Maryland Online Sports Betting Guide – Is Sports Betting Legal in Maryland? Best MD Sportsbooks

Maryland online sports betting is on the brink of being formally launched after sports wagering was signed into law. Horse racing and daily fantasy sports are widely recognized, but where are the best Maryland sports betting sites to play at?

Our comprehensive guide will have all the answers, as we will reveal our top 5 favorite sportsbooks in 2021. We will also provide a series of mini reviews for each of the bookies, and later on, answer some all-important FAQs.

Best Maryland Sportsbooks Ranked

Best Maryland Online Sports Betting Sites List 2021

Significant steps are being taken to officially legalize sports betting in Maryland. In the meantime, there is a great alternative in the form of offshore sportsbooks. So, let’s check out the 5 sites that made the cut in our list below:

1. BetOnline – Overall Best Maryland Sports Betting Site for 2021
2. MyBookie – Best Sports Betting App Maryland
3. Bovada – Top Maryland Sportsbooks for Futures Betting
4. BetUS – Excellent Sportsbook for Big Promotions
5. XBet – New Maryland Sports Betting Site

Best Maryland Sportsbooks Reviewed

Now, you know what our top 5 recommendations for Maryland online sports betting sites are, let’s dissect them in further detail:

1. BetOnline – Overall Best Maryland Sports Betting Site for 2021

When in comes to sports betting in Maryland, you want to ensure that you can bet in confidence at a safe and secure site and BetOnline certainly delivers on that. It is one of the most reputable sportsbooks in the industry. You can wager across a variety of different of sports, from all major mainstream sports as well as a good selection of Esports such as League of Legends, Call of Duty and CS:GO – all with great odds!

BetOnline has recently had a complete overhaul and now has an attractive and user-friendly interface, creating an exciting sports betting experience. You can also take advantage of their $1000 welcome bonus for all new users using the BetOnline promo code! There is also an array of other great promos on offer including crypto, casino and poker bonuses, as well as various reload offers – so you get rewarded each time you bet!

Pros:

• Big welcome bonus
• Lots of sports markets and great odds
• Fantastic user experience
• Secure and safe sportsbook

Cons:

• More limited prop bets options compared to others

2. MyBookie – Best Sports Betting App Maryland

MyBookie is another site popular for sports betting in Maryland. This sportsbook has an innovative and impressive mobile betting app platform and is one of the best betting apps in the industry. MyBookie covers a multitude of sports markets and features a useful ‘Top Bets’ section, giving bettors helpful tips and insights on what to place your wager on. There is a huge range of sports markets available, from baseball, basketball NFL, MLB, MMA, golf, motorsports and cycling.

This top Maryland online sports betting site also offers a sizeable welcome offer – 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000! It’s also worth nothing that there is a generous Bitcoin promotion with a bonus of up to $1000 if you deposit using the cryptocurrency.

Pros:

• Great betting mobile app user experience
• Many sportsbook promotions
• Top bets feature
• Cryptocurrency payments accepted

Cons:

• Low coverage of Esports

3. Bovada -Top Maryland Sportsbook for Futures Betting

Bovada is our favourite Maryland sports betting site for futures betting, it offers NBA futures, and popular college sports futures. We also really like the functionality of their prop builder, with endless props and wager options to make your bets exciting, you can add to your virtual betting slip with confidence and ease. You can also stream most matches live in HD quality and place live bets, so you never miss an opportunity to cash in!

This sportsbook also offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1000 for new bettors, when you use the Bovada promo code, BVD1000. Bovada is also known as one of the best bitcoin sports betting sites, their bitcoin promos are unmatched with a massive 75% deposit match up to $750 if you deposit using Bitcoin!

Pros:

• Best bookie for futures betting
• HD live streaming
• Generous Bitcoin promotion
• Huge $1000 welcome bonus

Cons:

• No e-wallet payment option

4. BetUS – Excellent Sportsbook for Big Promotions

BetUS is one of the biggest and most established sportsbooks in the industry and boasts over 1 million users. The sports betting site covers all major US professional and college sports, plus many others such as rugby, soccer,  horse racing, golf as well as Esports. We also like that they have a 24/7 customer support service with an accessible live chat function.

BetUS comes out on top when it comes to the biggest bonus offerings. This Maryland online sports betting site offers an enormous deal for new users worth an immense £3,125! You can claim it using the BetUS promo code JOIN125. This welcome promo includes a  combined 100% sportsbook bonus as well as a 25% casino bonus, so you can enjoy placing your bets across their variety of sports markets and casino games. They also have mammoth reload, crypto and referral bonuses on offer, these are couple with speedy payouts!

Pros:

• Biggest promotions on offer
• Well established sportsbook
• Quick payouts

Cons:

• More limited payment options

5. XBet – New Maryland Online Sports Betting Site

The final sportsbook to make our top 5 is XBet, this is a new and impressive site for sports betting in Maryland. Whilst we know that the $500 welcome offer bonus is smaller in comparison to others, there are some great promos on offer. If you are a horse racing fan, you can get up to 7% cash back, paid daily when you wager on any qualifying tracks, as well as unlimited referral bonuses each time you refer a friend.

