Even with a smaller market, many of Maryland’s best online sportsbooks are top choices available anywhere. The website bestsoccertips.com will share a detailed list of Maryland sports betting along with analysis of each welcome offer, daily promotions, and mobile apps.
Is sports betting legal in Maryland?
Yes, sports betting in Maryland is legal. The 2020 referendum, supported by voters, legalized sports betting in Maryland. Online sports betting operators were given the green light to launch on November 23, 2022, and retail betting began on December 9, 2021.
The state legislature passed the sports betting bill in April 2021, and in May 2021, Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. (R) signed HB 940 sports betting bill into law.
Popular sports to bet on in Maryland
Maryland is home to a major city – Baltimore. Another major metropolitan area – Washington, DC – also sits just outside its southern border. This means that professional teams are present in all major US sports leagues within or near Maryland. Here is a list of popular sports and teams to bet on in Maryland:
NFL
The NFL is the most popular sports betting league in Maryland and the United States. The NFL season is the busiest time of the year for sports betting, and many states have scheduled launches to coincide with the opening kickoff. Maryland hosts two teams for their home games:
- The Baltimore Ravens’ home ground is located at 1101 Russell St. in the M&T Bank Stadium., Baltimore, MD 21230
- Washington Commanders: FedEx Field, 1600 FedEx Way, North Englewood, MD 20785.
Betting on NFL games is straightforward. With numerous pre-game and in-game betting options, you can expect to find hundreds of ways to bet on Ravens and Commanders games.
NBA
The NBA ranks second to the NFL in popularity, with a sizable fan base and better volumes of betting action. Maryland does not have any NBA teams of its own, but there are two teams nearby for Maryland fans:
- The Philadelphia 76ers play their home games at the Wells Fargo Center, located at 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19148.
- The home court for the Washington Wizards is the Capital One Arena, situated at 601 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20004.
Like NFL matchups, NBA games are not short on betting options. Fewer team members can create intriguing prop bets for individual players.
MLB
Major League Baseball holds the distinction of being the longest-standing among the major professional sports leagues in the nation. Its slower pace compared to the NFL or NBA makes live betting a popular choice. The state is home to only one team in Baltimore, but some Maryland residents may also pledge allegiance to teams in Washington, DC.
- The Baltimore Orioles play their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, located at 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
- The Washington Nationals compete at Nationals Park, located at 1500 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003.
MLB games offer numerous betting opportunities. The slower pace lends itself well to placing multiple bets throughout the game. Bettors use the run line instead of the point spread, placing this line at 1.5 runs above the standard run total. To account for differences in team abilities, sportsbooks then adjust the odds significantly more than with traditional point spread betting.
NHL
There are many fans and bettors who prefer the game on ice. Similar to Maryland’s situation with the NBA, there are no NHL teams in the state, but there are a few teams nearby:
- The Philadelphia Flyers compete at the Wells Fargo Center, situated at 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19148.
- Washington Capitals: Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20004.
Hockey games typically have lower scoring rates similar to baseball, so Maryland bettors handle puck line betting in hockey games similarly, with the puck line substituting for the run line. Apart from the name, the two bets are essentially the same.
NCAA
Colleges within the state often attract many fans and bettors. Maryland lawmakers have opted not to restrict betting on college sports, so residents in the state can bet on both in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities. While there are many schools in Maryland, the most likely betting candidates will be teams in the NCAA Division I:
- Coppin State University.
- Loyola University Maryland.
- Morgan State University.
- Mount St. Mary’s University.
- Towson University.
- United States Naval Academy.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
- University of Maryland.
- University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
Among these schools, the University of Maryland and the United States Naval Academy maintain the highest-performing athletic programs. Nevertheless, several other teams from Maryland have undoubtedly left their mark in previous years. Coppin State, Morgan State, and Mount St. Mary’s are frequent contenders in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament – also known as March Madness – and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, made an indelible mark in the tournament as the first 16th seed to defeat a number 1 seed in the first round.
Analyzing the leading betting applications available in Maryland
With numerous online sportsbooks already available or soon to be launched in Maryland, bettors have plenty of choices. While the core operations of online sports betting are largely similar on each site, different sportsbooks have various attributes that make them stand out. Below are some insights to help you decide what you might want to try:
- Best for market diversity: BetMGM. Another app with a robust market selection, BetMGM might offer the best diversity as you can find all major sports and some minor ones like surfing or tennis.
