--- title: "Maryland gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io" canonical: https://advennt.io/jurisdictions/maryland/ source_html: /jurisdictions/us-md/index.html description: "Maryland gambling regulation by game: 6 open · 1 restricted · 7 closed · 1 uncertain · 5 not yet assessed." generated_at: 2026-10-26T22:03:01Z content_sha256: deadc25dccc817a70accbbb8ea4460737eda29cb9a0ad282bec3bd392545a8d3 generator: "fe-fleet/md-twin@1.0" --- # Maryland gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io [Jurisdictions](/jurisdictions/) › [United States](/jurisdictions/united-states/) › Maryland # Maryland Sub-national unit Enter only via existing/acquired mobile licence; sports-only market, no iGaming, 20% mobile tax. [6 open · 1 restricted · 7 closed · 1 uncertain · 5 not yet assessed → 20 classes](#products) Collected 25 Oct 2026 · Published 25 Oct 2026 · Changed 4 Oct 2026 [PDF](report.pdf) [Sign in for PDF](https://advennt.io/auth/) [Compare](/compare/?j=maryland) Jurisdiction scope: [United States (Federal)](/jurisdictions/united-states/) Maryland ## Can we offer our product? Every product class, in fixed taxonomy order. The band is what you can do; where the recorded legal status says something the band does not, it is shown beside the product. ### Player products - CasinoProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - PokerProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - BingoProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - LotteryState monopolyXClosed - Sports bettingOOpen - Other event betting–Not yet assessed - Horse and greyhound racing betting–Not yet assessed - Esports bettingOOpen - Exchange betting–Not yet assessed - Pool betting–Not yet assessed - Virtual event betting–Not yet assessed - Fantasy sportsModels agreeOOpen - Skill gamesProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Prediction marketsGrey zone · Models agree?Uncertain - SweepstakesProhibited (tolerated via a legal loophole)XClosed - Free playOutside the regulatory perimeter · Models agreeOOpen ### Supply roles - Software / B2BRRestricted - Affiliate marketingOOpen - Payments for gamblingOOpen ### Settlement rail - Crypto gamblingProhibitedXClosed Class-level certainty is graded for 7 of 20 classes. ## Board briefing Maryland is an open, mature online sports wagering market with a closed application window and no iGaming pathway; mobile tax rose to 20% in June 2025. #### What has changed - Mobile sports wagering tax increased from 15% to 20% (June 2025, HB 352). The 2026 iGaming referendum effort died when SB 761 was withdrawn on 13 March 2026. A sweepstakes ban (HB 295) passed the House but stalled in the Senate. #### What to do now - Treat Maryland as a secondary expansion market only if you already hold or can acquire a mobile licence; model the 20% mobile rate, $500k+$100k fees, and geolocation/RG compliance. Avoid sweepstakes and prediction-market exposure given active MLGCA enforcement. #### What to watch - 2027 iGaming re-introduction or November 2026 ballot push; renewed sweepstakes ban; any SWARC decision to reopen the mobile application window; the $1.5bn state budget shortfall driving tax/expansion policy. ## 11 answers, each dated and graded The weather grades favourability for an operator, not legality: legality is the product table above. The left rule is our confidence: solid confirmed, dashed probable, dotted uncertain. 01 · What kind of market is this? ### Overview Favourable Maryland's gambling regulatory landscape this cycle is dominated by a contested enforcement campaign against unlicensed sports-event-contract operators, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Polymarket and Robinhood among them, and by a rise in the mobile sports-wagering tax rate to 20 percent. The Maryland Lottery a… Full analysis · 107 words Maryland's gambling regulatory landscape this cycle is dominated by a contested enforcement campaign against unlicensed sports-event-contract operators, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Polymarket and Robinhood among them, and by a rise in the mobile sports-wagering tax rate to 20 percent. