Is Online Poker Legal In Maryland
Playing poker online in the United States and Maryland is NOT illegal. Simply put, you are not in violation of any laws when you play online poker as an individual. Unfortunately, there are no rooms available for Maryland poker players. Regulation and Taxes for Online Poker in Maryland. The state of Maryland doesn’t provide any direct information that states that online poker is legal or illegal. Therefore, it can only be safe to assume that online poker would be considered illegal in the state, especially since they had taken aggressive action to prevent international poker sites.
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Last Updated January 6, 2021
Maryland is a unique state when it comes to the issue of online poker. As most poker players from the state know, getting online to play poker can be a challenge in Maryland. That’s not to say it’s impossible for Marylanders to play online poker, but there is definitely information you’ll want to review before playing real-money poker online.
Maryland is one of those states in the US where players do have fewer options for playing poker for real cash online. While their options may be fewer, that doesn’t equate to no options whatsoever. In fact, some of the top US-friendly poker sites welcome Maryland players – but it’s limited to a few.
We’ll discuss that information, along with a broader survey of gambling in Maryland, in our Guide to Playing Online Poker in Maryland.
Most Recent Online Poker News in Maryland
It has been quite a few years since online poker was discussed by lawmakers in Maryland.
In 2012, State House Speaker Michael Busch included online poker and casino games as a part of the special session legislative agenda. He had no detailed proposal but did want to consider online poker as part of a larger gambling expansion plan. Neighboring states were moving in that direction, and some Maryland lawmakers wanted to consider the option as well.
However, days later when the agenda became official, online gambling was not in it. Busch even downplayed the idea that it had been a serious consideration.
Since then, there have been no proposals for online poker and/or casino games.
This could change in the coming years. Neighboring Delaware has been offering online gaming for more than five years, and Pennsylvania just launched its online gambling sites in 2019. West Virginia legalized online poker and casino games and plans to launch those sites by 2021.
Casinos have grown in popular in Maryland in the past few years, with poker rooms at establishments like Maryland Live! and MGM National Harbor drawing big crowds of players. Online gaming could complement that revenue as it does in New Jersey, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers are ready to consider it.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 10.1.V; 12-13 |
| Definition of Gambling & Player | Gaming device: A gaming table, except a billiard table, at which a game of chance is played for money or any other thing or consideration of value, or a game or device at which money or any other thing or consideration of value is bet, wagered, or gambled.Illegal gaming activities: A person may not bet, wager, or gamble; make or sell a book or pool on the result of a race, contest, or contingency; establish, keep, rent, use, or occupy, or knowingly allow to be established, kept, rented, used, or occupied, all or a part of a building, vessel, or place, on land or water, within the State, for the purpose of betting, wagering, or gambling; receive, become the depository of, record, register, or forward, or propose, agree, or pretend to forward, money or any other thing or consideration of value, to be bet, wagered, or gambled on the result of a race, contest, or contingency. |
| Online Poker/Gambling | Some lawmakers discussed an online poker bill in 2012 but have yet to bring one to the broader legislature for consideration. There is speculation that Maryland is ripe for online poker and casino games, and its casinos tend to be supportive, but there has been no action taken. |
| Live Poker | The poker rooms in Maryland casinos are very popular, offering cash games and tournaments. |
| Casinos | There are fully-functional casinos in six Maryland counties, all of which offer all types of gambling, including table games like poker. |
| Sports Betting | Bills remain on the table in the House and Senate to legalize sports betting in Maryland, in connection with the state’s casinos. |
| DFS | Bills introduced in 2018 seek to regulate daily fantasy sports, but the legislature has not voted on final proposals. DFS is already exempted from the state’s gambling prohibitions. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Horse and harness racing, pari-mutuel betting, lottery, bingo and raffles, charitable gambling. |
Is Online Poker Legal in Maryland?
Any discussion of the legality of online poker – or any form of gambling, really – has to begin with a caveat: Don’t rely on the Internet for legal advice. Get in touch with a lawyer who has gambling-related experience in your state if you have any question of consequence.
However, if you’re just a poker player with a casual interest in the state law of Maryland as it pertains to playing poker in Maryland or gambling online, we can simplify the process. The complete Maryland state code below, and it’s suggested that you review it. To help you with what can be a dense read, here are some of the most important parts presented in laymans terms:
While most states provide a definition of gambling, Maryland instead relies on a broad prohibition of the basic act of gambling. It’s illegal to “bet, wager or gamble” (Section 12-102) in the state, with no further definitions provided for any of those terms.
Maryland doesn’t distinguish between players and those involved in the business of illegal gambling to the same degree as the average US state. Participants face far tougher penalties (at least theoretically) than they would in neighboring states.
