Maryland Internet Gambling Laws

Maryland gambling laws are strict for activities that are not specifically legal. Possession of gambling devices is illegal for residents. This also applies to vessels that may go out into international waters. Charities must register with local authorities. Online gambling Like many states, Maryland does not have a strict law for or against playing games of chance online. However, the state is rather restrictive when it comes to funding those games. Many banks and other financial institutions are closely monitored for any kind of interactions with gambling websites or operators. Online Poker and Maryland Gambling Law. Poker is not mentioned in any substantive way in Maryland gambling law. In fact, the term “poker” on appears once in the code in Md. CRIMINAL LAW Code Ann. § 12-101 as an incidental element of a definition: “(h) Token. Maryland online gambling, though, has been on the back burner. The DFS approval was in 2017, but that’s the temporary end to any state regulation for gambling online in MD. That doesn’t mean residents are out of luck with real money online gambling, though, as there’s a shortlist of reputable Maryland gambling sites that welcome residents.

Maryland can be considered a regional gambling hotspot, especially when it comes to horse racing and tournament poker.

The first races at the Pimlico Race Course were held in the 1740s, and the industry was allowed to operate with no dedicated regulations until 1870. Charitable bingo was legalized in 1952, and in 1973 Maryland residents voted in favor of establishing a state lottery.

Atlantic City-style brick and mortar casinos were approved in 2008, following a statewide referendum. Six venues were built between 2010 and 2016.

Maryland Gambling Law Summary

Maryland defines gambling as “wagering or betting in any manner to receive something of value dependent upon the result of any race, contest, or contingency.” This definition is broad enough to cover internet games. Even worse, the description of a gambling device is also extensive and may arguably be applied to any computer or mobile device used to play real money games over the internet.

At one time, the punishment for engaging in illegal gambling as a player was quite severe, as getting convicted on the associated misdemeanor charge carried a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and a hefty fine. In April 2019, Maryland lawmakers updated the regulations – under the new rules, anyone caught placing an unlawful bet could be subjected to a $500-$1,000 citation, depending on the amount of money on the line.

Most gambling-related matters are covered by the Maryland Code, Criminal Law, Title 12, Subtitle 1, Section 1-102 et seq. and Maryland Business Regulations, Title 11, Subtitle 1, Section 11-101 et seq.; Business Regulations, Title 10, Subtitle 5, Section 10-502. The minimum gambling age is 18 for bingo, lottery games, and pari-mutuel betting and 21 for casino-style games.

Online Gambling in Maryland

Section 12 of the Maryland code states that betting, wagering or gambling without a license is illegal within the borders of the state. Unlike the other states, Maryland doesn’t have separate punishments for players and operators. However, the local regulations don’t refer specifically to online gambling and the state has never tried going after people who engage in real money gaming on offshore sites. Since most of those sites accept Maryland residents, many people believe that online play isn’t prohibited by the current regulations. Nevertheless, if you have any doubts about signing up for a specific site, we recommend contacting a local lawyer first as the penalties for breaking the law are rather harsh.

Maryland Casinos

Maryland casinos operate under the oversight of the Maryland Lottery. The venues are located in Hanover (Maryland Live!), Oxon Hill (MGM National Harbor), Baltimore (Horseshoe Casino Baltimore), Perryville (Hollywood Casino Perryville), Berlin (Ocean Downs), and Flintstone (Rocky Gap Casino Resort). All Maryland casinos are allowed to offer slots and traditional table games, such as roulette and blackjack. Also, charity organizations in select counties are permitted to host casino nights and card game nights.

Online gambling is illegal in Maryland, but local businesses are allowed to operate social gaming sites. One example of such a site is Live! Social Casino, which is operated by Maryland Live! and which allows local gambling enthusiasts to play free slots, table games, and tournaments. Just like MyVegas, Live! has a special loyalty program for its most dedicated players.