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency remains the sole licensing and enforcement authority for the licensed market, which supports twelve operators and generated record fiscal contributions of $1.637 billion in FY2026. Legislative attempts to expand Attorney General enforcement power over unlicensed operators and to ban dual-currency sweepstakes platforms both failed in the 2026 session but are expected to return in 2027, positioning the jurisdiction as tightening-intent with contested execution. - No iGaming — constitutional referendum barrier - Mobile tax rate raised to 20% (June 2025) - Market saturating — 12 of 60 mobile licences live; consolidation expected Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/overview/) 02 · Can we get a licence? ### Licensing and regulation Favourable Maryland's sports-wagering licensing framework, administered by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, saw no rule changes this cycle. The agency's official licensee register, accessed in June 2026, confirms ten active mobile sports-wagering licensees, correcting a prior baseline figure of … Full analysis · 140 words Maryland's sports-wagering licensing framework, administered by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, saw no rule changes this cycle. The agency's official licensee register, accessed in June 2026, confirms ten active mobile sports-wagering licensees, correcting a prior baseline figure of twelve; the revision is a factual reconciliation against the regulator's live register rather than a change to licensing conditions, applications or renewal standards. The boundary of what counts as a licensable sports wager in Maryland, however, remains contested through a parallel channel: in April 2025 the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission determined that Kalshi's event contracts are economically indistinguishable from sports wagers, a determination that functions as a regulator circular rather than primary legislation and is accordingly fragile as an instrument, though it has become the foundational legal predicate invoked in Baltimore's subsequent municipal litigation against Kalshi and Polymarket. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/licensing/) 03 · How hard is entry, really? ### Market entry in practice Mixed Open and commercially accessible for sports wagering operators, but the 2022 application window is closed and no further window is currently scheduled — entry now generally requires acquiring an existing licence or awaiting a discretionary SWARC window. Competitive 20% mobile tax, no tribal complexi… Full analysis · 72 words Open and commercially accessible for sports wagering operators, but the 2022 application window is closed and no further window is currently scheduled — entry now generally requires acquiring an existing licence or awaiting a discretionary SWARC window. Competitive 20% mobile tax, no tribal complexity, no mandatory casino tether. Population ~6.2M is mid-tier. The principal limitation is no iGaming (referendum required). A good secondary market for operators already licensed in other US states. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/market-entry/) 04 · What do the licences cost? ### Licence fees Mixed The mobile sports wagering licence carries a $500,000 non-refundable application fee, a $100,000 annual fee and a 5-year renewable term under § 9-1E-06. Facility-licence application fees scale by class: $2,000,000 (Class A-1), $1,000,000 (Class A-2), $250,000 (Class B-1) and $50,000 (Class B-2). App… Full analysis · 48 words The mobile sports wagering licence carries a $500,000 non-refundable application fee, a $100,000 annual fee and a 5-year renewable term under § 9-1E-06. Facility-licence application fees scale by class: $2,000,000 (Class A-1), $1,000,000 (Class A-2), $250,000 (Class B-1) and $50,000 (Class B-2). Applicants also reimburse MLGCA background-investigation costs. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/fees/) 05 · What is the tax take? ### Tax Mixed Mobile sports wagering is taxed at 20% of adjusted gross sports betting revenue (raised from 15% effective June 2025 under HB 352, 2025 session). Retail sports wagering remains taxed at 15%. Revenue is directed primarily to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund (education) with allocations to the… Full analysis · 50 words Mobile sports wagering is taxed at 20% of adjusted gross sports betting revenue (raised from 15% effective June 2025 under HB 352, 2025 session). Retail sports wagering remains taxed at 15%. Revenue is directed primarily to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund (education) with allocations to the Problem Gambling Fund. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/taxes/) 06 · Can we move player money? ### Payments and banking Favourable Standard US online sports wagering payment stack. Licensed Maryland operators accept ACH, debit cards, e-wallets and prepaid; mobile operators may accept credit cards to fund accounts (standard practice), while retail wagers must be cash, check or debit. MCC 7995 is functional for licensed operators… Full analysis · 51 words Standard US online sports wagering payment stack. Licensed Maryland operators accept ACH, debit cards, e-wallets and prepaid; mobile operators may accept credit cards to fund accounts (standard practice), while retail wagers must be cash, check or debit. MCC 7995 is functional for licensed operators. BSA/FinCEN AML obligations apply with SAR/CTR filing. