Maryland Poker Legal 2024
A healthy live poker and gaming scene, proposals to expand current casinos, and a neighboring state which has recently regulated online poker itself: everything seems to be pointing toward Maryland passing pro-poker legislation soon. The online poker MD scene is already thriving, but a state-regulated one could make things more interesting.
Maryland's neighbor Delaware has already forged ahead with regulated online poker of its own, and state lawmakers may not want to continue siphoning off business to go over the border. In the next few months, legal poker sites in Maryland could become the norm.
For now, though, online poker Maryland law remains in that strange gray you seem to find across the US: neither illegal nor outright legit. But in 2024 there are still plenty of legal poker sites Maryland residents can play at for real money.
Is Online Poker Legal in Maryland?
Luckily for Maryland poker players, no law exists prohibiting playing poker online.
But neither is there one explicitly allowing it, either, which makes legal poker sites in Maryland confusing to say the least.
As of 2024, unregulated legit poker sites are the best option for Maryland Internet players wanting to play for real dollars.The online poker MD legal situation means it's cool to play at internationally regulated sites while you white for state-licensed ones to hit the market.
Elsewhere, a state lottery - which generates millions of dollars in tax revenue - is also legal. But that's not all that is available in the Free State.
What's the Live Poker Scene Like?
In 2007, Maryland's General Assembly approved a move into legal gambling, with several land-based casinos - in Perryville, Ocean Downs and Arundel Mills - opening soon after.
After expansion laws were passed in 2012, the Rocky Gap Casino opened a year later, and a major 100-table game Horseshoe Casino is due to open in Baltimore in 2024. The Horseshoe will have a WSOP-branded cardroom hosting WSOP Circuit events.
Finally, casino giant MGM has opened a major complex at Prince George's National Harbor. This massive venue houses over 3,500 slots and 140 table games, including a substantial poker room. That means finding legal poker sites in Maryland (at least as far as land-based sites go) is really easy.
Are Any Online Bills Likely?
When Maryland movers and shakers voted in 2012 to allow expansion of gaming in the state, it was thought that online gaming would be part of those plans.
However, all online-related regulation was removed at the last-minute, and casinos were left to forge ahead with expanding their land-based operations only. But like a lot of other states, the online poker MD legal situation could change if new legislation is brought before the house.
The Future of Legal Poker In Maryland
All eyes will be on Maryland's neighbor Delaware to see how their fledgling online poker scene fares. Meanwhile, to the north, Pennsylvania is pushing on with successful land-based casinos of its own, and could well legalize poker online soon.
If that happens, MD could well benefit, certainly from any interstate compacts that could arise. (And those pesky border geolocation issues wouldn't pose as much of a problem, either.)
Maryland would benefit as well from some kind of compact, as its medium-sized population of just 5.9 million might not be enough to support state-only gambling online. And, according to a report by Kahlil Philander and Ingo Fiedler, pre-UIGEA Maryland had only an average online poker-playing population.
Eyes will also be fixed on MGM's new venture in Baltimore to see if - as anticipated - it generates the millions of dollars in tax revenue the state so badly needs.
If that succeeds, online poker Maryland regulation may follow sooner rather than later. While lawmakers in the state may have gotten cold feet about including online poker laws in with their live casino expansions, next time they may get swept up in the new wave of gaming regulation embraced by their neighbors.
FAQ
Can I Play Online Poker Legally in Maryland?
It's hard to say. There is no specific law outlawing playing poker online, and Maryland players continue to play games on the net without fear of prosecution. Legal poker sites in Maryland that are regulated by the state don't necessarily exist. But those that are regulated internationally definitely do.
What Age Do You Have to be To Gamble There?
21 or over at legal land-based casinos. The state lottery can be played at 18.
Are There Any Live Casinos in the State?
Yes, several, and two major casinos are due to open in the next 2-3 years.
Can I Make Real Cash Deposits In Maryland?
Yes. Some payment methods may be unsuccessful when making deposits, but as in other US states, MD players should persevere with several banking methods in order to get their USA funds onto an online poker Maryland site.
