Maryland Online Sports Betting 2026
Maryland launched mobile sports betting in November 2022 and raised its online tax rate from 15% to 20% in 2025, setting up a record-breaking fiscal year for tax receipts.
Overview
- Launched: Mobile on November 23, 2022 (retail December 2021)
- Regulator: Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency
- Tax rate: 20% online (raised from 15% in 2025); 15% retail
- FY25 handle: ~$6.22 billion
- FY25 tax revenue: ~$89 million (+47.4% YoY)
Maryland voters approved sports betting via a 2020 ballot measure, and retail launched in December 2021. Mobile wagering did not go live until November 23, 2022, giving neighboring states a head start that Maryland has since closed.
Regulatory Backstory
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency issues licenses and publishes monthly reports through the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC). In 2025, Governor Wes Moore signed a budget that raised the online sports betting tax from 15% to 20% effective in FY26, while leaving the retail rate at 15%. FY25 (ending June 30, 2025) was the last full year at the lower 15% rate.
Current Market Landscape
Customers wagered approximately $6.22 billion across Maryland's online and retail sports betting markets in FY25, producing nearly $89 million in state tax revenue, a 47.4% year-over-year increase, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming. November 2025 set the single-month tax record at $19.0 million on $720.2 million of handle and $95.4 million in revenue. Maryland authorizes 12 licensed mobile platforms and 12 retail sportsbooks.
What Makes This State Different
Maryland is one of the few states that differentiates its tax rate between online (20%) and retail (15%) operators, creating a split structure that favors brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. SWARC also applies a competitive application process designed to prioritize minority- and women-owned businesses, unusual in US sports betting licensing.
How to Sign Up
Bettors must be 21+ and physically located in Maryland. Registration is fully remote; you will need a valid ID and SSN. All mobile operators use geofencing to block wagers from outside the state, including just across the Potomac in Virginia or DC.
2026 Outlook
The 20% online rate's first full year will shape operator economics in FY26. Expect tighter promotional budgets and possible consolidation of smaller skins. Watch whether the legislature revisits allowing iGaming, which has been proposed multiple times without passing.
Responsible Gaming Resources
Maryland's official responsible-gaming materials direct residents to 1-800-GAMBLER for 24-hour help, no-cost treatment referrals, peer support, and additional resources. MLGCA's Voluntary Exclusion Program also extends to sports wagering and daily fantasy sports in addition to lottery and casino play, and the agency now directs VEP questions to its Responsible Gambling Program Director at 410-230-8798 and responsible.gaming@maryland.gov.
The Bottom Line
Maryland's sports betting market matured quickly after its November 2022 mobile launch and is now a top-10 US jurisdiction by handle. The 2025 tax hike to 20% on mobile books is the defining storyline going into 2026.