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/payments/) 07 · Can we advertise? ### Marketing Mixed MLGCA regulates marketing and requires responsible-gaming disclosures. Advertising may not target persons under 21. There are no unique state-specific blanket advertising bans beyond standard requirements. Sports-team sponsorships are broadly permitted (e.g. BetMGM is the Baltimore Ravens' official … Full analysis · 49 words MLGCA regulates marketing and requires responsible-gaming disclosures. Advertising may not target persons under 21. There are no unique state-specific blanket advertising bans beyond standard requirements. Sports-team sponsorships are broadly permitted (e.g. BetMGM is the Baltimore Ravens' official gaming partner). College player prop bets are prohibited (since 1 March 2024). Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/marketing/) 08 · What must the platform meet? ### Technical compliance Favourable Effective July 1, 2026, electronic instant bingo machines operating in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties are no longer required to print a paper ticket for each game of instant bingo played, unless the player specifically elects to have a ticket printed. The change is implemented through amendments … Full analysis · 171 words Effective July 1, 2026, electronic instant bingo machines operating in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties are no longer required to print a paper ticket for each game of instant bingo played, unless the player specifically elects to have a ticket printed. The change is implemented through amendments to the technical standards under COMAR 36.07.01 and 36.07.03, with the machine-level requirement set out in Technical Standards COMAR 36.07.06.08, and reflects changes flowing from Criminal Law Article 12-308. This is a narrow, single-product adjustment to the technical-standards layer of Maryland's gambling regulatory framework: it applies only to electronic instant bingo terminals in the two named counties and leaves the certification, approval and technical-standards architecture for every other regulated product class unchanged. The amendment reduces an operational compliance burden for instant-bingo terminal operators rather than introducing a new certification requirement, and it does not touch the licensing framework, the classification of instant bingo as a regulated activity, or any cross-product technical standard applicable to casino gaming, sports wagering, or the video lottery terminal network. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/technical/) 09 · Can we ship through apps and platforms? ### Distribution and platforms Favourable Robinhood and Webull's role distributing Kalshi's event-contract products to Maryland residents, and Coinbase's role providing crypto on-ramp access to the same products, are now directly at issue in Baltimore's August 2026 municipal lawsuit. All three are named not as originators of the contested c… Full analysis · 136 words Robinhood and Webull's role distributing Kalshi's event-contract products to Maryland residents, and Coinbase's role providing crypto on-ramp access to the same products, are now directly at issue in Baltimore's August 2026 municipal lawsuit. All three are named not as originators of the contested contracts but as distribution and funding-access co-defendants under the city's Consumer Protection Ordinance, extending accessory-liability theory to platforms that did not themselves create the disputed product. This tests a previously unadjudicated theory in Maryland: that a brokerage app, retail trading platform, or crypto exchange distributing or funding access to a product a state regulator has determined is indistinguishable from a sports wager can be held liable alongside the originating platform. The relief sought, injunction, disgorgement, restitution and civil penalties, would apply to these distribution partners as well as to Kalshi and Polymarket directly. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/distribution/) 10 · How hard does the regulator enforce? ### Enforcement Favourable The Maryland Board of Contract Appeals sanctioned the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency on 28 September 2026 for repeatedly obstructing discovery in the ongoing dispute over the state lottery-operations contract between Scientific Games and Intralot. The Board's sanctions order found that t… Full analysis · 187 words The Maryland Board of Contract Appeals sanctioned the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency on 28 September 2026 for repeatedly obstructing discovery in the ongoing dispute over the state lottery-operations contract between Scientific Games and Intralot. The Board's sanctions order found that the agency threw up roadblocks to the appellant's right to discovery at every step, and contemporaneous