Maryland’s Online Gambling Bill: An Overview of the Last Few Weeks

Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the world. Maryland has strong fan support for its local sports teams, and residents are delighted to hear that sports betting will soon be available across Maryland.

On April 12, 2021, both the Senate and House voted to pass the bill HB940 and set rules for sports betting in Maryland, and Governor Larry Hogan is expected to sign the bill. The bill is one of the biggest ever to pass in the US. It will allow 30 retail sportsbook licenses and 60 online sportsbook licenses, which is extremely rare in the industry.

It is expected that not only will Maryland catch up with its neighbors Virginia and DC, but there’s a big chance that they will surpass them. And sports betting enthusiasts were delighted when they heard the news.

It’s clear that Maryland wants to get sports betting done fast, and their goal is to get launched as quickly as possible, preferably in September of 2021, right before the NFL season, which is not odd at all, considering that football is by far the largest sport for betting in America.

Currently, there aren’t any sportsbook operators in Maryland. But, we can make some good guesses. Maryland has several casinos that are run by commercial enterprises rather than operating on Native American grounds.

Some of the sportsbooks that will most likely launch by the end of 2021 are:

1. BetMGM
2. DraftKings
3. FanDuel

Considering that MGM National Harbor Casinos operates in Maryland, it’s clear that BetMGM will push for licensure when applications become available. And both DraftKings and FanDuel offer daily fantasy sports to Maryland, so it’s expected that they will do the same.

Finally, plenty of sites offer an in-detail guide to online gambling in Maryland, such as online-gambling.com. So, feel free to take a look if you’re interested.

Wagering In-Person at Casinos in Maryland

While placing a bet online is the most convenient way to wager, visiting a land-based casino has its own unique appeal and perks.

As more and more Marylanders feel comfortable getting outside and in nature again, the brick-and-mortar casinos are starting to reopen and attract players.

Although online casinos have a lot to offer to their audience, it’s tough to beat the excitement of betting in person. The feeling while watching the action unfold right before your eyes on the sportsbook floor, especially during major events like the Super Bowl, is irreplaceable.

With that being said, for those of you who want to have that unique wagering experience, there are sic casinos scattered throughout the state of Maryland.

Sports betting enthusiasts don’t need to worry. Once House Bill 940 is signed into law, each of the land-based casinos will be automatically licensed for retail sports betting.

In the meantime, for those of you who are eager to place a bet on sport, you can do that on offshore sites. Just be careful. There are plenty of scam sites and cybercriminals online who want to lure you in and misuse your information. Therefore you need to gamble on a trusted and verified online casino.

The Steps For Placing A Bet In Maryland

Maryland will allow remote registration, which means that bettors will not need to sign up for an online sportsbook account in person. All the registration and making of accounts can be done over the internet.

If you have some sportsbook in mind where you want to wager, you have the ability to learn how to place a bet. That way, you will be ready when the industry finally launches.

Three main steps for placing a bet online in Maryland are:

1. Downloading Sportsbook
2. Registration
3. Funding your account

The first step is to download the sportsbook of your choice to your device. So you go to the App Store or Google Play and type the name of the app. This step is very quick and easy.

Next, you need to complete the registration process. You need to provide your personal information like physical address, name, and social security number.

After you fill in all of the necessary information, you will need to fund your account through various deposit methods. Sportsbooks will usually allow using debit and credit cards, electronic wallet transfers, and bank account transfers.

Finally, once you finish all the previous steps, then you will be able to place a bet. Simply go through options, and find a wager that suits your wishes and start betting.

Sports Betting is The Future of Gambling

Not long ago, in order to place a sports bet, you had to go to a land-based casino, and watching entire games was customary. But, it seems like that period in time is very distant. And it can be said that the way we consume sports and bet on sports has been changed forever.

Undoubtedly, there are many sports fans who prefer to step into a traditional casino and place a bet. However, it seems like convenience started to play a significant role in our daily lives, hence why the online gambling industry thrives.

We are slowly but surely reaching a time when people forget that sports betting used to be ever illegal in the US.

As for now, nobody knows what the future has in store for us, but the gambling industry’s next ten years will definitely look nothing like the previous ten years. And who knows, maybe that’s a good thing.

Finally, Marylanders, prepare for placing waggers because of the sports betting coming sooner than many may think.