XBet stands out for its vast coverage of international sports and college football, it also has the best and most favourable odds overall.

XBet accepts a wide range of crypto payments from Bitcoin, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, but you can deposit using the more traditional credit and debit methods.

Pros:

• Wide coverage of international events
• Favourable odds
• Good horse racing promo
• Accepts a range of crypto payments

Cons:

• Smaller welcome bonus

Maryland Betting Sites Comparison

We have lifted the lid on the best Maryland sportsbooks, but let’s now compare the type of bonuses they offer:

Is Sports Betting Legal in Maryland?

Currently, sports betting is legal in Maryland, although it is still awaiting its official launch. Voters went to the ballot last year and approved sports wagering, and although it was signed into law earlier in 2021, it hasn’t been formally rolled out yet. At this time, it seems unlikely that sports betting will be given the full red carpet treatment in time for the start of the new NFL season.

Like some of the other officially legalized sports betting states, the US government took a key role in revoking PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). In the meantime, here’s a timeline of where we are at with Maryland sports betting online:

• November 2020 – Voters approve sports wagering in Maryland after a referendum passes by a 2 to 1 margin.
• February 2021 – A bill to ensure legal sports betting in Maryland receives its first reading in the House Ways and Means Committee.
• March 2021 – The bill (HB940) passes the Maryland House by a landslide vote of 130-9.
• April 2021 – Tweaks are made to HB940, but it still passes unanimously in the upper chamber.
• May 2021 – After sports betting becomes legal in Maryland, NFL outfit the Baltimore Ravens become BetMGM’s official gaming partner.
• June 2021 – PointsBet Sportsbook secures access to the Maryland sports betting market.

Gambling Tax in Maryland

With Maryland sports betting, if you make money from sports wagering, you will have to declare this as income tax when you file a return to the IRS. State laws dictate that Maryland online sports betting sites can withhold up to 9.25% of winnings made from gambling up to $5,000, and this rises to 7.5% for non-residents.

What Sports Can You Bet On in Maryland?

Sport plays a big role in Maryland, and all the best Maryland sportsbooks will be replete with a gamut of options, so you will be able to bet on your favorite teams around the clock.

NFL betting holds sway, especially as the Baltimore Ravens have a big following, however aside from the traditional smattering of American sports, you will also be easily able to locate markets for soccer, tennis, and boxing. Maryland is quickly becoming one of the most competitive sports betting states in the US.

Horse Racing Betting in Maryland

Maryland has a robust horse racing betting industry, and the thrills and spills of the biggest races will captivate the attention of bettors. XBet is a go-to option, as it has a brilliant live stream covering all the major races to keep horse racing enthusiasts glued to their screens.

Maryland boasts a few tracks as well as off-track betting locations (OTBs) facilities to place horse racing wagers:

• G.Boone Restaurant
• Timonium Fair Ground
• Greenmount Station
• Hollywood Casino – Perryville
• Horseshoe – Baltimore
• MGM National Harbor
• Pimlico Race Course
• Riverboat on the Potomac

Daily Fantasy Sports Betting in Maryland

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has been groundbreaking, and it is moving at a fast pace in Maryland. DFS is legal in Maryland, and to play online, you must be at least 18 years old.

There are myriad DFS markets to try out, including golf, NFL, and NBA.

Esports Betting in Maryland

Esports has been given the go-ahead in Maryland, and the best Maryland sportsbooks will be stacked with all the latest tournaments.

You will be able to locate game lines and prop bets for all the latest tournaments for Call of Duty, Counter:Strike, and Dota 2.

Types of Betting Markets

As you may expect, Maryland sports betting is replete with a gamut of markets, giving bettors flexibility and freedom over their wagers, and the below are among the most ubiquitous:

Moneyline

The Moneyline is the first port of call, and a good starting point for novice bettors. This is a case of simply predicting who the winner will be. So, if the Baltimore Ravens were facing the Detroit Lions in a regular-season game, you may find the following odds:

• Baltimore Ravens -200
• Detroit Lions +110

With American odds, the favorite will be denoted with a minus sign, while a positive sign will show the underdog heading into. a particular contest.

Prop Bets

Short for propositions, these types of bets revolve around individual performances. So, for example, you could bet on LeBron James to post 30 points or more in an NBA game for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Over/Under

An over/under bet relies upon trying to figure out what the total number of points in an NBA game or the total number of goals scored in a soccer match. If Chelsea were playing Watford in the Premier League, you may fancy Chelsea to win comfortably, so you may wager Over 3.5 goals. If four goals or more were scored, then your bet would be returned as a winning one.

Parlays

A parlay is a single sports wager that can involve two or more selections. This could cover various game lines, and it is an essence an accumulator. Prices will be calculated accordingly, but you will have to win all elements of the bet to yield a healthy profit.