Maryland Poker

Four out of six Maryland casinos operate their own poker rooms. These casinos are Maryland Live! (52 tables), MGM National Harbor (39 tables), Horseshoe Casino Baltimore (25 tables), and Hollywood Casino Perryville (8 tables). Most of the action revolves around No-Limit Hold ’em, but there is a lot of variety when it comes to tournament play. Also, Maryland Live! is an annual stop on the World Poker Tour. The Old Line State does not have a regulated internet poker market. Playing on offshore sites is illegal. Home poker games were legalized in 2016.

Maryland Sports Betting

Maryland is an important thoroughbred horse racing hotspot and is home to one of the most famous racetracks in the country, the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Baltimore facility operates its own racebook, as do three other Maryland racetracks: the Rosecroft Raceway (Fort Washington), Laurel Park (Laurel), and the Timonium Race Track (Lutherville-Timonium). Off-track betting is available exclusively over the internet via TwinSpires and XpressBet. Greyhound races are illegal.

Maryland lawmakers are currently working on a sports betting bill, which was introduced by Del. Jason Buckel and Del. Kevin Hornberger. The new legislation would authorize Maryland Lottery to conduct sports betting via horse racing licensees and VLT operators. However, legal experts have indicated that the issue might need to appear on the ballot for a referendum vote before it could take effect.

Maryland Daily Fantasy Sports

Maryland was the first state to regulate paid DFS contests. The relevant bill was passed in 2012, but it took five years for the State Comptroller to implement clear regulations. As it stands, DFS operators are authorized to offer their services to Maryland residents with no registration or individual licensing fees. However, they are required to enforce a maximum deposit limit of $1,000 and are not allowed to offer any college sports contests.

In February 2016, Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. introduced a bill designed to ban all paid-entry DFS companies from the state, but his proposal was never put to a vote.

Maryland Lotteries

Maryland Lottery offers interstate draw games, such as Pick 3/Pick 4, as well as multi-state games, such as Mega Millions and Powerball. The lottery also offers keno and scratchers, as well as Racetrax, which can best be described as simulated horse racing with a keno-like payout structure. Lottery tickets cannot be purchased online, but with 4,400 retailers located across the entire state, all Maryland residents can enjoy easy access to Maryland Lottery’s products and services.

Maryland Bingo

The largest live bingo halls are located in Baltimore (Bingo World), Mechanicsville (ADF Bingo) Boring (The Mason Dixon Bingo Hall), Owings (Optimists Club Bingo), and Solomons (Island Bingo). In addition, residents of Anne Arundel and Calvert can play bingo using electronic instant bingo machines.

Regulated online bingo is not available in Maryland. Playing on offshore sites is illegal even under the new regulations.

Maryland Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in Maryland?

Maryland has commercial casinos, pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and a state-controlled lottery. The local gambling industry is currently undergoing a rather rapid expansion, which started in November 2012 with a vote on less restrictive gambling laws and which resulted in the launch of Caesar’s Entertainment’s Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in 2014. The state of Maryland hasn’t regulated online gambling yet, but many experts believe that the state is planning to launch its own iGaming market over the next few years.

What laws cover online gambling in Maryland?

Land-based gambling is covered extensively in Section 12 of the Maryland code. Online gambling, on the other hand, isn’t really regulated, so most people believe that there’s nothing to stop Maryland residents from enjoying their hobby on one of the quality offshore sites. However, we recommend seeking professional legal advice if you have any doubts about joining a specific site.

Is real money online gambling legal in Maryland?

The Maryland law doesn’t list online gambling as an offense. Consequently, some industry experts claim that playing online is both legal and safe. Nevertheless, if you have any doubts about joining a specific site, you should consider consulting a lawyer first just to stay on the safe side.

Which offshore gambling sites accept Maryland residents?

Many high-traffic offshore sites have absolutely no qualms about accepting Maryland residents, but there are some exceptions to this rule. Generally speaking, if you live in Maryland, you should be able to access some of the best casino, poker, and sports betting offers available on the web by joining one of the Bovada sites.

