These games are intended for use only by those 21 or older, and only for amusement purposes. No actual money or anything of value can be won playing these games. Practice or success at social casino gaming does not imply future success at real-money gambling. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 ©2016 Penn National Gaming, Inc.
The Maryland Lottery and gambling casinos in the State are overseen by the Agency (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-101 through 9-125). Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland, February 2004. Photo by Diane F. Step out of the city and onto the exhilarating casino floor at MGM National Harbor. M life Rewards Program members earn points at MGM National Harbor just as they do at all the MGM Resorts destinations across the country.
Making the top 10 in casino gross gaming revenue, Maryland residents love to gamble, especially online! But as the state covers 12,407 square miles, there’s a chance you’re not even close to any of the 15 land-based casinos in MD. The good news is, you can still get in on some real money casino action! Maryland online casinos have exploded in the market over the past two decades, offering residents and visitors the chance to try their luck and win big all from the comfort of their own homes.| Rank | Online Casino | Key Info | Bonus Info | Visit Casino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
| |||
| #2 |
| |||
| #3 |
| |||
| #4 |
| |||
| #5 |
|
What Makes These the Top Maryland Online Casino Sites?
Our list of the top Maryland online casinos was not stitched together in five minutes with a few Google searches. We have a team dedicated to finding and analyzing online casinos that service Maryland customers. It’s an extensive process, but the results are the list of the top casino sites above. In the following sections, we’ll take a short look at a few of the criteria our team is looking to find.
Excellent Marks in Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness
For the best Maryland online casino sites to make our recommended list, they need to excel in many areas. Hands down, the most important of those areas is safety, security, and trustworthiness. We stand firm on the fact that you shouldn’t have to worry about your money, your safety, or the fairness of the casino games you play online.
All of the best Maryland online casinos we recommend received high marks in these three areas.
Here are a few of the qualities we used to make those determinations:
- Proper installation of SSL certificates
- A proactive and not reactive approach to security
- Dedicated teams actively eliminating external threats
- Upgraded servers and software to meet today’s standards
- Random number generators regularly tested for fairness
The Casino Games That Maryland Players Want to Play
There’s one thing Maryland residents love more than blue crab… Just kidding! There is nothing we love more. But a close second is gambling and casino games! We’re 11th on the all-state list of yearly lottery sales and 10th in gross gaming casino revenue!
Check out the summarize snippets below:
| Lottery Ticket Sales by State (in billion U.S. dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3.05 | ||
| New York | 9.69 | ||
| California | 6.28 | ||
| Florida | 6.06 | ||
| Massachusetts | 5.22 | ||
| Texas | 5.07 | ||
| Georgia | 4.56 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 4.14 | ||
| Ohio | 3.93 | ||
| New Jersey | 3.29 | ||
| Michigan | 3.1 | ||
| Illinois | 2.86 | ||
| North Carolina | 2.38 | ||
| Virginia | 2.01 | ||
| Gross Gambling Revenue by State (in million U.S. dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1,746.36 | ||
| Nevada | 11,917.37 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 3,251.2 | ||
| New Jersey | 2,903.48 | ||
| New York | 2,587.74 | ||
| Louisiana | 2,561.46 | ||
| Indiana | 2,240.84 | ||
| Mississippi | 2,142.06 | ||
| Ohio | 1,863.94 | ||
| Missouri | 1,754.47 | ||
| Iowa | 1,467.33 | ||
| Michigan | 1,444.1 | ||
| Illinois | 1,373.46 | ||
| Colorado | 842.1 | ||
Based on our anecdotal research, we’ve found that Maryland gamblers are particularly fond of keno, roulette, blackjack, poker, and slots. When we’re creating our list of the top Maryland online casinos, we pay special attention to these games. We’re looking for casinos that offer a well-rounded series of options, but also with some special attention to these Maryland favorites.
The Highest-Quality Online Casino Experience Available
Technology has come too far in this industry for you ever to consider settling for a less than perfect online casino. In the early days, we’d cut companies slack because everything was new. Now, though, you will not see any Maryland online casino sites on our recommended list that do not excel in every way possible.
Here are some of the ways the best Maryland online casinos we recommended above shine when it comes to offering a quality product:
- The highest quality games
- An impressive selection of games to choose from
- Crips graphics and smooth animations
- Seamless gameplay
- Lots of banking options properly integrated
- Superior customer service
Are Maryland Online Casinos Legal?
When you dig into the Maryland lawbooks, you will find several sections concerning land-based casinos and riverboat casinos.
What you won’t see, though, is any mention of laws concerning online gambling. This seems like an open and shut case to us as well as many gaming attorneys.
But some legal minds feel differently. Their case says that because the lawbooks don’t say it’s legal, then it is illegal. This guilty due to omission approach does not hold water. Nowhere in the MD codes of law does it say that using a calculator is legal. Does this mean we have to revert to counting on our fingers?
While we will concede the legality of Maryland online casinos could be more transparent, we stand by our interpretation of the rulebooks. The only laws that address this issue within this jurisdiction are federal statutes. However, these laws only concern casino owners and operators. Unless you’re looking to open your own Maryland online casinos, you have nothing to worry about. All that said, you still have options if you need a more unambiguous answer.
