Maryland has been a harbour of sports for centuries. This State once hosted the Queen back in the 50s. Let’s look at the reasons why Maryland has garnered the top spot when it comes to sports. Firstly, the State is home to various sports stars and teams. There are two NFL teams; Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. Additionally, Maryland is home to several sports stars such as Boston Red Sox who players for the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers’ Al Kaline and Olympics swimming champions Katie Hoff among others. Secondly, Annapolis is the ‘American sailing capital’. Boat racing events are help in the Chesapeake Bay. Thirdly, there are several horse races that take place in the state. One of t6he major events is the Preakness Stakes, held annually at the Pimlico race Course. Fourthly, you can enjoy Elite College Basketball. The University of Maryland basketball team, the Terrapins take on other university teams at the Xfinity Centre located at Prince George’s County. Therefore, there is something for very sports fan in Marland.
- Horseshoe Baltimore Casino.
- MGM National Harbor.
- Live Casino and Hotel Maryland.
- Hollywood Casino Perryville.
- Ocean Down Casino.
Maryland Sports Betting in Detail.
With all the sports held in Maryland, sports betting is a main concern among fans. Currently, it is legal to gamble on games in the state. There are five major sportsbooks, which we will get into later. In January, the state government accrued over $32 million in bets, but this figure reduced to $25 million in February. This is however understandable as February has a slow sports calendar. Although there are land based casinos in Maryland, online casinos have not yet been legalized. According to John Martin, director of MLGCA, online sports betting in Maryland will launch sometime from October this year. This will make it easier for punters in the area to make their wagers and also generate more income for the local government. Ever since Governor Larry Hogan approved sports betting in May 2021, there have been numerous improvements. For instance, on February 24, 2022, the MD Lottery and Gaming Control Commission ratified Bingo World. But the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission needs to approve it first.
The first retail sportsbook in Maryland opened in December. This is Horseshoe Baltimore Casino. It is owned by Ceasars Entertainment, which is a reputable firm in the gambling industry. Therefore, players in this casino can rest assured that they will only get the best in terms of service and game selection. The second is MGM’s MGM National Harbor in Forest Heights. Games that you can wager in this casino include poker, horse racing and NFL among others. The third gambling house is Ocean Downs Casino. This is from Churchill Downs Incorporated. Then we have the Live Casino & Hotel Maryland as well as Hollywood Casino Perryville. These two are owned by The Cordish Companies and Penn National Gaming respectively. Maryland sports betting at these casinos is simple. All players need to do is open an account, deposit cash and start wagering. In addition, there are small kiosks around Maryland where one can make bets without necessarily visiting the casinos. If you are fan of horse racing, there are seven off-course wagering locations.
Betting Sites in Maryland
Even though online gambling in Maryland is not legal yet, there are sites which will be launching this fall. Among them is BetMGM. With MGM National Harbor already functional in the state, it is a guarantee that BetMGM will open an online platform in Maryland when the time comes. The other is FanDuel, which is among the top sportsbooks in America. FanDuel has more than 10 retail sportsbooks around the country including Virginia and New York. It is therefore without a doubt that they will establish an online presence in Maryland soon. Points Bet is the other site Maryland bettors should expect. In June 2021, this company signed an advertising deal with The University of Maryland. Other than these sites, there is also DraftKings. This is best known for offering Daily Fantasy Sports and with Maryland being a host of several sports, it is a perfect fit for the state. Fox Bet, Bet Rivers, Barstool and Twin Spires will probably launch in Maryland too.
With so many sports betting sites set to pick from, it might be difficult to choose the right one. Therefore, we look at the factors that determine a good online sportsbook. The number one aspect is security. You want to pick a site that offers top-notch privacy measures. Mostly, websites use encryption innovations to ensure that your data is hidden from third parties and hackers. The other element is customer care services. There are so many hiccups that you could run into on a gambling website. For instance, there could be issues with depositing, withdrawing or even placing bets on your best games. Therefore, it is vital to choose a website that offers customer help throughout. Bonuses is the other facet you ought to consider when selecting a gambling site. Different casinos provide different rewards. There are welcome bonuses, VIP programs, tournaments and also loyalty schemes. You should look into every casino in depth to figure out what kind of bonuses they award their clients.
Conclusion
Maryland sports betting will be a benefit to both citizens and government. The good thing is that most casinos provide gambling problem treatment and prevention. This way, punters are protected from things like gambling addiction. As aforementioned, there will be major changes in the gambling industry especially the legalizing of online sports betting. There is an array of opportunities that could arise in Maryland if sports wagering in was fully licit. This includes increased revenue and job vacancies. With Maryland being a host of so many games and having a huge fan base, sports betting would be a good way of boosting income and generally improving the lives of residents. As shown above, several online casinos will launch in the area and this means that you will have a wide range to choose from. Using the above tips, you will be able to find the most suitable online sportsbook for you. Furthermore, if you have any enquires, you can check out Maryland’s sports news page.
