Guide to Casinos in Maryland

In recent years, social casinos have gained significant traction as a unique and entertaining segment of the online gaming industry. Unlike traditional casinos involving real money wagering, social casinos provide users with a platform to enjoy various casino-style games without financial loss. 

In Maryland, the popularity of social casinos has grown alongside the broader trend observed globally. As a state with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant gaming community, Maryland residents have increasingly embraced social casinos with their sweepstake model as an alternative form of entertainment.

Here's an overview of the most popular social casinos available in Maryland:

Pulsz Casino Maryland

Pulsz Casino is a renowned sweepstakes casino in Maryland, standing out with its virtual currency model that uses Gold Coins for free play. Offering a unique user rewards program, Pulsz Casino allows players to purchase additional Gold Coins, which are then rewarded with Sweepstakes Coins that can be won and later redeemed for cash prizes.

• Rewarding loyalty program.
• Purchasing additional Gold Coins rewards Sweepstakes Coins as a bonus.
• Desktop and dedicated mobile app available.

High 5 Casino Maryland

High 5 Casino, acknowledged as the "Social Gaming Operator of the Year" at the 2023 EGR North America Awards, is positioned as a prominent sweepstakes casino in Maryland. Featuring an extensive collection of over 900 casino-style games, including live dealer options, this casino ensures players can enjoy the excitement of their preferred slots and classic table games like blackjack and roulette. 

• Award-winning recognition.
• Substantial game selection.
• Easy purchase and redemption process.

Fortune Coins Casino Maryland

Fortune Coins Casino in Maryland sets itself apart with a captivating and colorful design, complementing its wide array of sweepstakes games. With an exceptional bonus program and a stellar new player offer, Fortune Coins Casino provides an enticing and rewarding gaming environment.

• Captivating and colorful design.
• Intuitive navigation.
• Exceptional bonus offers for new players, including virtual credits.

McLuck Casino Maryland

Mcluck Casino in Maryland, operated by B2Spin Limited, distinguishes itself with an extensive selection of over 2,000 games, including a live casino experience. Beyond its impressive slot collection, Mcluck Casino offers classic casino table games like roulette and blackjack, with the added allure of an exclusive McJackpot progressive jackpot available across all games.

• Live casino section.
• Extensive slot collection.
• Exclusive McJackpot, a progressive jackpot available on any game.

WOW Vegas Casino Maryland

WOW Vegas Casino in Maryland boasts a selection of over 200 slots, predominantly developed by Pragmatic Play and Betsoft, providing players with a diverse gaming library. With a simple yet eye-catching design optimized for both iOS and Android devices, WOW Vegas offers a generous welcome bonus and a variety of banking methods

• Generous welcome bonus.
• Simple and user-friendly design optimized for play on iOS and Android devices.
• Sweeps coins can be redeemed for cash using secure transaction methods.

Chumba Casino Maryland

Chumba Casino, available in Maryland, stands out for its reliability and legality in 49 out of 50 U.S. states, with a strong emphasis on player security. Operating as a social casino, Chumba eliminates real-money transactions, ensuring player safety, and holds an active MGA license.

• Free daily sweepstakes coins.
• Legally available in 49 out of 50 US states (excluding Washington State).
• Prioritizes player security with no real money transactions.

Luckyland Slots Maryland 

Luckyland Slots, a popular social casino in Maryland owned by Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), offers almost 100 exclusive slot titles and a unique Luckyland loyalty program. With daily bonuses, a tiered loyalty system offering increasing rewards, and a focus on slots, Luckyland Slots provides a rewarding experience for players in the state.

• Excellent loyalty program.
• Focus on slots, with almost 100 exclusive titles.
• Daily bonuses and a loyalty program with tiered rewards.

Stake.us Casino Maryland

Stake.us Casino is a popular online social casino in Maryland, offering a diverse range of slots and table games, including variations of roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Notable for its user-friendly interface resembling a real-money online casino, Stake.us stands out with exclusive titles developed by its in-house game developers and a VIP Club that rewards players with additional prizes as they progress through different levels.

• Stake Originals titles exclusive to Stake.us.
• Wide range of slots and table games, including variations of roulette, baccarat, and blackjack.
• Offers membership into the Stake VIP Club with different levels and additional prizes.

Hard Rock Social Casino Maryland

Hard Rock Social Casino in Maryland, an extension of the renowned Hard Rock brand, distinguishes itself with live slots where online players can enjoy a vast selection of titles. Offering a range of ways for players to earn extra coins, including daily spins on the lucky wheel and free coins every two hours, Hard Rock Social Casino provides an interactive gaming environment.