What are the most popular banking options supported by Maryland -facing sites?

Offshore sites don’t support all that many banking options, so most people decide to stick with basic credit card or debit card payments for deposits and wire transfer for payouts.

Does Maryland offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. If one of the sites you visit is pretending to be licensed in Maryland, you’re most probably dealing with a fraud attempt.

Maryland Internet Gambling Laws 2020

Is it likely for Maryland to regulate online gambling?

The local lawmakers are introduced in allowing Maryland-licensed iGaming sites to operate on the local market, but changing the current regulations is going to take some time.

Maryland is a unique state when it comes to the issue of online poker. As most poker players from the state know, getting online to play poker can be a challenge in Maryland. That’s not to say it’s impossible for Marylanders to play online poker, but there is definitely information you’ll want to review before playing real-money poker online.

Maryland is one of those states in the US where players do have fewer options for playing poker for real cash online. While their options may be fewer, that doesn’t equate to no options whatsoever. In fact, some of the top US-friendly poker sites welcome Maryland players – but it’s limited to a few.

We’ll discuss that information, along with a broader survey of gambling in Maryland, in our Guide to Playing Online Poker in Maryland.

Most Recent Online Poker News in Maryland

It has been quite a few years since online poker was discussed by lawmakers in Maryland.

In 2012, State House Speaker Michael Busch included online poker and casino games as a part of the special session legislative agenda. He had no detailed proposal but did want to consider online poker as part of a larger gambling expansion plan. Neighboring states were moving in that direction, and some Maryland lawmakers wanted to consider the option as well.

However, days later when the agenda became official, online gambling was not in it. Busch even downplayed the idea that it had been a serious consideration.

Since then, there have been no proposals for online poker and/or casino games.

This could change in the coming years. Neighboring Delaware has been offering online gaming for more than five years, and Pennsylvania just launched its online gambling sites in 2019. West Virginia legalized online poker and casino games and plans to launch those sites by 2021.

Casinos have grown in popular in Maryland in the past few years, with poker rooms at establishments like Maryland Live! and MGM National Harbor drawing big crowds of players. Online gaming could complement that revenue as it does in New Jersey, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers are ready to consider it.

Gambling Laws By State

Is Online Poker Legal in Maryland?

Any discussion of the legality of online poker – or any form of gambling, really – has to begin with a caveat: Don’t rely on the Internet for legal advice. Get in touch with a lawyer who has gambling-related experience in your state if you have any question of consequence.

However, if you’re just a poker player with a casual interest in the state law of Maryland as it pertains to playing poker in Maryland or gambling online, we can simplify the process. The complete Maryland state code below, and it’s suggested that you review it. To help you with what can be a dense read, here are some of the most important parts presented in laymans terms:

While most states provide a definition of gambling, Maryland instead relies on a broad prohibition of the basic act of gambling. It’s illegal to “bet, wager or gamble” (Section 12-102) in the state, with no further definitions provided for any of those terms.

Maryland doesn’t distinguish between players and those involved in the business of illegal gambling to the same degree as the average US state. Participants face far tougher penalties (at least theoretically) than they would in neighboring states.

Poker players could also run into trouble with Section 12-103, which prohibits playing a “gaming device” for anything of value. You might not think of a deck of cards and a kitchen table as gaming devices, but Maryland law is broad on this point, defining a gaming device as basically anything involved in the playing of a game that involves betting or wagering: “a gaming table, except a billiard table, at which a game of chance is played for money or any other thing or consideration of value; or(ii) a game or device at which money or any other thing or consideration of value is bet, wagered, or gambled” (Section 12-101(1)).

Finally, the possession of a “gaming device” (or a financial interest in such a device) is also a violation of the law in Maryland (Section 12-104). Again, the sweeping definition raises questions regarding exactly what players can and can’t have by the letter of the law.