Breaking Down the Legality of Land-Based Casinos in Maryland
Whether you’re looking for table games, slots, or poker, you’ll be pleased with what the state of Maryland allows to operate within its borders.
Here’s the landscape by the numbers:
- 15 casinos
- 11,974 slots and gaming machines
- 488 table games
- 129 live poker tables
- Live gambling offered in 11 cities across MD
According to the Maryland legal codes, gambling’s definition is the following:
“Wagering or betting in any manner to receive something of value dependent upon the result of any race, contest or contingency.”
Live casino action is alive and well in the state of Maryland. According to our understanding of the laws, there are no restrictions on casino games within the state. You are free to play what you want and when you want.
Thankfully, the best Maryland online casinos are picking up the slack.
Predictions for the Future of Maryland Online Casinos
Where does the Maryland online casino market go from here? It’s our prediction that the simple answer is up. In a state where legalized gambling is everywhere, you can expect the same trend to continue when they begin regulating and addressing online casinos.
For now, the best Maryland online casinos can operate without much regulation, which is excellent for them but not ideal for you. It’s the Wild West.
When this happens, they’ll be looking for their cut from the Maryland online casino sites but, in return, will be providing a much safer gaming landscape for you.
We can’t guarantee this will happen or that it will happen anytime soon. But based on our understanding of the market and the recent growth of online poker in the state, the only direction to move is forward. Additionally, recent attempts to fast-track sports betting legislation in Maryland leads us to believe good things are to come.
Maryland Online Casino Sites FAQ
Introduction to Maryland Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Maryland slot machine casino gambling consists of six land-based casinos with video lottery terminal (VLT) slot machines. Cruise ships traveling in international waters also offer onboard gambling options.
A minimum theoretical payout limit was been set by Maryland law. However, no actual return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Amazon Audible Gaana Stitcher Pandora iHeart Radio Tune-In SoundCloud RadioPublic Deezer RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Maryland*
The minimum legal gambling age in Maryland depends upon the gambling activity:
Gambling Casinos In Pennsylvania
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Further, the minimum gambling age is 18 for cruises shipping out of Baltimore.
In 2008, Maryland voters approved having slot machines at five locations. This constitutional amendment included a licensing and regulatory legal framework for casino operators, employees, and contractors as well as specifying where to allocate state gaming income tax revenue.
In 2012, Maryland voters further approved a gaming expansion bill allowing table games at Maryland’s casinos as well as another Maryland casino. This sixth gambling license, awarded in December 2013, resulted in MGM National Harbor’s opening 3 years later.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Maryland
It is legal to own a slot machine in Maryland privately if it is 25 years old or older.
The state gaming commission is Maryland Lottery and Gaming, responsible for overseeing gaming regulations compliance, employee background checks, the day-to-day operation of machines at each casino, and more.
Gaming Control Board in Maryland
There are six non-tribal casinos and two international cruise ships based in Maryland.
The largest casino in Maryland is Live! Casino Hotel Maryland with 3,853 gaming machines in January 2020.
The second-largest casino is MGM National Harbor with 3,135 gaming machines in January 2020.
Casinos in Maryland
Commercial Casinos in Maryland
Maryland’s six land-based casinos are:
- Hollywood Casino Perryville located 44 miles northeast of Baltimore.
- Live! Casino Hotel Maryland in Hanover located 11 miles southwest of Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, DC.
- MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill located 14 miles southwest of Baltimore.
- Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin located 133 miles southeast of Baltimore on the Delaware border.
- Rocky Gap Casino Resort Golf in Flintstone located 132 miles west of Baltimore near the Pennsylvania border.
Tribal Casinos in Maryland
Maryland has no tribal casinos due to having no federally-recognized American Indian tribes.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Maryland slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Maryland is:
- North: Pennsylvania Slots
- East: Delaware Slots
- South: Virginia Slots and the District of Columbia Slots
- West: West Virginia Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Maryland.
Our Maryland Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Maryland? If so, join our new Maryland slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Maryland. Join us!
Payout Returns in Maryland
Maryland gaming regulations require a minimum theoretical payout of 87%, on average over its lifetime, for each VLT gaming machine. Further, overall for all VLTs at a casino, the minimum and maximum theoretical payouts must average between 90% and 95%.
Unfortunately, monthly revenue statistics from the gaming commission excludes amount returned to players. Therefore, actual return statistics are not publicly available.
Summary of Maryland Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Maryland slot machine casino gambling consists of VLT-style slot machines at six casinos. Further, two cruise ships offer slot machines when sailing out of the Port of Baltimore to international destinations.
Maryland gaming regulations set a minimum theoretical payout of 87%. Also, overall for each casino averaged over all slot machines, they’ve set minimum and maximum payout returns of 90% and 95%.
Annual Progress in Maryland Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, there has been no change in the slots gaming industry in Maryland.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Maine Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Massachusetts Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Gambling Casinos In Md
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC