Sports betting in Maryland was legalized in December 2021, with domestic brands now offering in-person, online, and mobile options to locals and tourists who are 21 and older.
In November of 2024, state-regulated sportsbooks in Maryland took in a record high of $639,867,400 in bets. The state’s take on that action also set a record of $11,798,035 in tax collections.
Lawmakers in MD have passed a bill that will give the state a much larger cut of the profits for mobile sports betting, raising the tax rate from 15% to 20%. Governor Wes Moore originally intended to enact a 30% sports betting tax, but the legislature negotiated it down to 20% before passage.
Local sportsbook apps are the target of politicians because of their profit margin. More bettors frequent mobile options because of their convenience, whereas in-person sportsbooks are there as a perk for casino gamblers who are already hanging around.
The sports betting revenue reports from around the nation increase dramatically when mobile options are introduced. Their presence keeps business in-state, discouraging citizens from traveling to neighboring territories to use their sportsbook apps.
Now that HB 352 has passed, MD-based players won’t notice any change at first. Governor Moore signed the bill into law on Tuesday.
It is the sports betting applications that will feel the pain, and some of them may consider pulling out of the state if the impact is too harsh.
Maryland-based books like Crab Sports may find the new climate more challenging to navigate than multi-state books like BetMGM and Caesars.
Local Maryland Sportsbook Apps As Of May 2025
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- ESPN BET
- BetRivers
- Crab Sports
- betPARX
- Bally Bet
- LetsBetMD
In states where similar tax hikes have been passed, some local books have imposed their own tax on bettors and their sports betting winnings to make up the loss.
The additional funds will be directed toward filling the state’s projected budget gap of $2.7 million. Ohio employed a similar move in 2023, upping its tax dollar intake by over $35 million in the first year.
The tax on in-person sports betting will remain at 15%.
Meanwhile, offshore sports betting sites can be accessed on mobile phones in Maryland and used to wager on pro and college games. None of the proceeds benefit the Free State’s general ledger.
