Best Maryland Online Sportsbooks And Apps
Sports betting in Maryland has been close to being legalized several times, but as of November 2021, it has yet to find its place in the Free State. However, that shouldn't necessarily concern Maryland residents, considering how bright the future of sports betting in the state seems to be.
Admittedly, the state has been moving slower than others who legalized sports betting in 2021; however, it has done excellent work in preparing itself for that date. As revealed, we can anticipate up to 60 sports betting apps and 47 retail locations to fully mature, meaning Maryland could become one of the largest sports betting states in the United States.
Unfortunately, the current situation with the legalization only allows us to talk about what could have and should have happened, but there is a reason to feel optimistic about Maryland sports betting.
Several casinos have already acquired licenses, with more to come in the coming weeks and months. And while the whole process is relatively slow, there have been significant moves to make it happen as soon as possible.
One negative side of the slow sports betting legalization process is that it further delays mobile and online sports betting. Maryland can start working on mobile apps only after in-person sports betting becomes available, suggesting we might not see online sports betting in the state until mid-2022.
Regardless, there are many prominent providers waiting in line to start offering their online betting services. So once Maryland legalizes sports betting, you can be sure you will have plenty of mobile apps and online sports betting sites to choose from.
Best Online Maryland Sportsbooks
Until Maryland flips a switch and legalizes sports betting, we have no way of knowing how the industry will do in the state. But that doesn't necessarily concern us, nor does it change the fact that some of the biggest brands have already expressed the intention to offer their services in the state.
Even without legalizing sports betting, we know which sports betting providers will open their doors in Maryland. And from the looks of it, the selection is large and filled with some of the best sportsbooks in the business.
Here we will take a look at four of the best online sportsbooks that are set to enter Maryland and are worth taking a look at. In no particular order, here are the best online Maryland sportsbooks:
DraftKings
Licensed by MD State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, DraftKings was one of the first sportsbooks to express its intentions to launch its services in Maryland. And while it will face stiff competition from other known brands in BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel, it's hard to view DraftKings as anything less than one of the most-anticipated sportsbooks to launch in the state.
Known not only for its large sports betting market and exceptional user-friendly interface, but DraftKings is also widely considered as one of the top U.S. sportsbooks. It has been in the business since sports betting was first allowed in 2018 and has since grown a large following of both casual and professional bettors – and it's easy to see why.
Beyond the large selection of betting markets and great interface, DraftKings also offers very competitive odds, excellent promotions, and bonuses, as well as one of the top mobile sports betting apps.
The most exciting feature of this sportsbook is the daily promotions and bonuses, which award users with free bets and odds boost, but as any DraftKings user will tell you, there's more to this sportsbook than just that.
It's also worth noting that while DraftKings does not offer its sports betting app in the state yet, its DFS platform is already available in Maryland. And that is a large advantage it has over its competition as DraftKings already has a large customer base to work with once sports betting launches in Maryland.
FanDuel
If we talk about DraftKings, it's only fair to mention its main competitor, FanDuel, which like DraftKings started as a Daily Fantasy Sports provider. Another similarity between the two is that like DraftKings, FanDuel expanded its offer and moved away from DFS to start offering sports betting.
FanDuel holds a license from MD State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, partnered with Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover, and is waiting to launch its sports betting services in the state. Although it might take a while longer before FanDuel can open its doors, it's easy to see why many Maryland bettors are excited to start betting on FanDuel.
The site is known for a robust mobile betting application for both Android and iOS and is by many standards the best mobile betting app in the business. Due to its recent overhaul, FanDuel's app is lightning fast, which is an essential feature for any mobile bettor.
Beyond that, the overall betting experience on FanDuel is excellent. The site offers a wide range of betting markets, great odds, and enticing bonuses and promotions – most notably a $1000 risk-free bet for new users.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook partnered with Horseshoe Baltimore in Maryland and acquired a license from MD State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to start offering its betting service as soon as possible. It might have to wait a bit longer before it opens its doors, but once Caesars does, you can be sure that many Maryland residents will rush to open an account with the site.