- Best for promotions: Caesars. The Caesars Sportsbook app is known for its diverse range of promotions. Both new and existing bettors can avail themselves of bonuses, boosted odds, and loyalty program benefits using their signup offers.
- Best navigation: FanDuel. Few sports betting apps are quicker, more intuitive, and easier to navigate than FanDuel, with a user experience suitable for bettors at all levels of experience.
1. Caesars Maryland
Caesars Sportsbook is the face of the entertainment company and hotel that operates casinos worldwide, including Horseshoe in Baltimore. Caesars also offers various promotions and a simple app, suitable for less experienced bettors. The Caesars Rewards program is also one of the best programs currently available. Caesars Rewards allows users to accumulate points that can be used on the app or elsewhere within the Caesars resort and casino network. The app may feature some additional interesting or unique functions.
- App Store Ratings: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android).
- Lesson Learned: Caesars is a good place for novice bettors.
- Best Feature: Enhanced bonuses and odds.
- Caesars Sportsbook Bonus: Up to $1,000 on first bet placed with Caesars.
- Retail Sportsbook: Horseshoe Casino.
2. BetMGM Maryland
BetMGM Sportsbook is the online sports betting arm of its sister property in Maryland, MGM National Harbor. However, BetMGM doesn’t just rely on its name. BetMGM is known for its “My Bet Builder” feature, offering a high level of flexibility for bettors, but this app also has a sleek and smooth design, making it appealing to both new and experienced bettors.
- App Store Ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.1 (Android).
- Lesson Learned: BetMGM offers a lot of flexibility.
- Best Feature: My Bet Builder.
- BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus: Bet $5, get $150 instantly upon placing bonus money*.
- *Bonus bet will expire after 7 days. Only for new customers. Additional terms apply.
- Retail Sportsbook: MGM National Harbor.
3. FanDuel Maryland
FanDuel Sportsbook offers one of the best betting options nationwide, and Maryland residents can now find out why. The sports betting app is one of the easiest to navigate, providing a large list of similar parlay bets and consistently competitive odds. The feature of parlay betting alongside games is a popular feature for bettors, and this app consistently receives high ratings for usability and customer service.
- App Store Ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android).
- Lesson Learned: No app is easier to use than FanDuel.
- Best Feature: Same game parlay betting.
- FanDuel Sportsbook Bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 bonus if your bet wins.
- Retail Sportsbook: Live! Casino & Hotel.
4. BetRivers Maryland
BetRivers Sportsbook is operated by Rush Street Interactive and has a retail sportsbook at Bingo World. The online betting site has a simple, user-friendly interface. This app also features lively betting markets and several noteworthy promotions, including bet insurance and profit boosts.
- App Store Ratings: 4.4 (iOS), 3.4 (Android).
- Lesson Learned: Many enticing promotions are still in effect.
- Best Feature: Parlay insurance.
- BetRivers Sportsbook Bonus: Second chance to bet up to $500.
- Retail Sportsbook: Bingo World.
5. Maryland Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics Sportsbook debuted in Maryland in August 2023 and has partnered with the NFL’s Washington Commanders. That collaboration includes a retail sportsbook location at FedEx Field, the home of the Commanders.
The app is still in the process of refinement as some users have complained about usability issues. However, while this new app addresses its glitches, there are still plenty of exciting features. FanCash, the sportsbook’s loyalty program, allows users to earn ‘cash’ rewards that they can redeem for bonus bets within the app or use for select merchandise on the Fanatics retail site. The ‘Discover’ tab is another unique feature helping users manage bets, rewards, and trending promotions for each user.
- App Store Ratings: 4.7 (iOS), 3.5 (Android).
- Lesson Learned: A new app with some intriguing features.
- Best Feature: FanCash.
Conclusion
In summary, the sports betting market in Maryland has become rich and diverse with the emergence of several top-tier betting apps. From Caesars to FanDuel and BetRivers, each app brings unique features and advantages, catering to all types of players from beginners to experienced ones. The legalization of sports betting has created a fiercely competitive environment, while also bringing many benefits to both players and businesses. With the diversity and competitiveness of the market, Maryland residents have plenty of options to engage in an exciting and engaging online sports betting experience.
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