Poker players could also run into trouble with Section 12-103, which prohibits playing a “gaming device” for anything of value. You might not think of a deck of cards and a kitchen table as gaming devices, but Maryland law is broad on this point, defining a gaming device as basically anything involved in the playing of a game that involves betting or wagering: “a gaming table, except a billiard table, at which a game of chance is played for money or any other thing or consideration of value; or(ii) a game or device at which money or any other thing or consideration of value is bet, wagered, or gambled” (Section 12-101(1)).
Finally, the possession of a “gaming device” (or a financial interest in such a device) is also a violation of the law in Maryland (Section 12-104). Again, the sweeping definition raises questions regarding exactly what players can and can’t have by the letter of the law.
Maryland gambling law does vary from county to county, so it’s important to become familiar not only with state law, but with your local law as well.
As you can see, Maryland law regarding gambling in general, and therefore poker specifically, is a complicated animal. Hopefully this starting point has gotten you closer to answers for your questions about online poker sites and the law in Maryland.
Will Maryland Regulate Online Poker?
Eventually, Maryland will regulate online poker.
With so many surrounding states already offering – or preparing to offer – online poker, it is only a matter of time before Maryland joins in. As the state takes on sports betting and other types of gambling expansion, online gaming will inevitably be a part of that someday.
In addition to pressure from neighboring states, education of Maryland’s lawmakers is also a requirement. They will have to learn how online poker and casino games can benefit the state through revenue and casinos through cross-promotion. They can learn all of that through a close examination of the New Jersey market, but it requires a desire to do so.
For now, there are online poker options for players. They are not regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, but they are fully licensed and regulated by well-respected regulatory bodies.
Until Maryland chooses to regulate their own market and license operators within it, players can access online poker through the sites we recommend.
Famous Maryland Poker Players
Anthony Gregg is a soft-spoken poker pro, often choosing to stay out of the limelight and play his best game. That plan earned nearly $12 million thus far in his poker career.
The next two players on the list of top Maryland pros both gained much of their notoriety through their performances at the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Greg Merson is perhaps the best known of the two, as he won the WSOP Main Event in 2012 for more than $8.5 million, and he did that after winning another event that summer at the WSOP, a Six-Handed NLHE event for more than $1.13 million. Unsurprisingly, he also won the WSOP Player of the year in 2012. All of it was a result of his extensive online poker history.
Steve Dannenmann is known for his runner-up finish at the 2005 WSOP Main Event. He finished second to Australian Joe Hachem that year but still won $4.25 million for second place.
Christian Harder and Phil Galfond, both Maryland natives, are most well-known for their online poker history. Both played in some of the toughest games online before Black Friday and built solid reputations as winning players. Galfond now owns his own poker site called Run It Once Poker, which is available outside of the US.
As of 2021, these were the top 10 live tournament money earners from Maryland:
1. Anthony Gregg ($12 million)
2. Gregory Merson ($11.4 million)
3. Steve Dannenmann ($4.8 million)
4. Christian Harder ($4.6 million)
5. Brock Parker ($3.8 million)
6. Dan Kelly ($3.6 million)
7. Justin Liberto ($3.6 million)
8. Rhett Butler ($3.4 million)
9. Phil Galfond ($3 million)
10. Jesse Yaginuma ($1.9 million)
Is Online Poker Illegal
Maryland Gambling Facts
Maryland is actually in the midst of what most would consider to be their third wave of gambling expansion. The first was in the 1800s, when several American states had rather liberal attitudes toward various forms of gambling in both private and public settings. The next was in the 1950s, when slots were briefly legalized in some Maryland counties. The final, and current, wave stretches back to 1973, when Maryland sold their first lottery ticket and continues to this day, most recently with the vote to once again expand gambling in November 2012.
Regulated Gambling Options in Maryland
All of the big five regulated gambling options are available in Maryland except for one – tribal gambling. That leaves pari-mutuel wagering, casino-style gambling, the Maryland lottery and a nice selection of charitable-focused gambling on the regulated gambling menu for Marylanders. Maryland is easily in the top tier of states when it comes to quantity and depth of regulated gambling activity.
Does Maryland Offer any Regulated Online Gambling?
Not yet, but it appears as if it’s only a matter of time before you can play at a Maryland-licensed online poker room. The state is heading toward regulation, and it might be more than poker when all is said and done. However, the law takes some time to change, and until Maryland changes theirs, the status quo is that Marylanders don’t have any state-regulated online gambling options.
Is Online Poker Legal In Maryland City
All Poker and Gambling Laws by State
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Sources & Citations For This Article on Maryland Online Poker
Although there are no laws strictly prohibiting online poker in Maryland, it is forbidden to host live poker tournaments. Home poker games and online poker are not regulated in the state however, but are also not illegal. The Maryland online gambling laws are non existant and the other ones do not mention online poker in any way, just like other USA online poker laws.
Whilst the playing of online poker isn’t considered to be illegal the wagering or betting (gambling in general) is considered a misdemeanor in Maryland. There are no authorized poker sites for players in Maryland in regards to the law though there are online poker sites that do accept players from the state of Maryland.
