Maryland's Best Online Gambling Sites For 2026

Maryland lawmakers go back and forth when it comes to online gambling. More recently, they seem to be leaning towards the possibility of legal domestic online gambling. Brick-and-mortar casino gambling is somewhat new, so the delay between land-based casinos and state-regulated online casinos is understandable.

Delegate Eric Luedtke, Co-Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight, spoke on the prospect of online gambling at some point. He addressed the demand for online gambling but pointed out that there needs to be a lot of work in terms of figuring out the legal and technical aspects of online gambling. He even hinted at possibly waiting for the federal government to impose nationwide legislation.

Yes. Maryland legislators pushed a bill forward at the end of the 2018 legislative session that would have legalized brick-and-mortar sports betting. Unfortunately, the bill never made it to the governor’s desk.  Even though domestic sports book gambling is not yet available, residents still have the option of visiting licensed online sportsbooks that accept Maryland residents. The Maryland sports betting issue will likely be tackled again during the 2019 legislative session.

The first case of legal gambling came in 1791 when lottery grants were issued to help raise funds for public works in the state. The state then banned lottery grants in 1834 and all of the existing ones were prohibited in 1860.

Maryland is a horse racing state. It is home to Preakness Stakes, one of the jewels in the coveted Triple Crown series. Pari-mutuel wagering was originally prohibited but eventually, the Maryland Horse Racing Act permitted certain forms of wagering.

The Pimlico racetrack first opened in 1870 in Baltimore. Preakness Stakes opened in 1873 and has drawn a large crowd and a high number of wagers ever since.

Maryland has always been more of a horse racing state. Outside of that, lotteries were the most mainstream form of gambling. Commercial casinos didn’t hit the scene until 2008 and table games weren’t introduced until 2012. The state recognizes gambling as a solid assistant in terms of getting revenue, but they are still somewhat green compared to other big market states.

Offshore gambling sites have financial incentives for players. For example, you can receive a bonus simply for making a deposit. These are match bonuses, which match your deposit up to a predetermined amount (50% match up to $500). Bonuses and promotional offers are often used with other various forms of online gambling.