Online casinos in Maryland are not legal: the state regulator says sports wagering and fantasy contests are the only real-money online gambling operating legally. This guide covers what that means, how Maryland's six casinos and 12 online sportsbooks fit in, where sweepstakes sites stand, and the risks of offshore casinos that still market to Marylanders.
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Read before you play: These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews because the casino’s own terms could not be checked; the terms shown at sign-up apply. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.
Are online casinos legal in Maryland?
No. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) states on its legal vs. illegal online gaming page (opens in a new tab) that, apart from sports wagering and fantasy competitions, no other real-money online or mobile gaming or wagering operates legally in Maryland. That covers online slots, blackjack, roulette and video poker played for cash.
So when you search for online casinos in Maryland, you'll find two very different things. One is the regulated world: casino floors in Baltimore, Prince George's County and elsewhere, plus licensed sportsbook apps. The other is a set of offshore websites that accept Maryland sign-ups even though no Maryland agency has licensed them.
This page sticks to what the state actually says. For how federal law treats offshore sites, read are offshore casinos legal.
Why an online casino bill isn't enough on its own
Maryland ties casino gaming expansion to the ballot box. A Department of Legislative Services fiscal note on 2025's HB 1140 (opens in a new tab) records that legalizing internet gaming would require a voter referendum. In practice, lawmakers would need to pass a bill and then put the question to voters before any licensed online casino could open.
That's the same route the state took for sports betting: voters approved it by referendum (Chapter 492 of 2020), and lawmakers filled in the details with Chapter 356 of 2021. No online casino measure had cleared that process as of late October 2026.
Maryland's regulator and its stance on offshore sites
The MLGCA runs the Maryland Lottery and licenses the state's casinos, sportsbooks and fantasy operators. It also keeps a public list of cease-and-desist letters sent to online operators it considers unlicensed. The agency says that list isn't comprehensive, so a site missing from it isn't cleared.
The examples below come straight from that MLGCA page. They show the agency acts against several kinds of businesses at once: offshore crypto casinos, sweepstakes brands, skill-game apps and prediction markets.
Examples of MLGCA cease-and-desist letters (agency list, not comprehensive)
None of our partner casinos appears in the MLGCA examples recorded here. That doesn't make them Maryland-approved: no offshore casino holds a Maryland license, and the agency's position covers every unlicensed online casino, named or not. Our cease-and-desist letters explainer covers what these letters do and don't mean for players.
The MLGCA's legal-vs-illegal page doesn't cite a specific statute for offshore casinos in the material recorded here. We describe the agency's position as it states it, rather than guessing at section numbers.
Legal gambling in Maryland: what is allowed
Maryland has a busy regulated market. It just doesn't include internet casino games. Here's how each form of gambling stands, based on MLGCA material and the legislative fiscal note.
Maryland gambling at a glance (October 2026)
Form
Status in Maryland
Detail
Online casino games
Not legal
MLGCA: not operating legally; referendum needed to change
Online sports betting
Legal
12 licensed online/mobile operators
Retail sports betting
Legal
Authorized under Ch. 492 of 2020 and Ch. 356 of 2021
Daily fantasy sports
Legal
11 registered online fantasy operators
Commercial casinos
Legal
6 land-based casinos
Tribal casinos
None recorded
No tribal casino figure published in the sources used
Lottery
Legal
Run by the MLGCA
Sweepstakes casinos
No ban enacted
Bills filed in 2025 and 2026 did not pass (third-party tracker)
The sports betting launch year isn't stated on the MLGCA page recorded here. A third-party sports page says online wagering went live on a November 23 but gives no year, so we leave the date out. If you're weighing apps, check that the sportsbook appears on the MLGCA's licensed list first.
Daily fantasy is legal and regulated too, with 11 registered online operators, which makes it a separate category in law from casino games of chance.
Maryland's six casinos: where real-money casino play is licensed
If you want slots and table games under a Maryland license, you need to visit one of the state's six commercial casinos. The legislative fiscal note names them:
Maryland's commercial casinos (per the DLS fiscal note)
Casino
What it means for players
Horseshoe Baltimore
The city casino for players in Baltimore
Live! Anne Arundel
Licensed casino in Anne Arundel County
MGM National Harbor
Licensed casino in Prince George's County
Hollywood Perryville (Cecil County)
Licensed casino in the northeast of the state
Ocean Downs
Licensed casino near the Eastern Shore coast
Rocky Gap
Licensed casino in western Maryland
The sources used here record no tribal casinos in Maryland. Because every licensed casino answers to the MLGCA, you get state oversight of games, payouts and disputes. That's the protection an offshore website can't offer.
