare. However, the moment someone profits from running the game (taking a rake), it crosses into illegal territory.

Offshore Gambling: Illegal and Risky

Using offshore gambling websites that aren't licensed in Maryland is illegal, regardless of how easy they are to access.

We need to be direct about this: you will find dozens of offshore casino and poker sites that accept Maryland players. They advertise freely and make it simple to deposit money. None of this makes them legal.

Legal Risks

Maryland law prohibits unauthorized gambling. While prosecutions of individual players are rare compared to operators, you have no legal recourse if something goes wrong.

Practical Risks

Offshore sites operate outside U.S. jurisdiction, meaning:

• No guaranteed payouts — If a site refuses to pay your winnings, you have no regulator to complain to and no court that will help you.
• No game fairness verification — Licensed casinos use audited random number generators. Offshore sites might, or might not.
• No data protection standards — Your personal and financial information is only as secure as the operator chooses to make it.
• No responsible gambling tools — Self-exclusion programs and deposit limits may not be available or honored.

Our Advice

If a gambling site accepts you but isn't licensed by the MLGCA for the type of gambling being offered, don't use it. The convenience isn't worth the risk. For casino games specifically, Maryland simply doesn't have a legal online option right now — that's frustrating, but using offshore sites isn't a safe workaround.

Recent Changes and What's Ahead for Maryland Gambling

Maryland's gambling landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years, with more potential changes on the horizon.

Recent Developments (2021-2025)

2021: Retail sports betting launched at the state's casinos and stadiums in December, following the 2020 referendum approval.

2022: Mobile sports betting went live in November, dramatically expanding access. The delayed launch (nearly a year after retail) resulted from the state's deliberate licensing process, which emphasized diversity among operator ownership.

2023-2025: The sports betting market matured, with the MLGCA reporting growing handle (total amount wagered) and tax revenue. Discussions about online casino legalization continued without passage.

Potential Future Changes

Online casino legalization remains the most significant potential expansion. Revenue projections suggest Maryland could generate substantial tax income from iGaming, and pressure from neighboring states' success may eventually push legislators to act.

Additional sports betting licenses may be issued as the market develops, potentially including more retail locations.

iLottery expansion could allow more lottery products to be purchased online, following trends in other states.

For the most current information on Maryland gambling regulations and any recent legal changes, visit the MLGCA website at https://www.mdgaming.com/.

How to Verify if an Operator is Legal

Protecting yourself starts with confirming that any gambling operator you use is properly licensed.

For casinos: All six Maryland casinos are well-established, licensed properties. You can verify their status through the MLGCA website.

For sports betting: The MLGCA maintains a list of licensed sports wagering operators, both retail and mobile. Before downloading any sports betting app or visiting any sportsbook, confirm it appears on the official licensed operator list at https://www.mdgaming.com/sports-wagering/.

For lottery: Only purchase lottery products from licensed retailers or through the official Maryland Lottery platforms. Third-party websites claiming to sell lottery tickets are not authorized.

Red flags for illegal operators:

• Site is based outside the United States
• No Maryland license information displayed
• Offers casino games online (not currently legal)
• Accepts cryptocurrency only
• No responsible gambling resources
• Too-good-to-be-true bonuses with unclear terms

Responsible Gambling Resources

Gambling should be entertainment, not a financial strategy. Maryland offers resources for anyone concerned about their gambling habits.

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling:

Provides free, confidential support including a 24/7 helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER. More information available at https://www.mdproblemgambling.com/ (note: this links to state-sponsored resources through the health department).

Self-Exclusion Program:

Maryland offers a voluntary self-exclusion program allowing individuals to ban themselves from casinos and sports betting platforms. Once enrolled, you're prohibited from gambling at Maryland casinos and will be removed from marketing lists. Enrollment is handled through the MLGCA.

Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem:

• Betting more than you can afford to lose
• Chasing losses with bigger bets
• Lying about gambling to friends or family
• Borrowing money to gamble
• Neglecting responsibilities due to gambling
• Feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling

Help is available without judgment. If any of these apply to you, reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.