Important MD Notes

Maryland statutes prohibit gambling unless specifically permitted. Operating an online poker business in Maryland is not specifically permitted under law, and therefore deemed illegal, but it’s not specifically illegal for Maryland residents to play at regulated offshore sites.
What Maryland Casinos Are 18 and Up? Maryland’s land-based casinos do not allow players younger than 21 into their venues to gamble. This means MD players 18 years old would need to stick with the state’s existing available age-appropriate gambling forms or utilize offshore online casinos tailor-made for 18+ players.

Adults in MD can play at offshore poker rooms legally
No bills have been introduced for iGaming in the state
Land-based casino gambling was legalized in 2008
Live poker in Maryland was legalized in 2012
Positive outlook for iGaming due to recent casino expansion

Maryland remains in the status quo of illegality for online gambling. This includes online casinos, poker and sports betting. Due to the ambiguity of the law, and that there is no licensing and regulatory framework within Maryland, this prevents local online casinos from existing and operating. BUT as a resident of Maryland you can play on.

The state proposed a bill, H 989, last February to legalize sports betting at their land-based casinos and racetracks if the federal government ever lifts it’s ban, which they did. Maryland’s six casinos continue to have increased revenues. In May, they generated $156.55 million in revenue, an increase of nearly 14.7% from May of last year. The $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor Casino opened on December 8, 2016. The state lottery generated $1.9 billion in revenue, also an all-time record, for the 2016 fiscal year. In May of 2016, the governor signed HB 127, a bill that legalizes home poker games in Maryland, into law which went into full effect on October 1, 2016. The state has expanded gambling drastically within the past several years.

RECOMMENDED POKER WEBSITE FOR MARYLAND

Maryland has a good chance of being in the first wave of states to pass and regulate online poker. Until that time comes, we recommend BetOnline as a safe and secure website that accepts poker players in Maryland.

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Maryland statutes prohibit gambling unless specifically permitted. Operating an online poker business in Maryland is not specifically permitted under law, and therefore deemed illegal, but it’s not specifically illegal for Maryland residents to play at regulated offshore sites. To be legal within the state, it requires the state to pass laws legalizing and regulating intrastate online poker.

Future Outlook of Online Poker in Maryland – Estimated date of legalization: 2019-2020

The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in Maryland on a state law level. It is currently already legal on a Federal level. This graph monitors the current rise or fall of expected legalization.

Maryland recently posted its highest ever gaming revenues, and in the month of...

In the shadow of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing to consider New Jersey's...

Recent Activity
The state of Maryland has introduced brick and mortar casino gambling only since 2008. The legislature is preoccupied with expanding this activity rather than getting involved with online poker, but that could change soon. Currently, there have been no bills introduced or processed in the legislature with respect to online poker or other forms of online gambling. Though online poker is not on the radar at the moment, it most likely will be in the near future.

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Delegate Eric Luedtke, co-chairperson of the Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight, made the following comments in an interview. “As to online poker, while I understand there is a large community of poker players interested in seeing Maryland legalize online gambling, there are a number of technical and legal issues that have not yet been adequately answered. For the time being, I would like to see the state monitor implementation of online gambling in other states and wait to see if congress addresses the issue through legislation before beginning to seriously debate legalization.” He added that he would continue to voice the interests of online poker players in the state. He pointed out four important reasons for Maryland to eventually go for online poker. These were enhancing the state revenues, ensuring player safety, catering to low budget players and the precedence in other states.

Current Gambling Laws in Maryland

Gambling laws are covered under Criminal Law in the statutes of Maryland. Title 12 “Gaming – Statewide Provisions” deals with laws that are applicable throughout the state. Title 13 “Gaming – Local Provisions” deals with laws that are applicable to specified counties or cities only.

The operative clause of Title 12 is Section 12-102[A], which states, “A person may not: (1) bet, wager, or gamble; (2) make or sell a book or pool on the result of a race, contest, or contingency;” In addition a person may not use or provide for use any property for the above activities. A person may not also participate in the organization of any gambling activity in any manner. The statement of penalty is as follows: “A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 6 months and not exceeding 1 year or a fine of not less than $200 and not exceeding $1,000 or both.”

Section 12-101 provides some important definitions. Gaming device is defined as, “(i) a gaming table, except a billiard table, at which a game of chance is played for money or any other thing or consideration of value; or (ii) a game or device at which money or any other thing or consideration of value is bet, wagered, or gambled.” Gaming event lists some specific events, but then covers a general category by stating, “any other event at which a gaming device is operated”.

The gambling laws related to specific forms of gambling are discussed later.

History of Gambling in Maryland

Maryland Jockey Club founded in Annapolis.

Gambling first legalized by issuing lottery grants to raise funds for public works.

New lottery grants prohibited.

All existing lottery grants expired.

Referendum to legalize lottery again defeated.

Anne Arundel County first to legalize slot machines under “local option” law.

State law bans new slot machine licenses.

All existing slot machine licenses expired.

Creation of state lottery authorized by legislature.

Slots referendum passed for five slots only casinos.

Online gambling operators indicted under Federal law in Maryland

Calvin Ayre indicted in Baltimore. Gaming Expansion referendum passed to allow table games. Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight formed.

Live poker and table games offered at licensed casinos.

Maryland’s five casinos had record breaking revenues.

HB 127, a bill to legalize home poker games, was signed into law on May 19th by Governor Hogan and went into effect on October 1st.

Land Based Poker in Maryland

Home poker games are now legal in Maryland. On May 19, 2016, Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill (HB 127) to legalize this activity and it went into effect on October 1, 2016. This bill allows for up to $1,000 to be on the poker table at anytime.

Senate Bill 184[B] and House Bill 59[C] which were both introduced in February 2015 aimed to effectively legalize home poker games by decriminalizing playing in and hosting home poker games. The caveat being that hosts could not benefit from the game financially. However, these bills did not pass.

Charity Poker Tournaments

Charitable gambling in Maryland is restricted to raffles. Therefore, charity poker tournaments are illegal.

Live poker was illegal in Maryland, even at the licensed casinos, till November 2012. In the referendum Maryland residents voted in favor of table games being introduced at the licensed casinos. Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency then formulated the required regulations and some of the casinos introduced live poker in 2013. Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County was among the first ones to offer live poker in April 2013.

Gambling Laws in Maryland

Summary

Maryland has always been known for horse racing. It is home to one of the most popular races in the United States, the Preakness Stakes. The state lottery was established

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