• Offers live slots with hundreds of titles.
• Rewards Center for purchasing merchandise with collected points.
• Daily lucky wheel spins and free coins every two hours.

MyJackPot.com Maryland

MyJackPot.com, a social casino in Maryland developed by the renowned German company Whow, delivers an authentic online casino experience without the need for real money. With a captivating interface, generous loyalty rewards, and an exciting New Epic Wilds app for mobile users, MyJackPot.com offers Maryland players a thrilling and secure gaming adventure.

• New Epic Wilds app for mobile users.
• Premium software, enticing bonuses, and a vast selection of lucrative slots.
• Generous loyalty rewards.

No, Maryland does not permit online casino gambling as per the State regulations. However, online social casinos are legal and available to Maryland residents.

With the neighboring states gaining from gambling services offered by real-money online casinos, Maryland State lawmakers may just have to follow suit. There have been talks of a chance that things could change in the coming years, but so far, it doesn’t seem like the change will take place any time soon.

Brief History of Casino Gambling in Maryland

In 1972, Maryland voters approved lottery betting through a constitutional referendum, leading to the launch of lotto and scratch-off tickets in subsequent years. The state's gambling landscape saw significant changes in the 2000s, with the approval of Video Lottery Terminals in 2008 and table games in 2012. 

2015 marked advancements, with IGT extending its deal with the Maryland Lottery, and recommendations for annual slot machine payout percentages were deliberated. Fast forward to 2017, legislative measures were taken to prohibit the sale of lottery tickets online, and Scientific Games secured an 8-year contract in May 2017 to operate the state lottery's central monitoring system.

Since then, Maryland has witnessed the rise of social casinos, offering a virtual gaming experience without real money transactions. These online casino sites provide an engaging blend of casino-style games and social interaction, contributing to the diverse and evolving gaming landscape in the state.

In 2020, Maryland embraced legal sports betting, aligning with the 2018 Supreme Court decision granting states control over their sports betting regulations. Today, several reputable sportsbook brands have established their presence in Maryland, offering residents a diverse and exciting array of options for online sports betting. 

Here are some of the prominent online sportsbook brands currently available in Maryland:

• Caesars Sportsbook: User-friendly site and app, Full Caesar bonus, and an integrated rewards program.
• BetMGM Sportsbook: Extensive selection of betting options, multiple sign-up bonuses, and regular promotions.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: Generous welcome bonus, easy sign-up, diverse banking options, and ongoing promotions.
• DraftKings Sportsbook: Substantial signup bonus, regular promotions, and a retail location at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.

At the land-based casinos in Maryland, locals are allowed access to a range of casino games such as Slots, Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Video Keno, and Three-Card Poker. If you are a Maryland resident above 21 years old, you’ll also enjoy optional games such as Poker, Four Card Poker, Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Big Six and Texas Hold’em Bonus, Let it Ride, and Pai Gow poker.

Five Maryland land-based casinos offer electronic gaming machines as well as live table games around the clock. These casinos are highlighted in the table below:

In November 2008, voters granted approval for the establishment of casinos through a statewide constitutional referendum. All licensed casinos in Maryland fall under the oversight of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. 

The sequence of casino launches unfolded with Hollywood Casino in Perryville inaugurating operations on September 17, 2010, followed by Ocean Downs in 2011. Maryland Live! entered the scene in 2012, Rocky Gap Casino in 2013, Horseshoe Casino in 2014, and MGM National Harbor in 2016.

Beyond social casinos, land-based casinos, and online sportsbooks, Maryland offers a range of other legal gambling options. Here are some notable alternatives:

Online Poker

While Maryland has considered licensing and regulating interactive poker in the past, concrete legislation has yet to be enacted. The legal landscape around online poker remains under review, with potential developments in the future. Although regulated online poker is not currently legal in Iowa, individuals can still partake in online poker at sweepstakes casinos. 

Online Lottery

Maryland has a well-established and legal state lottery, offering various games and draw options. While online lottery ticket sales were proposed to be prohibited in 2017, Maryland residents can still participate in traditional lottery games through authorized retailers.

Horse Racing

Horse racing has a rich history in Maryland, and the state continues to support this tradition through legal horse racing activities. Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes, is a renowned venue, and residents can engage in both on-track and off-track betting on horse races.

Charitable Gambling

Maryland permits certain forms of charitable gambling, such as bingo, raffles, and casino nights, provided they are conducted by eligible organizations and comply with specific regulations. These events contribute to charitable causes while offering a form of legal gambling entertainment.