The state's largest city, Baltimore, had a population of 568,271 in the census estimate cited. It's the only Maryland city above 100,000 in that list, so most players are spread across suburbs and counties rather than big cities. Wherever you live, from Baltimore to the Eastern Shore, the online law is the same statewide.
Licensed online casinos near Maryland
Three of Maryland's neighbors license real-money online casinos: Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Their licensed sites are intrastate. Federal law (UIGEA) excludes intrastate wagers authorized by state law only where there's age and location verification, so licensed apps check that you're physically inside that state's borders.
That means a Maryland resident can't legally use a Pennsylvania-licensed casino app from a home in Baltimore. The location check happens when you play, not where you live, so crossing the state line is what counts. You could play legally while you're physically in one of those states, if you meet its age rules.
Virginia, to the south, does not license online casinos, so the nearest licensed options are all to the north and west. Those licensed sites come with state oversight of game fairness, player funds and complaints.
Offshore online casinos in Maryland: what the risks are
Offshore casinos are websites run from outside the US. Many say they accept US players, and some take Maryland sign-ups. None is licensed or regulated by Maryland or by any other US state, and the MLGCA says online casino gaming isn't operating legally in Maryland.
Here's what that means in practice if you deposit anyway:
No state complaint route. The MLGCA can't order an offshore casino to pay you. Disputes go to the casino itself or, at best, an overseas licensing body.
No state-backed protection of your balance. If the site closes or freezes your account, there's no Maryland process to recover funds.
Terms the casino sets. Weekly withdrawal caps, bonus rules and verification steps are whatever the casino publishes, and they can change.
Slow payouts reported. Third-party reviewers report multi-week waits at several US-facing offshore brands.
Some offshore brands keep Maryland off their own lists. Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots.lv all list Maryland as restricted on their own help or terms pages. A third-party review reports that Decode Casino refuses Maryland players too, which is why we don't show a Decode offer on this page. Brand restrictions change, so always check the current terms.
How to check an offshore casino before you deposit
Read the casino's terms for a restricted-countries or restricted-states clause, and look for Maryland by name.
Find the license the site claims, then check whether it's shown on the casino's own pages or only reported by review sites.
Look up the weekly withdrawal cap, minimum withdrawal and fees before depositing, not after a win.
Search the MLGCA's cease-and-desist list and other state regulators' releases for the brand name.
Set a deposit limit you can afford to lose completely, since there's no state protection if things go wrong.
Maryland has not enacted a sweepstakes casino ban. A third-party tracker reports that HB 1140, a proposed 2025 ban, did not pass, and that 2026 bills HB 1226, HB 295 and SB 652 were not enacted either.
That doesn't mean the state treats these sites as legal. Sweepstakes casinos use two currencies: Gold Coins for play with no cash value and Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for prizes. The MLGCA has sent cease-and-desist letters to several dual-currency brands, and many have dropped Maryland as a result.
Sweepstakes brands and Maryland (dated facts)
Brand
Maryland status
Source type
Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots
On MLGCA cease-and-desist list (November 18, 2025)
Primary (MLGCA)
Stake.us
MLGCA letter; Stake.us lists Maryland as restricted
Primary
High 5 Casino
MLGCA letter reported March 21, 2025; rules v44.0 exclude Maryland
Third-party and primary
McLuck
Earlier MLGCA letter reported; terms v2.6 exclude Maryland
Third-party and primary
RealPrize
Play page lists Maryland as excluded (its terms list fewer states)
Primary, with conflict
Brand lists change often, so check a site's current rules before you register. The national page on sweepstakes casino bans covers states such as New York, New Jersey and California that have passed outright bans.
Gambling age in Maryland
The minimum age for casino gambling in Maryland is 21, according to the American Gaming Association's 2026 state-by-state report. The sources used here don't publish separate ages for sports betting or the lottery, so check the MLGCA or the operator before you play.
Offshore casinos set their own age rules, and they don't match Maryland's. SlotoCash's terms say 18+, for example. That lower figure doesn't change Maryland law. Licensed Maryland casinos and sportsbooks check ID against the state rule.
Taxes on gambling winnings for Maryland players
Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, whether they come from Horseshoe Baltimore, a sportsbook app or an offshore website. For payments made in 2026, the IRS instructions for Form W-2G (opens in a new tab) set the reporting threshold for slots, bingo and keno at $2,000 or more.
W-2G reporting: payers file Form W-2G when winnings meet the threshold. For most wagers other than slots, bingo and keno, winnings must also be at least 300 times the stake.
Withholding: 24% regular gambling withholding applies to certain winnings above $5,000 (net of the wager), but not to slots, bingo or keno.