Caesars Sportsbook has made a name for itself by providing extravagant promotions and bonuses for its users, the quality of which is unmatched in the industry. To put it into perspective, Caesars offered a free jersey at the official league shop at the start of the 2021 NFL season for any bettors that placed $100 or more in NFL wagers.
But it's not only the excellent bonuses and promotions that make Caesars one of the top sports betting providers in the state. But mainly, the overall quality of service.
Caesars Sportsbook is a huge name in the U.S. sports betting market, and its partnership with William Hill has made for one of the biggest partnerships in the industry.
BetMGM
No list of the top sportsbooks is complete without BetMGM, which is expected to be one of the first sportsbooks to launch its Maryland mobile betting app in the state due to its location in the National Harbor. And that's great news for all Maryland bettors.
BetMGM is a brand any sports bettor has heard about, largely because it's one of the industry's biggest and most recognizable names. And BetMGM definitely hasn't gotten its recognition for offering mediocre sports betting services.
The mobile app is well-made, user-friendly, fast, and has all the features you would expect. Beyond that, the overall betting experience on BetMGM oozes professionalism, with competitive odds, vast market coverage, and great bonuses and promotions.
Whether BetMGM is the best sportsbook that is set to launch in Maryland is completely subjective, but it is, without a doubt, one of the best sports betting providers in the United States.
Popular Sports In Maryland
Football is a prevalent sport in the United States, and Maryland is no exception, which is why Maryland sports betting officials and lawmakers are hoping to launch sports betting before February 2022, so its residents can bet on Super Bowl LVI. However, football is not the only sport that is popular in the Free State.
It's more than fair to say that betting on baseball will be a hit in Maryland since the state is the home to the three-time World Series champions, Baltimore Orioles. Besides that, Maryland has several very successful college teams competing in the NCAA, so betting on college football betting is expected to blossom as well.
Two college programs in the state of Maryland play in the FBS football – the Maryland Terrapins and Navy Midshipmen, while the University of Maryland in College Park is a part of the Big Ten Conference.
Besides housing the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens, the state's proximity to Washington D.C., which has teams competing in all four of the U.S. major leagues, suggests that Maryland will generate plenty of betting interest for NHL and NBA as well. Take a look at the teams latest Official NBA Picks for some betting inspiration.
With no data to support the claims, we can only work off speculations; however, there's no denying that sports are big in Maryland. And if the continuous push from the residents to make sports betting legal means anything, it's that Maryland just might emerge as one of the biggest sports betting states in the U.S.
Betting Options In Maryland Sportsbooks
As noted, sports betting has yet to be introduced to Maryland; however, we know which sportsbooks will enter the state when online sports betting launches. That currently includes BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Barstool Sportsbook, TwinSpires, PointsBet, FOX Bet and more.
With that, it's more than fair to say that Maryland bettors will have more than enough sports betting providers to choose from and plenty of betting options to exercise. The current list of approved sportsbooks includes most of the top sportsbooks in the state, effectively meaning that Maryland bettors won't be deprived of a quality betting experience.
All are reputable sportsbooks with a great selection of betting markets and odds, meaning you can rest assured that you won't find yourself in a position where a match you're looking to bet on isn't available. Even if that may happen, there will be alternative sportsbooks to check out and more markets to explore.
Maryland's process of legalizing sports betting might be on the slow side, but the preparation the state has made for the day when it launches is impressive. With up to 60 sports betting apps and 47 retail locations set to open their gates, betting options in the state of Maryland will be anything but scarce.
Legislation For Online Sports Betting on Maryland
Before we can start talking about online sports betting in Maryland, the state first needs to legalize sports betting. As it stands now, the state seems to be a bit off from that; however, there have been moves made in the right direction suggesting sports betting could arrive in Maryland sometime in 2022.
Maryland residents voted for sports betting in November 2020, and Gov. Larry Hogan signed enacting legislation in May 2021. With that, the state got the wheels spinning, but it has yet to make significant moves towards legalizing sports betting.
On a more positive note, many things have happened over the past year, making sports betting a real possibility in the near future.