reporting described the agency as sanctioned for repeatedly ignoring orders for records. This is a procedural sanction issued by an administrative appeals tribunal against the regulator in its capacity as a litigant, not an enforcement action against a licensee and not a change to the underlying gambling statute or licensing conditions. The litigation concerns the state's lottery-operations contract, which is reported to expire in May and likely to require extension while the rebid procurement remains contested before the Board. The sanction elevates procedural and vendor-continuity risk around that procurement without altering any licensing or activity-class instrument. No MLGCA enforcement log or regulator bulletin was independently accessed to corroborate the matter beyond press coverage, and the sanction should be read as a litigation-conduct finding rather than a substantive licensing determination. Probable AI-generated 15 enforcement events [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/enforcement/) 11 · What is coming? ### Outlook Mixed The sports wagering market is mature and approaching saturation (12 of 60 mobile licences live; FY25 handle above $5.9bn), with consolidation and product innovation expected rather than new launches. iGaming faces a structural constitutional barrier — expansion requires a voter referendum — and the … Full analysis · 90 words The sports wagering market is mature and approaching saturation (12 of 60 mobile licences live; FY25 handle above $5.9bn), with consolidation and product innovation expected rather than new launches. iGaming faces a structural constitutional barrier — expansion requires a voter referendum — and the 2026 effort (SB 761/SB 885) died when Senator Watson withdrew the referendum bill on 13 March 2026, the fourth consecutive failure. A sweepstakes ban (HB 295) passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Next realistic iGaming window: 2027 session or a November 2026 ballot push. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/maryland/outlook/) Evidential record & source register 0 enforcement · 25 red flags · 12 sources · Expand full record ## What gets operators fined 25 red flags (3 high, 7 medium, 15 low) and 4 controls that address them. - highMobile tax raised to 20% in June 2025Margin compression for mobile operators; baseline spec's 15% figure is stale.Source 2 · T1 - high2022 application window closed; no scheduled reopeningNew entrants must acquire existing licences or await discretionary window.Source 3 · T1 - highTax-rate change conflicts with baseline specDownstream analyses using 15% mobile figure will be wrong.Source 2 · T1 - mediumiGaming requires referendum; 2026 effort diedNo near-term online casino upside; structural barrier.Source 8 · T3 - mediumMLGCA prediction-market warning to licenseesInvolvement with Kalshi-type products risks licence action.Source 12 · T3 - mediumAggressive C&D enforcement; HB 295 ban pendingSweepstakes operators face exit pressure and possible statutory ban in 2027.Source 10 · T3 - mediumMarket saturating (12/60 mobile live)Consolidation likely; thin runway for small operators.Source 9 · T3 - medium$500k application + $100k annual mobile feeHigh capital barrier limits entry to established players.Source 5 · T2 - mediumMD Criminal Law § 12-102 covers 'contingency' wagersUnauthorized online slots/casino games criminalized.Source 11 · T3 - mediumKalshi active legal challenge by MD regulatorsRegulatory uncertainty for prediction-market exposure.Source 9 · T3 - lowCollege player prop ban (March 2024)Wager catalog restriction reduces product offering.Source 9 · T3 - lowActive licensee count dynamicConfirm count against MLGCA database before commercial reliance.Source 6 · T2 - lowCredit-card prohibition proposed in 2026 billsFunding-method risk if successor legislation enacts a ban.Source 10 · T3 - lowServer-residency requirement unconfirmedHosting obligations may exist in COMAR Title 36; verify.Source 4 · T1 - lowBSA/FinCEN federal layer appliesSAR/CTR obligations on operators as MSBs/casinos.Source 4 · T1 - lowRepeal bill (SB 1033) filed 2025Tail risk of legislative pushback against online wagering.Source 7 · T2 - lowMandatory diversity plan for licenseesFailure to meet diversity standards risks corrective action.Source 3 · T1 - low$1.5bn state budget shortfallFiscal pressure could drive higher tax rates or iGaming push.Source 10 · T3 - lowNeighbouring states (PA, NJ, WV, DE) have iGamingCross-border leakage and competitive disadvantage.Source 11 · T3 - lowRenewal fee tied to 1% of average proceedsOngoing cost scaling with revenue.Source 5 · T2 - lowiGaming max 55% tax floated in past billsAny future iGaming may carry punitive tax.Source 8 · T3 - lowCostly background investigation reimbursementVariable, potentially significant uplift to application