Maryland gambling law does vary from county to county, so it’s important to become familiar not only with state law, but with your local law as well.

As you can see, Maryland law regarding gambling in general, and therefore poker specifically, is a complicated animal. Hopefully this starting point has gotten you closer to answers for your questions about online poker sites and the law in Maryland.

Will Maryland Regulate Online Poker?

Eventually, Maryland will regulate online poker.

With so many surrounding states already offering – or preparing to offer – online poker, it is only a matter of time before Maryland joins in. As the state takes on sports betting and other types of gambling expansion, online gaming will inevitably be a part of that someday.

In addition to pressure from neighboring states, education of Maryland’s lawmakers is also a requirement. They will have to learn how online poker and casino games can benefit the state through revenue and casinos through cross-promotion. They can learn all of that through a close examination of the New Jersey market, but it requires a desire to do so.

For now, there are online poker options for players. They are not regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, but they are fully licensed and regulated by well-respected regulatory bodies.

Until Maryland chooses to regulate their own market and license operators within it, players can access online poker through the sites we recommend.

Famous Maryland Poker Players

Anthony Gregg is a soft-spoken poker pro, often choosing to stay out of the limelight and play his best game. That plan earned nearly $12 million thus far in his poker career.

The next two players on the list of top Maryland pros both gained much of their notoriety through their performances at the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Greg Merson is perhaps the best known of the two, as he won the WSOP Main Event in 2012 for more than $8.5 million, and he did that after winning another event that summer at the WSOP, a Six-Handed NLHE event for more than $1.13 million. Unsurprisingly, he also won the WSOP Player of the year in 2012. All of it was a result of his extensive online poker history.

Steve Dannenmann is known for his runner-up finish at the 2005 WSOP Main Event. He finished second to Australian Joe Hachem that year but still won $4.25 million for second place.

Christian Harder and Phil Galfond, both Maryland natives, are most well-known for their online poker history. Both played in some of the toughest games online before Black Friday and built solid reputations as winning players. Galfond now owns his own poker site called Run It Once Poker, which is available outside of the US.

As of 2021, these were the top 10 live tournament money earners from Maryland:

1. Anthony Gregg ($12 million)
2. Gregory Merson ($11.4 million)
3. Steve Dannenmann ($4.8 million)
4. Christian Harder ($4.6 million)
5. Brock Parker ($3.8 million)
6. Dan Kelly ($3.6 million)
7. Justin Liberto ($3.6 million)
8. Rhett Butler ($3.4 million)
9. Phil Galfond ($3 million)
10. Jesse Yaginuma ($1.9 million)

Maryland Gambling Facts

Maryland is actually in the midst of what most would consider to be their third wave of gambling expansion. The first was in the 1800s, when several American states had rather liberal attitudes toward various forms of gambling in both private and public settings. The next was in the 1950s, when slots were briefly legalized in some Maryland counties. The final, and current, wave stretches back to 1973, when Maryland sold their first lottery ticket and continues to this day, most recently with the vote to once again expand gambling in November 2012.

Maryland Internet Gambling Lawsuit

Regulated Gambling Options in Maryland

All of the big five regulated gambling options are available in Maryland except for one – tribal gambling. That leaves pari-mutuel wagering, casino-style gambling, the Maryland lottery and a nice selection of charitable-focused gambling on the regulated gambling menu for Marylanders. Maryland is easily in the top tier of states when it comes to quantity and depth of regulated gambling activity.

Does Maryland Offer any Regulated Online Gambling?

Not yet, but it appears as if it’s only a matter of time before you can play at a Maryland-licensed online poker room. The state is heading toward regulation, and it might be more than poker when all is said and done. However, the law takes some time to change, and until Maryland changes theirs, the status quo is that Marylanders don’t have any state-regulated online gambling options.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

Online Gambling Law

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Maryland Gambling Law 2020

Sources & Citations For This Article on Maryland Online Poker