Maryland Warns Sports Bettors Ahead of Football Season: What Is and Isn’t Legal
The NFL will soon join the college football season, which has already begun. Maryland casino officials are warning the public to always play with authorized, regulated operators as the most-bet sport in the US makes a comeback.
The majority of gambling in the Old Line State is governed by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). Prior to the NFL's customary Thanksgiving feast of games, online sportsbooks subject to MLGCA regulation were permitted to start accepting wagers on November 23, 2022.
According to the American Gaming Association, legal wagers on NFL games are expected to total $30 billion this year alone. The college football field will receive billions more.
Maryland casino authorities claim that their regulated sportsbooks and fantasy sports sites offer consumer protections like assurances that winning wagers will be settled and that account withdrawals will be processed, which are not offered by illicit operators.
"This is a fun time of year for sports fans. Football season is something everybody looks forward and it’s also typically the busiest time of the year for sports wagering,” said Seth Elkin, a spokesperson for the MLGCA.
“We want to remind everyone of the legal options for sports wagering in Maryland, and how to tell the difference between the legal and illegal options,” Elkin explained.
Lawful versus Illegal
"Legal vs. Illegal" is a new section on the Maryland Lottery and Gaming website. The category lists the websites that are licensed and governed by the state for online sports betting and fantasy sports.
Bally Bet, BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, Crab Sports, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, and LetsBetMD are the 11 authorized online sportsbooks in the state that are directly linked on the website.
DataForce, DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Football Player's Championship, FastDraft, FullTime Fantasy, GullyCricket, OwnersBox, RealTime, Splash Sports, SportsHub, Underdog Sports, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports are among the 13 fantasy sports platforms in Maryland that have links posted.
The state gaming office claims that any unnamed online sports betting and/or fantasy sports platform is "operating illegally in Maryland."
Additionally, according to the state gaming commission, social casinos that pose as sweepstakes platforms are illegal and not legitimate. Chumba, Stake, and High 5 Casino are among the numerous illegal gaming websites listed by the MLGCA that have received cease and desist orders.
Additionally, Maryland has taken action against prediction markets, which are governed by the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission rather than state gaming regulators like the MLGCA since they purport to be offering derivative goods.
Kalshi is one such operator who was instructed to leave the state. Kalshi is presently running contracts to determine whether Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will tie the knot this year and whether Julie Felss Masino, the CEO of Cracker Barrel, will leave before the year ends.
Conscientious Gambling
Elkin claims that although the listed legal websites offer consumer protection and state-mandated responsible gaming policies, it is ultimately the player's responsibility to control their wagering.
“Please play responsibly within your [financial] means,” Elkin said. “It’s not a way of generating income. Keep it fun. Keep it social.”