cost.Source 3 · T1 - lowRetail consolidation (Canton Gaming closures)Retail footprint contracting; smaller B operators exiting.Source 12 · T3 - lowMandatory RG frameworks as licence conditionOperators must maintain robust RG tools or risk licence.Source 6 · T2 - lowNo iLottery — Maryland Lottery traditional onlyNo online lottery channel pathway.Source 11 · T3 ### Controls - 001Geolocation verificationDeploy GeoComply or equivalent to confirm in-state presence at registration and wager.Source 4 · T1 - 002Tax remittance at 20% mobile / 15% retailConfigure GGR tax engine for dual-rate remittance to MLGCA.Source 2 · T1 - 003Wager catalog restriction (no college player props)Block college athlete prop markets per March 2024 rule.Source 9 · T3 - 004Responsible gambling frameworkMaintain deposit limits, cooling-off, reality checks, self-exclusion as licence condition.Source 6 · T2 ## Worked scenarios 5 entry scenarios, each with the move we would make. #### A DraftKings-tier operator already licensed in PA seeks MD mobile entry. Application window closed; must acquire an existing mobile licence or await discretionary SWARC reopening. Model 20% mobile tax, $500k/$100k fees, geolocation and RG compliance. Do this: Pursue acquisition of an existing licence; do not assume an open window. Source 3 · T1 #### A platform supplier wants to provide a sportsbook engine to a MD licensee. Equipment/platform must be MLGCA-approved and tested by an approved lab before deployment. Do this: Obtain MLGCA supplier approval prior to integration. Source 4 · T1 #### An iGaming brand evaluates MD online casino entry. No statutory pathway; expansion requires a voter referendum. The 2026 effort failed when SB 761 was withdrawn. Do this: Defer; monitor 2027 session and any November 2026 ballot push. Source 8 · T3 #### A sweepstakes/social casino operator assesses continued MD access. No express statutory ban but active MLGCA C&D enforcement; VGW and High 5 exited; HB 295 ban pending. High exit risk. Do this: Assess exit or geo-block; expect renewed ban legislation in 2027. Source 10 · T3 #### A licensed sportsbook considers offering prediction-market style contracts. MLGCA warned licensees that involvement with prediction markets could trigger enforcement. Do this: Avoid prediction-market integration pending clarity. Source 12 · T3 ## What we looked for and could not find Confirmed absence is a finding of its own. These are the questions we searched and could not answer from a citable source, with the searches we ran. Never behind the paywall. Technical compliance.hosting requirements. no specific server-residency requirement located in accessible MLGCA technical standards (COMAR Title 36). - searched: Maryland MLGCA server residency requirement sports wagering - searched: COMAR Title 36 hosting data center Maryland - searched: Maryland mobile sportsbook server location rule - checked: mdgaming.com Competitive landscape.unlicensed market share estimate pct. no T1/T2 published estimate of unlicensed/offshore market share for Maryland. - searched: Maryland offshore sports betting market share estimate - searched: Maryland illegal gambling handle percentage - searched: MLGCA unlicensed operator market share - checked: rotowire.com ## Source register Every source on a four-step tier scale. A claim is never shown at a stronger tier than the source it cites. 12 sources · 4 tier 1 · 3 tier 2 · 5 tier 3 No. Source Tier Verification 1 MD-HB295-2026 T1 of 4 Source 1 · Open in drawer → 2 MD-MLGCA-REVENUE T1 of 4 Source 2 · Open in drawer → 3 MD-SWARC-APPLICATIONS T1 of 4 Source 3 · Open in drawer → 4 MD-MLGCA-MAIN T1 of 4 Source 4 · Open in drawer → 5 MD-SG-9-1E-06 T2 of 4 Source 5 · Open in drawer → 6 MD-MARKETREPORTER-2026 T2 of 4 Source 6 · Open in drawer → 7 MD-RG-STATS-2026 T2 of 4 Source 7 · Open in drawer → 8 MD-CASINOORG-IGAMING-2026 T3 of 4 Source 8 · Open in drawer → 9 MD-SBDIME-2026 T3 of 4 Source 9 · Open in drawer → 10 MD-SBCAMERICAS-SWEEPS-2026 T3 of 4 Source 10 · Open in drawer → 11 MD-ATS-CASINO-2026 T3 of 4 Source 11 · Open in drawer → 12 MD-ROTOWIRE-2026 T3 of 4 Source 12 · Open in drawer → ### Claims with their own provenance Mobile sports wagering tax rose from 15% to 20% in June 2025; retail remains 15%. CL-US-MD-001 · T1 of 4 · published 10 Feb 2026 · Confirmed Pipeline-sourced · From Advennt research · Rule detail not yet extracted Source 2 · T1 Maryland mobile licence application fee is $500,000 with a 5-year term. CL-US-MD-002 · T2 of 4 (asserted T1, shown at its source's tier) · published 1 Jan 2024 · Confirmed Pipeline-sourced · From Advennt research · Rule detail not yet extracted Source 5 · T2 ## Parent jurisdiction This unit licenses in its own right; the parent page covers the federal layer. - parent[United States](/jurisdictions/united-states/) · 1 restricted · 15 uncertain · 4 not yet assessed