Why should you trust these sites? Well, we're going to get into that more below plus get into some of the common questions that Maryland residents have when it comes to starting out. This page is going to prepare you to go into the online poker world with confidence in the fact that you are not going to get into any trouble when playing poker on the web in Maryland.
How To Play Legal Online Poker In Maryland
If one comes across an online poker site that is willing to accept players from the state of Maryland, there are one or two procedures a player a must check first before playing at said site. Firstly, a player must make certain that their computer is secure, and is not susceptible to online hacking by fraudsters.
One must also make certain that the online poker site you are planning on playing at accepts payment methods via other means than credit cards and bank transfers. Under federal law, bank transactions made for gambling are illegal; e-wallets however are not.
Are There Legal Online Poker Sites That Accept Maryland Residents?
Of course, whether or not a player situated in the state of Maryland depends on the poker site they intend to play at. This is true not just of Maryland though, but of all states and indeed all countries. Every online poker site has its own rules about who may or may not play there; but yes, there are some online poker sites that are more willing to accept players from Maryland, provided that they are above the minimum age required by the website, which is generally set to eighteen years of age in most cases.
Helpful Pages: List Of USA Online Poker Sites
Is Online Poker Legal in Maryland?
Again, although there are laws prohibiting live poker in the state of Maryland, there are no such laws prohibiting online poker or home poker as such. Similarly, whilst there is nothing to say that online poker is illegal, there is also nothing in the statues that dictate that online poker is legal either.
Although it is considered a misdemeanor to gamble in the state of Maryland, nobody has ever been prosecuted for doing so. Theoretically then, if there is no law either for or against online poker in Maryland, then as long as the poker site is permitting you to play; little harm can come of it.
Helpful Article: Is online poker legal for US players to play online?
What Do The Online Poker Laws In Maryland Say?
The laws concerning gambling in Maryland, particularly poker are strictly there to ensure that no poker businesses are set up. By this it means that the law dictates that there are no licensed poker rooms permitted in the state.
There are no such laws governing online poker, and poker played at home isn’t considered against the law if it is private between friends. On that rationale then, there are few laws to stop you from playing online poker in Maryland.
Online poker is not regulated anywhere in the United States, so there are no laws to regulate online poker either. There are however Federal laws to ensure that banks are not permitted from transferring money to and from poker sites and players. Maryland banks tend to take these laws seriously and sometimes players have more difficulty when depositing than those living in more poker-friendly states.
Regulation Of Legal Online Poker In Maryland
There is no official nationwide regulation of online poker in the United States, at least at present... Maryland included. In the future, with the alteration of each state’s gambling laws, the federal government could be forced to pass a law for online poker, but no such law permitting the game or regulation of the game in Maryland exist at the minute.
But with all that said, many states are already in the process of regulation online gambling, poker included, and many other states are considering legislation which allow for the regulation/legalization. Maryland being the state that it is, it probably will not be long until they are one of the states with regulation on the agenda.
For now, the online poker sites which accept Maryland residents are regulated however by independent auditors based abroad. These independent auditors ensure that everything with the online poker site is above board, and that they use random number generators to make online poker playing fair. As long as the online poker sites are being regulated by third parties, there can be no cheating on the sites.
Best Online Poker Sites That Accept Maryland Residents
There are a number of online poker sites that you can play poker at that offer their services to players based in Maryland. However, without a law stating that online poker is either legal or illegal, there is no such place that is definitively legal or illegal.
Certain technicalities will permit you to play online poker in Maryland, provided that you are above the legal age for gambling that the online poker site demands, and that you find an alternative means to deposit and withdraw money to and from the online poker site, because bank transfer between gambling sites and players are illegal. There are many e-wallets and alternative payment methods to enable you to achieve this that are commonly accepted by online poker sites.
BetOnline is one of the few online poker sites that do permit players from Maryland to play and you can learn more about this website by reading our short review we've laid out below:
BetOnline have been in operation in the United States since 1991, and for over twenty years they have survived intact without being shut down, particularly during the harsh anti-gambling laws in the last decade.
Based in Panama City, Panama; BetOnline offers an online poker site to players based in Maryland and they have all of the features an online poker player will need. Their software is downloadable directly to your PC or Mac laptop or computer, and they offer entertaining tournaments and free rolls to their players every hour. Rather ironically, the motto of BetOnline is “because you can.”
Final Thought About The Maryland Online Poker Laws
Although it is often credited as being a harsh state for poker, one must remember that this anti-poker law applies to live poker only. Without such laws either for or against online poker or home poker, Maryland can actually be seen as quite liberal and a fair place to play online poker if you reside there.
Players should have few difficulties in getting to play poker online, considering the lack of any regulation or laws for the online game. With land based poker considered a misdemeanor, and nobody ever having been prosecuted for playing online poker in the state, it is highly unlikely you are going to be reprimanded; and with the gambling laws all being amended across the country, before long online poker in the state might become legal anyway.