Losses: from tax year 2026, the 2025 federal tax law reportedly caps the loss deduction at 90% of wagering losses, and only up to your winnings. Check IRS guidance.
Here's the arithmetic: if you won $10,000 and lost $10,000 in 2026, the 90% cap would allow a $9,000 deduction against $10,000 of winnings, leaving $1,000 taxable. Offshore casinos may not send you a W-2G, but the income is still yours to report. Maryland's own tax treatment of winnings isn't covered in the sources used here, so ask the state's tax agency or a tax professional. Keep records of wins and losses either way.
Problem gambling help in Maryland
If gambling is costing more than you planned, help is free and confidential. The MLGCA points Marylanders to the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling at mdgamblinghelp.org, which offers state resources. The sources used here don't publish a phone number for it, so start with its website.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab), run by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). You can call or text 24/7, or chat at ncpgambling.org. It isn't a crisis line: in a crisis, call 911 or 988.
Gamblers Anonymous: in-person and online meetings for people who want to stop.
Blocking software: Gamban and BetBlocker block gambling sites and apps on your devices.
Casino tools: deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. Offshore sites handle these through support, so request them in writing.
We show these three partner offers because they're among the brands that don't, on the reports available, list Maryland as refused. Be clear about what they are: offshore casinos, not licensed by Maryland or any US state, and the MLGCA says online casino gaming isn't legal in Maryland. Check Maryland law and decide for yourself. You'd have no state complaint route and no state protection of your balance.
We earn a commission if you sign up through our links, and we rank partners in a commercial order set by the site owner, not by testing. All offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply. The package each casino's own site advertises can differ from the offer via our link, and the terms shown at sign-up are the ones that apply.
Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party listings disagree on its terms: one reports 200% up to $4,000 with 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots, 60x on blackjack and video poker, and a max cashout of 10x the deposit; another reports 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins. Card deposits reportedly start at $30.
Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party listings report a 275% match with code MAD275, a $30 minimum deposit, 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots and no max cashout. Reviewers report a $2,500 weekly withdrawal cap.
SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own terms describe a $7,777 + 300 spins package over five deposits, with a $20 minimum per bonus, 25x (deposit + bonus) wagering, no max cashout and a $10 max bet. Its banking page sets a $5,000 weekly withdrawal limit.
These bonuses are slot-focused. Table games are often excluded or weighted lower, so read the eligible-games list before you play. Bonus codes change, and the house edge applies to every wager you make to clear the playthrough. Read the full Royal Ace review, Slot Madness review and SlotoCash review first, and see casino withdrawal limits for how weekly caps affect a large win.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
These partner casinos are offshore and are not licensed by Maryland or any US state. Maryland's regulator says online casino gaming isn't legal in the state, so read the law section before you decide anything.
Royal Ace Casino#6 on our listSlots and specialty games
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
SlotoCash Casino#1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list
Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Frequently asked questions
Which types of online gambling are legal in Maryland right now?
Only partly: online sports betting and daily fantasy contests are legal, but online casino games are not. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency says no other real-money online gaming operates legally in the state. Twelve online sportsbooks and eleven fantasy operators hold state approval, while slots, blackjack and roulette for cash are limited to the six licensed casinos. Our Maryland gambling laws page sets out the details and how the rules were passed.
When will Maryland legalize online casinos?
No date exists, because Maryland would need a voter referendum before online casinos could launch. A Department of Legislative Services fiscal note on the 2025 bill HB 1140 records that requirement. That means lawmakers would have to pass a bill and then win a statewide vote, as they did for sports betting in 2020. Until then, the MLGCA's position stands. Our list of states with legal online casinos shows where licensed sites already run.
Can I play at offshore casinos from Maryland?
Some offshore sites accept Maryland sign-ups, but none is licensed by Maryland or any US state, and the MLGCA says online casino gaming isn't legal there. If you deposit, you rely on the casino's own terms: no state regulator can order a payout or protect your balance. Several brands, including Bovada and Ignition, exclude Maryland in their terms, and Decode reportedly does too. Read is it illegal to play at offshore casinos for the wider legal picture.
Can Marylanders still play at sweepstakes casinos like Chumba?
Often not: Maryland hasn't passed a sweepstakes ban, but its regulator has sent cease-and-desist letters to several dual-currency brands. The MLGCA lists Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots (November 18, 2025) and Stake.us among recipients. Proposed bans, including HB 1140 in 2025 and three bills in 2026, did not pass, according to a third-party tracker. Many brands, such as High 5 and McLuck, now exclude Maryland in their own rules. See Maryland sweepstakes casinos for current details.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Maryland casinos?