Maryland Sports Betting Timeline in 2021:
April 12 – Both Marlyna houses pass HB 940, officially approving retail and online sports betting. The bill would allow 47 retail sportsbook licenses and up to 60 online sportsbook licenses - the highest licensing out of any jurisdiction in the United States.
May 18 – Gov. Hogan signs Maryland's support betting bill into law.
July 15 – The state approves 228 pages of Maryland sports betting regulations.
August 14 – Gov. Hogan unveils that sports betting won't launch by the start of the football season, as initially intended.
August 26 – Barstool, FanDuel, and Caesars and their land-based partners discuss plans for sports betting at an MLGCA meeting.
August 27 - Maryland sports betting regulations get published in the Maryland Register, beginning the 30-day public commenting period.
September 13 – MLGCA director John Martin announces intentions to launch sports betting In Maryland in late fall or early winter.
September 22 – PointsBet urges Maryland to launch mobile betting apps at the same time as all 17 retail sportsbooks to ensure equality between the operators when the market opens.
September 22 – Maryland regulators offered to provide an update on the licensing process on October 14.
October 4 – FanDuel opposes Maryland's limits on free promotional bets.
October 6 – Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, MGM National Harbor, and Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel qualify to receive sports betting licenses.
October 8 – MGLCA director John Martin unveils that in-person sports betting should happen in late fall, while mobile betting is still at least six months to a year away.
November 1 - Hollywood Casino Perryville and Ocean Downs Casino receive sports betting licenses.
November 3 - Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) delays the approval of sports betting license, citing legal issues and supplemental ownership information from the applicant.
With that, sports betting in Maryland is not legal just yet; however, it's not like the state isn't working on making it happen. Whether sports betting will launch by the end of 2021 is anyone's guess; however, we can be almost certain that it will become available in the state sometime in early 2022 at the latest.
What to Consider When Shopping For The Best Maryland Online Sportsbooks and Apps
Since online sports betting in Maryland is not a thing yet, it's impossible to test out the sportsbooks' services and apps and find the right sportsbook for you. However, all of the confirmed sportsbooks already operate in other states, meaning you can find plenty of reviews online, making it simple to find the right brand for you.
When looking for the right sportsbook for your needs, there are a few things to keep an eye on. Most importantly, you should pick a reputable and legal brand, as only this way you can assure a safe sports betting experience.
You wouldn't want to wake up one day to find all your money from the sports betting account is gone, and you definitely don't want to engage in sports betting on an illegal sportsbook. Beyond finding a legal sportsbook, you should consider the quality of the odds it provides and its markets.
Most top-of-the-line sportsbooks will have vast markets; however, the odds will almost certainly differ from sport to sport. That is why it's crucial for you to pick the sportsbook that has the best offer on the sport/league you're planning to bet on the most.
The least-important factors to consider, yet still important enough to keep an eye on, are promotions, bonuses, and the page layout/interface. While promotions and bonuses are a great way to get an edge and collect free prizes, they shouldn't be the main reason for you to pick one sportsbook over the other.
It may sound great to collect a $1,000 free bet, but is it really worth it if it means that you're getting worse odds?
Lastly, we have the page layout and user interface, which are primarily subjective. Obviously, you would want to pick a sportsbook that has a professional layout and an app that works fast, but the appearance is, in the end, the least important thing to consider when picking a sportsbook and mobile betting app.
Conclusion
"Almost there, but not quite yet" is the current situation with Maryland and sports betting. Since the process first started in 2020, when state voters approved betting, Maryland has come a long way, but it has yet to overcome the final hurdle.
There have been some significant moves towards legalizing sports betting throughout 2021, and some casinos have already secured licenses. Meanwhile, a handful of sportsbooks announced and confirmed its intentions to start offering their services in the state – now, all they have left to do is wait for the green light.
You may wonder when sports betting will arrive in Maryland, and quite frankly, we're wondering the same. Everything is set and ready, but the bureaucratic processes are taking way too long relative to other states.
Still, if the names that are working on legalizing sports betting are to be trusted, sports betting could arrive in Maryland before February 2022, just in time for the Super Bowl. Whether that will be the case remains to be seen, but we're much closer to the first Maryland bet being placed than how it may seem.
