Legal Sports Betting For Maryland Residents
When you are looking to get in on the action, it is important to understand all of the legal sports betting outlets for Maryland residents. The laws, both on the federal and state level, are constantly changing, especially after the recent appeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). We are here to help guide you in the right direction both in knowing the legality behind sports betting in Maryland as well as locations of where to play the odds.
As we progress through this overview, you will be knowledgeable about all of the basics and the future expansion of Maryland sports betting. If your questions are unanswered at the end, we will provide a few questions that have frequented our email box and even provide links to the government websites for more information. Also, be sure to write down the promotion codes that we give in the legal sportsbooks review section, so you can watch your bankroll increase in value for doing nothing more than signing up.
Can We Now Legally Bet On Sports In Maryland?
Legislators began introducing sports betting bills prior to the Supreme Court Ruling of PASPA in 2018. In 2019, legislators again attempted to expand commercial gaming to include sports wagering, to no avail. As both chambers must agree to the policies and have the governor sign off for approval, we are expecting a 2022 launch, or possibly sooner. Until then, BetOnline and SportsBetting are still two of the best online sportsbooks for Maryland residents and are safe and legal to use.
If you live in Maryland, there are no land-based sportsbooks that will let you bet on the states many college and pro sports teams. That’s the main reason you might turn to an Internet sportsbook. Thankfully, it is safe for Maryland residents to place bets at online sportsbooks, without fearing prosecution from state or federal law enforcement. Legal Maryland sports betting sites make it possible to bet on your favorite sports at offshore sportsbooks that are not in any violation of MD law.
Sports Betting Laws in Maryland
Simply put, there are no sports betting laws in Maryland. The federal law certainly applies to citizens of this state, but the Department of Justice is not interested in arresting individual bettors, only those operators who illegally operate Web-based sports betting pages on US soil. There are some federal laws to take note of (which we will discuss further down) but there are no state laws that even mention sports betting in the state’s code.
There have never been any arrests in the Chesapeake State for gambling at online sportsbooks. No one has ever been prosecuted by the state or federal government for betting at an offshore sports betting site within the state borders of Maryland. Save money on gas, trains, or hotel room fees traveling to places like Atlantic City or Delaware and place bets on your favorite sporting events online instead.
BetOnline is another popular online offshore sportsbook that offers an easy way to bet on sports. Sports fans in California will enjoy the variety of wagering types to choose from on the site such as points spread, money lines, futures, and prop bets that take the betting experience to another level. With prop bets, bettors can place wagers on things like “what will be the first score of the game?” or “how many field goals will be kicked?”.
A secure sportsbook that is available in California and provides a legal platform for bettors to place wagers on sports is SportsBetting. As a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, betting on SportsBetting can be a lot of fun by betting on live games and placing bets like “Will this game go to extra innings?” or “Will the third batter of this inning strikeout?” while watching the game in real-time. There are also parlay bets that allow you to bet on multiple games and bet lines.
MyBookie is another online offshore sports betting site for sports bettors in the state. The sportsbook provides odds on various teams and players of professional sports around the world. MyBookie offers a mobile version of the sportsbook that allows you to go out to eat or even to the game and still be able to place bets and make deposits on your phone. Players commonly deposit funds into their accounts by using e-checks, debit or credit cards, or cryptocurrencies.
Xbet is available for bettors in California when betting on the Golden State Warriors or any other teams. There are many NBA bet lines that cover the draft, regular season, and the playoffs. On top of that, the sportsbook also has international sports, NCAA football and basketball, entertainment, political, and horse racing odds on the site for you to enjoy. You can also place wagers on this wide range of events and games using a mobile device or tablet.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was a federal law that made land-based sports betting establishments illegal in much of the USA. The only exceptions were states that already had legal sportsbooks and sports lotteries, which were Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. On May 14th, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional in Murphy vs. NCAA after finding that the federal ban violated the Tenth Amendment. Now states like Maryland have the ability to set their own legality and standards when it comes to sports betting outlets in Maryland.
How Did the UIGEA Impact Sports Betting?
The UIGEA, which stands for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, is a federal banking restriction that payment processors and certain financial institutions must follow. If a bank or other business uses a credit card, check, wire transfers, ACH, or money transmittal payment systems, they must have measures in place to restrict online gambling transactions. The law is not specific to online sportsbooks, and it only applies to US financial entities. As a casual bettor, the UIGEA may cause your bank to initially decline your credit deposits but this is easily remedied by sportsbook cashiers. The legal Maryland sports betting sites that we recommend offer several different payment options for MD residents.
How Does The Wire Act Affect Me?
