Maryland Legal Online Gambling 2018
Maryland’s gambling laws have been evolving slowly since the early 70’s when the state lottery was established. The last 8 years have seen significant changes take concerning regulated gambling in the Old Line State. While most of the recent progress has been rather straightforward, the state had an on again off again relationship with slots in the late 50’s and early 60’s. As the dust settles from recent expansion, it is accurate to say that Maryland has developed a thriving gambling industry that provides a high quality range of options for enjoying responsible gambling entertainment.
This guide exists to provide Maryland residents and visitors with insight into the available options for enjoying legally sanctioned online and offline betting action. We cover the legalities concerning gambling in MD, and break down the information concerning the state’s gambling laws into easy to understand segments. We are providing this guide as informational only. We are not licensed attorneys and are not qualified to provide professional legal advice or services. We are experienced gambling professionals and are well versed on navigating the legal betting landscape in the United States. Below you will find information on specific gambling laws in Maryland, what penalties are involved for violating these laws, and how to legally access online gambling opportunities without violating state and federal laws. We also provide recommendations for accessing the best legally sanctioned online gambling sites that accept players from Maryland.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Maryland?
While Maryland has not expressly legalized state regulated online gambling, their gambling laws also do not prohibit legitimately licensed offshore gambling sites. Therefore, there are not any state or federal gambling laws that make it illegal for gamblers in Maryland to participate in legally licensed and regulated online gambling that takes place at legitimate gambling sites located outside of the US.
Online Gambling Laws In Maryland
As far as state licensed online gambling is concerned, Maryland does not offer any options for residents or visitors to the state. Governor O’Malley vetoed an effort made by the Lottery and Gaming Commission to legalize online lottery ticket purchases. State leaders have expressed a ‘watch and see what happens’ stance by the state, meaning that they want to see how other states handle initiating a regulated online gambling infrastructure and platform and how successful they are prior to taking any steps to approve or achieve this in Maryland. This leaves a glimmer of hope for MD residents hoping to see state licensed online gambling emerge in their region.
It is important to note that while MD does not offer any state regulated online gambling options yet, there are no state or federal laws which makes online gambling illegal in the state. The online gambling sites recommended in this guide are all legally licensed and subject to strict regulatory oversight. They also offer a high quality betting experience and secure protection for players and their sensitive information.
MD State Facts & Quick Jump Menu
| State Facts | Quick Jump |
|---|---|
| State Motto: Strong deeds, gentle words | Top Rated Site |
| State Population: 5.976 Million | Maryland Casinos |
| Land Casinos: 6 | Maryland Sportsbooks |
| Land Poker Rooms: 4 | Maryland Poker |
| Legal Gambling Age: 21 | Frequently Asked Questions |
| Projected Year For Legalization: 2024 | Maryland Gambling News |
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State regulated online casinos are not legal in Maryland. The DOJ has clarified states’ rights on this matter, declaring that each state can determine whether or not they want to legalize online gambling for their residents. So far, Maryland has not moved forward with this type of gambling entertainment. However, it is not illegal for Maryland residents to engage in online casino gambling at destinations that are legally licensed and regulated by offshore governing jurisdictions that have already legalized online gambling for their respective region. The online casinos we recommend in this guide fall into this category, and have been vetted by our team of analysts to ensure they are legitimately licensed, are subject to strict regulatory oversight, and possess legitimate compliance certifications for third party auditing and fair gaming practices.
From a state regulated standpoint, online sports betting is not legal. This will not change unless several federal laws are either rescinded or modified extensively, which is not likely. In the mean time, there are some legally licensed online sportsbooks that are regulated and located offshore. Because these destinations are located within a governing jurisdiction that has already legalized online sportsbook gambling, they can legally offer their betting services to players around the world, including those in Maryland. The prohibitions in force from PASPA and the Federal Wire Act do not impact those sportsbooks not operating within the United States. Therefore, residents in Maryland who engage in licensed offshore sports betting are not violating any state or federal laws.
At this time there are not any state regulated online poker sites available to players. Maryland residents can legally access licensed and regulated online poker sites located offshore. As long as the online poker room you visit is legally licensed, subject to legitimate regulatory oversight and is located outside of the United States, then playing games for real money does not violate state or federal law. Where players can get into trouble is by becoming involved with unregulated and unlicensed gambling businesses that are not operating legitimately within the industry. This is actually easier to do than you might think with savvy gambling site operators who use clever web design to mimic licensed destinations. This is one of the reasons relying on professional input is a good idea when selecting your online poker site of choice.
