One of the latest states to legalize sports gambling, customers in Maryland have had a fun start to the year thanks to numerous sports betting events. With legal sports betting kicking off back in December of 2021, these past three months have been an exciting time for fans of gambling and wagering in Maryland. In fact, this past round of March Madness has been especially lucrative for casinos in the state.
Below, SBS breaks down the latest gaming developments in the state, along with where you can place your wagers and also which casinos are making the most money as of late.
While the Maryland Terrapins did not make it too far in this year’s NCAA tournament, the state has been reaping the rewards of legalized wagering on the tournament. According to a recent report from Fox 5 in Washington D.C., the lines have been nearly non-stop at various casinos in Anne Arundel County with fans locking their wagers in. Per the same article, sports gambling in Maryland has been an incredible success even before March Madness picked up. In the first two full months of operation, Maryland sportsbooks have brought in $57 million.
Many gaming analysts also expect the betting mania to continue through the end of the NCAA tournament as well. In terms of how consumers are placing their wagers, the vast majority of customers are utilizing mobile wagering. According to John Martin, who is the director of the Maryland Lottery, “nearly 90 percent” of wagering that goes on in the jurisdiction is mobile. He also told Fox 5 that he would like Maryland’s mobile sportsbooks to start later this year once regulations are set up.
With in-state betting a success thus far, Maryland gamblers could see an even bigger increase in use with mobile gambling restrictions loosening over time. As of this article’s writing, Virginia and D.C. both allow for mobile wagering. However, given the great success, the start of the year has been, many in the state might welcome these new changes with open arms.
With retail sports betting making big strides to start in 2022, there are more options than ever to place your bets in Maryland. In terms of success last month, Hanover’s Live Casino & Hotel reported the highest handle for an individual casino in February, taking in $11.1 million worth of bets according to the Baltimore Business Journal. With mobile sports betting not quite live yet in the state, retail sports betting is a great opportunity and avenue to place your sports betting wagers.
According to a recent March spotlight from the Maryland Reporter, there are a couple of casinos that stand out. One is the MGM National Harbor located in Oxon Hill. The National Harbor offers a BetMGM Sportsbook, which is one of the country’s premier sports betting platforms. Also on the casino’s grounds, the sportsbook is located in three different locations, including a BetMGM-designated lounge. In addition to the sportsbook, the MGM National Harbor also features a traditional casino, hotel, event venues, and various dining and drinking options.
Featured heavily in the Fox 5 article, the Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover is another great option for retail gaming in the state. This casino offers a FanDuel Sportsbook where bettors can place bets with the sportsbook while also enjoying the various on-site casino like shopping outlets and dining locales.
The final spotlight in the Maryland Reporter article, the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore is located in the main metro area of Baltimore. This venue boasts a Caesars Sportsbook, which allows customers to bet directly with one of the most-trusted outlets in gaming. The sportsbook is an all-inclusive environment that caters to all of the needs of sports bettors and allows you to bet on a wide array of sports. In addition to gaming options, the venue also includes world-class dining like a restaurant associated with famous chef Gordon Ramsay.
With all this great information about Maryland gaming, make sure to also check out some more information at the SBS website. This would include a guide on Maryland sports wagering and where to find the best gaming sites for your needs. For customers that are used to the finer things, you should definitely look into the SBS breakdown on VIP sports betting and find your pick of the litter there. Finally, with this article going over multiple online and mobile betting options, perhaps you should check out the best betting apps and mobile sites available breakdown.