The Wire Act is the last sports wagering federal law to know but it holds very little importance. This law states that no sportsbook may accept a wager that has traveled across state lines by the use of telephone, internet, telegram, or any other form on communication. This is the reason why you cannot call a Rhode Island or Delaware sportsbook to play the odds, but must be physically located in the state. When Maryland enacts sports betting laws, you will only be able to play when you are within state lines. However, offshore betting sites do not have this location restriction.
The legal betting age in Maryland is age 21 or older. While there are plenty of legal Maryland sports betting sites that will accept younger players, this is because the sportsbooks also take players from states that have various gambling age requirements. Always abide by the MD sports betting age to avoid getting into any trouble. Having your account suspended is not worth it when you can have complete sports betting freedom once you are 21 years old.
The legal mobile sports betting apps for MD residents have all of the features that sports fans need. You can make a quick deposit, request your winnings, and bet on your favorite teams with a few swipes. All of the legal Maryland sports betting sites that we suggest on the page have excellent mobile apps. There is no download required, you only need to visit the online sportsbook from your smartphone or tablet. Some of the supported devices include iPhones, iPads, Windows Surface tablets, Androids, and BlackBerrys. You can take your online sportsbook on the go and still get the same exciting betting action from your mobile device. Some of the best mobile sports betting apps for MD sports bettors include BetOnline and SportsBetting.
Making a deposit is not as intimidating as it may sound. Legal Maryland sports betting sites have several different methods to meet the needs of every type of bettor. You can use your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express at most online sportsbooks, however, there is a small risk of the transaction getting declined the first go around. The minimum and maximum limits are typically lower than most methods, but it is still a good option for recreational bettors.
Bank wire transfers are an excellent option for high roller sports bettors. You can transfer cash directly from your personal bank account to the online sportsbook cashier within 1-5 business days. The minimum deposit amount will start at around $1,000, while there is no limit to the amount that you can transfer. Verify all fees with your bank and the online sportsbook cashier beforehand.
Bitcoin is the most reliable banking method for Maryland sports bettors. Bitcoin is a digital currency that works extremely fast and has no chance of getting declined. As soon as you transfer funds from your bitcoin wallet, the online sportsbook will credit the money to your account. There are no additional fees for using bitcoin, and the maximum deposit amount is usually higher than credit cards.
Legal Maryland Withdrawal Methods
There are just as many legal withdrawal options at online sportsbooks as there are deposit methods. High rollers can use bank wires for their withdrawals, with the entire process taking a week on average. The limit is typically capped at around $24,900 and you will still need to verify banking fees.
Bitcoin is the fastest way to receive your winnings, with earnings being delivered to your wallet within 48 hours or less. It is the only method that never has any withdrawal fees attached, aside from transferring funds between participating sportsbooks. Other common withdrawal methods include checks, MoneyGram, and Western Union.
How Do I Know a Sportsbook Accepts Bets from Maryland Residents?
Most online sportsbooks will accept bets from Maryland residents, however, this is ultimately up to the individual site. You can verify that Maryland bettors are accepted by visiting the Terms & Conditions page of the sports betting site. One of the only sites do not currently accept MD sports bettors: Bovada.
How Should Maryland Citizens Pick A Legal Sports Betting Site?
There are several different factors that should go into picking an internet sportsbook. First, you will want to make sure that there is a wide selection of sports. You should also consider what bonuses are offered for joining, along with what promotions will be available down the road. The best legal Maryland sports betting sites will have year-round rewards to increase your bankroll. Banking is one of the most important considerations, and it should be just as easy to get money out of your account as it is into it. All sportsbooks should have several reliable banking options, and you can read more about these in our legal online sportsbook reviews. And just remember the basics: the sportsbook must be located out of the country and be licensed by their home country.
What Is Live Betting?
Live betting is the most interactive way to bet on your favorite sporting events. When you visit the live betting section of an online sportsbook accepting Maryland players, the odds will change with every play of the game. You can bet on adjusted totals, moneylines, and prop bets throughout the entire game. Live betting odds give you more opportunities to win and are also more entertaining. All you need is a solid internet connection and you can start wagering on the biggest football, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, and tennis games. Be quick with your wagers, though, as the odds rapidly change.
There is no question that the most popular teams to bet on in Maryland are the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles. But, let's not forget about the great collegiate teams in Maryland either! Betting on your alma mater is always fun for obvious reasons, and Terrapins grads definitely want to bet on their beloved Terps... thanks to legal MD betting sites like those listed on this page they will be able to find lines for football, basketball, baseball and all the major sports teams hosted by the university. Heck, even Johns Hopkins alumni will even be able to find action on the lacrosse team!
Pro Teams:
- Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
- Baltimore Orioles (MLB)
- Washington Redskins (NFL)
- Washington Nationals (MLB)
- Washington Wizards (NBA)
- Washington Capitals (NHL)
- D.C. United (MLS)
Major College Teams::
- University of Maryland Terrapins
- Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays
- United States Naval Academy Midshipmen