The casino gambling age in Maryland is 21, according to the American Gaming Association's 2026 state report. The sources used here don't publish separate minimum ages for sports betting or the lottery, so confirm with the MLGCA or the operator. Offshore casinos often set a lower age in their terms, such as 18+, but that doesn't change Maryland law. Our gambling age by state table compares every state.
Can I use a Pennsylvania or Delaware online casino from Maryland?
Not from inside Maryland. Licensed online casinos in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia only accept play from people physically within their borders, and they use location checks to enforce that. Federal law excludes intrastate wagers only where the state authorizes them with age and location verification. You could play legally while you're physically in one of those states, if you meet its age rules. Our Pennsylvania online casinos page explains that market.
Do I pay tax on online casino winnings in Maryland?
Yes, gambling winnings are taxable federal income wherever you win them. For 2026, payers file Form W-2G on slot, bingo and keno wins of $2,000 or more. From tax year 2026, the loss deduction is reportedly capped at 90% of losses and only up to your winnings, so check IRS guidance. Offshore casinos may not issue a W-2G, but you still have to report the income. Our gambling taxes guide covers the federal rules step by step.
Where can I get gambling help in Maryland?
Start with the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling at mdgamblinghelp.org, which the state's regulator recommends. For round-the-clock support, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat at ncpgambling.org. It's free and confidential. Gamblers Anonymous meetings and blocking tools such as Gamban are also available. Our National Problem Gambling Helpline page explains what happens when you reach out.
Can I play online slots for real money in Maryland?
Not through any Maryland-licensed website, because the state hasn't authorized online casino games, and that includes slots. Real-money slots under a Maryland license run only on the floors of the six commercial casinos, such as Horseshoe Baltimore, MGM National Harbor and Rocky Gap. Offshore sites that offer slots to Marylanders hold no state license, so the MLGCA can't step in over a disputed spin or an unpaid win. If you want to know what a slot really costs before you play anywhere, our Maryland online slots guide works through RTP, volatility and expected loss per hour in dollars.
Does paying with Bitcoin make an online casino legal in Maryland?
No: a casino that takes Bitcoin is still an online casino, and the MLGCA says online casino gaming isn't operating legally in Maryland. Paying in crypto doesn't change the legal status of the game you play. The agency's cease-and-desist list includes FortuneJack, a crypto casino, along with Stake.us and Crypto.com. Crypto also adds its own practical risk, because a blockchain transfer can't be reversed by your bank if a dispute follows. Our Maryland crypto casinos page covers fees and irreversibility, and is Bitcoin safe for casinos explains the wider trade-offs.
How many casinos are in Maryland, and where are they?
Maryland has six commercial casinos, all licensed by the MLGCA: Horseshoe Baltimore, Live! Anne Arundel, MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County, Hollywood Perryville in Cecil County, Ocean Downs near the Eastern Shore coast and Rocky Gap in western Maryland. The sources used here record no tribal casinos in the state. These six are the only places where real-money slots and table games run under Maryland oversight, with a regulator that can act on disputes. For how the land-based and online rules came about, see Maryland gambling laws.
What can I do if an offshore casino won't pay my withdrawal in Maryland?
Your options are limited, because the MLGCA has no power over an unlicensed offshore casino and no Maryland process exists to recover the balance. Start by asking support for the reason in writing, then check the terms for weekly caps, verification steps or bonus rules the casino may be relying on. Send any documents it asks for promptly and keep copies of every message. If the site claims an overseas license, that body may take a complaint, though results vary. Our guides on filing a casino complaint and pending withdrawals walk through each step.
Does Decode Casino accept players from Maryland?
A third-party review reports that Decode Casino refuses Maryland players, which is why this page shows no Decode offer. Treat that as a report to confirm in Decode's current terms rather than a settled rule. Maryland turns up on other brands' lists too: Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots.lv all name it as restricted on their own help or terms pages. Whichever site you look at, none holds a Maryland license. Our Decode Casino review covers its terms, and Maryland real money casinos compares what offshore sites publish.
How much can Maryland players withdraw per week from offshore casinos?
That depends entirely on each casino's own rules, because no Maryland regulation sets offshore withdrawal limits. SlotoCash's banking page sets a $5,000 weekly limit, and reviewers report a $2,500 weekly cap at Slot Madness. At those rates, a $20,000 win would take four weeks to cash out from SlotoCash and eight weeks from Slot Madness, if the limits stay the same and nothing else delays payment. Caps can change, so read the banking terms before you deposit. See casino withdrawal limits and Maryland fast payout casinos for published times.
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