Futures

These kinds of bets will be much longer term in their focus, and as the betting type suggests, it revolves around wagering on something occurring further down the line. So, for example, you could bet on Roger Federer to win a Grand Slam in 2022.

Specials

These are usually highly sought-after markets, which you might not be able to find elsewhere. So, this could be Jordan Spieth to make the cut for the weekend, and shoot a low score.

Bonuses at Maryland Sportsbooks

Promotions are all part of the fun of sportsbooks in Maryland, and they will come in many various guises. The top Maryland online sports betting sites will have competitive, but enticing promotions, and below are a few types you are likely to encounter:

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit bonuses are the most common type of promotions found at Maryland sports betting sites. They will normally have fair terms and conditions attached, and there will be wagering requirements that have to be fulfilled before you can withdraw money from your bet as winnings.

MyBookie, for example, provides a 100% deposit match up to $1000.

Free Bets

These are like free tokens, and as such, these are real crowd pleasers.

No Deposit Bets

These are also known as free bets, but all you have to do is sign up to a site. Fanduel, for example, offers a $50 no deposit bonus for registering an account.

Maryland Online Sports Betting – Key Bonus Terms

Sportsbooks in Maryland will usually have a swathe of terms and conditions for new bettors to contend with. It is vital to make sure you read the small print, so you aren’t in for any surprises. So, to help you navigate those pesky T&Cs, we have pinpointed a few key ones, and we will explain what they mean.

Wagering Requirements

The wagering requirement is a fundamental part of sports betting in Maryland. It refers to the number of times you will have to play through a bonus before you can collect any winnings. Usually, most sportsbooks will have a minimum of 5x rollover, but wagering requirements can go as high as 35x or 45x. To break it down further, if you had a free bet worth $10 with a 5x wagering requirement, you would have to bet $50 (5x$10) before you can retrieve any money from a free bet.

Time Limits

For most kinds of free bets, there will be a certain timeframe for which you have to activate the offer, otherwise you will be deemed ineligible, and you will be discarded from it.

Maryland sports betting sites try to be fair in this regard, and so in many cases, you will be given 30 days to use the bonus before it runs out.

Minimum Odds

Bookies, as mentioned, will always try to be as fair as possible. With odds, if they are too favorable, then it will be too easy for the bettor to win, while making the odds too short won’t give gamblers much to play for.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Maryland Betting

If you want to bet at a site, you will want to know that you can make wagers using your preferred payment method. While some will be more traditional in offering the likes of Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, others will be more crypto focused.

Either way, the best Maryland sportsbooks will have a diverse range of options to satisfy your demands. Our table illustrates the minimum deposit amounts, and payout times:

Maryland Mobile Betting Apps

Sports betting in Maryland is quickly evolving, and to keep up, sportsbooks have had to find ways to keep their bettors engaged. The more modern gambler may prefer to play while on the move, and so they will need to have a high performing app.

Bettors want to be assured that there will be no technical glitches, and that they can still handle their account hassle-free. MyBookie and XBet will have apps that are compatible with iOS and Android devices.

Live Betting & Streaming in Maryland

Live streaming is a great way for fans to stay engaged if they can’t watch the big game at home, and the best Maryland online sports betting site will have a terrific stream that covers all the big events in HD, and doesn’t have any buffering issues.

Similarly, live betting is highly popular nowadays, and gamblers want to be able to keep tabs on their bets, and change tack accordingly depending on the action unfolding.

How to Compare Maryland Sportsbooks

The most conscientious sportsbooks will do their best to wow their customers, and at BasketballInsiders, we used the following criteria as a barometer of a site’s success:

Range of Markets

The most well-known sportsbooks will be stacked with a wide range of pre-game lines, futures, and prop bets for bettors to tackle.

Bonuses

Bonuses are a vessel to entering a sports betting site, and while they should be competitive, they should also be fair. It is hard for us to overlook BetUS and their tantalizing offers for new customers.

Payment Methods

What distinguishes some Maryland sports betting sites from others, is the payment methods they have available.

Live betting & streaming

The best Maryland sports betting sites will have a reliable live stream, so gamblers can keep on top of the action whether they are sat at home or on the move. In addition, bettors want choice with the in-play markets they come across. MyBookie is great for live streaming, while BetOnline is formidable for in-play betting.

Licensing & Security

All the best sportsbooks will be fully licensed, and regulated, and will take every effort to protect their players while online. BetUS is one of the securest sites around.

Sportsbooks at Maryland Casinos

Maryland sportsbooks are continually collaborating with casinos, and below is a list of land-based establishments that facilitate sports betting in the state:

• MGM National Harbor
• Horseshoe Casino
• Live! Casino and Hotel
• Ocean Downs Casino
• Hollywood Casino – Perryville

Conclusion

Maryland is in the final throes of waiting to officially launch its sports betting product, but the early signs are encouraging and it could quickly become a gambling haven. Bettors are spoilt for choice, and the five sports betting Maryland sites we recommended are all fantastic in their own right.

However, you don’t have to take your word. If you want to learn more, then go and check out these sites for yourself to see why we rate them so highly.

FAQs