Social Casinos

Social casinos aren’t the real thing, but you can use them to practice and prepare yourself all the same. A true social site is free to play; with no prizes or money involved. Sweeps sites might also be available and can result in prizes like gift cards.

Prediction Markets

Predicting the future, and winning money from it, doesn’t just apply to sports. With prediction markets, you’re trading on “contract events” that involve real outcomes. For example, you can predict the winner of a presidential election, or if the stock market rises above a certain level.

Horse Racing

Horse racing has a strong tradition in the United States. And on top of that, players in Maryland can bet on every major event — the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby, and more. In fact, Baltimore is where you’ll find the Pimlico Race Course, which is home to the Preakness Stakes.

Gambling Age

In Maryland, gambling and sports betting requires you to be at least 21. To play the lottery or bet on horse racing, you only have to be 18.

Gambling Tax

Maryland has a progressive tax system that applies to gambling. You’ll pay anywhere from 2% to 6.5%, depending on what you earn.

State Regulator

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) is in charge of oversight, auditing every casino/sports operator.

Racing Commission

The Maryland Racing Commission regulates all horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in the state.

Licensing Requirements

The MLGCA undergoes extensive background checks on operators applying for a license. This requires them to look at financial statements and review the ownership structure of every applicant.

Compliance Standards

Applying for a license is the first step. Operators must also participate in ongoing compliance procedures. The MLGCA regularly audits everyone, monitoring systems to ensure fairness and prevent fraud.

Enforcement & Penalties

Operators won’t just get away with a slap on the wrist when they mess up. The MLGCA has the authority to issue fines and suspend/revoke someone’s license. Serious offenses will result in operational shutdowns.

Player Protection

Protections are in place to prevent and limit harm against all players. There’s mandatory age verification, and the MLGCA enforces its own rules on advertising. For example, when marketing their products, operators can’t glorify excessive gambling.

Regulatory Evolution

The gambling landscape in Maryland will continue to evolve. Lawmakers have proposed new legislation to regulate online gambling (that involves real money) and expand sports betting. Having more options available would benefit not only the players, but also the economy.

Revenue Sharing

Operators in Maryland pay taxes on the revenue they generate. That money then goes to statewide initiatives. The funds are used for projects that involve childhood education, infrastructure, transportation, and more.

Revenue remained the same from 2024

A 0.25% increase from the previous year

Gambling has a huge imprint on the economy