Last verified: October 2026.
Maryland is one of the most contested sweepstakes states in the country. There is no statute that names these platforms, but there is a state regulator that has spent two years telling them to leave, and a ban bill that came within one chamber of passing. This guide sets out where that leaves Maryland players today, what each piece of law and enforcement actually says, and what to watch in 2027.
Where Maryland stands in October 2026
No Maryland statute expressly addresses dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as of October 2026. The question has been fought over in Annapolis twice, and both times the ban failed to reach the governor.
The 2026 attempt came closest. HB 295, titled "Gaming – Prohibition on Interactive Games and Revenue From Illegal Markets", was introduced at the request of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). It passed the House of Delegates 105-24 on March 20, 2026, was referred to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 23, and received a hearing on April 1. It never got a committee vote. The session ended on April 13, 2026, and the bill died with it (Maryland General Assembly bill page). Its Senate counterpart, SB 112, and a related House bill, HB 1226, also failed to become law.
A 2025 version followed a similar path in the other direction, clearing one chamber and stalling in the second.
What the 2026 bill would have done
HB 295 is worth understanding because a 2027 version is likely to look much the same. It defined a prohibited "interactive game" as an online or mobile offering that uses more than one currency, lets players exchange credits for cash or prizes, and simulates casino games, lottery products or sports wagering. Games that award only noncash prizes were excluded.
Reported penalties ranged from fines of $10,000 to $100,000 and up to three years in prison. That definition would have covered the standard Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin model directly, which is why operators and the Social and Promotional Games Association lobbied against it.
What Maryland's gaming regulator says
The MLGCA's position is that sweepstakes casinos are not authorized in Maryland. In letters to operators, the agency has said the only forms of legal online gambling in the state are online sports betting and fantasy contests, and that neither covers what sweepstakes casinos offer.
The agency has acted on that view. It sent cease-and-desist letters to 11 online operators in January 2025, including several sweepstakes casinos, and followed up with letters to individual operators through 2025 (Covers, January 2025). In 2026 testimony it told legislators that most recipients had not complied and that it lacked the tools to go further without a statute. That is the gap HB 295 was meant to close.
Our read: Maryland is not a "gray area" in the relaxed sense the phrase sometimes carries. The regulator has stated its position plainly, and the open question is enforcement, not intent. Players should expect the platforms available to them to keep changing.
What it means for Maryland players
The practical effect has been a steady shrinking of the list of platforms that accept Maryland players. Many operators now write Maryland into their own restricted-states list, often after receiving a letter. Some of the best-known names in the industry are among them.
That means the useful question for a Maryland player is not a general one about the law. It is a specific one about each platform: do its own sweepstakes rules list Maryland as excluded? A platform's rules are the document that governs your account, including whether a redemption will be paid.
Three habits help:
- Read the eligibility section of the official sweepstakes rules before you buy anything. If Maryland is listed, the platform will not pay out to a Maryland player, whatever its marketing says.
- Check again after any news. Operators change their state lists without much notice, especially after regulator letters.
- Redeem regularly rather than letting a large Sweeps Coin balance build up. If a platform later exits Maryland, operators usually set a deadline for existing balances.
Our Maryland sweepstakes casino reviews list only platforms whose own rules did not exclude Maryland when we last checked them.
Gambling that is authorized in Maryland
Maryland has a well-developed regulated market for in-person and mobile betting, all overseen by the MLGCA:
- Commercial casinos. Six licensed casinos operate in the state, including MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover and Horseshoe Baltimore. You must be 21 to gamble at any of them. See our Maryland in-person casino guides.
- Sports betting. Retail sportsbooks opened in December 2021, and online sports betting launched on November 23, 2022.
- Fantasy contests. Daily fantasy sports are permitted under Maryland's fantasy competition law.
- The Maryland Lottery.
Real-money online casino gaming is not authorized. Because Maryland's constitution requires voter approval to expand commercial gaming, legal online casinos would need both a bill and a referendum. The 2026 referendum bill, SB 761, was withdrawn by its sponsor, and the companion bill, SB 885, did not advance.
What to watch in 2027
The General Assembly meets again in January 2027. Coverage of the failed 2026 bill expects the MLGCA and lawmakers to try again, and the governor's office supported the 2026 effort. A 2027 bill that passes both chambers would most likely take effect later in 2027, giving operators time to exit.
The other thing to watch is enforcement without a statute. The MLGCA has already widened its letters from operators to payment processors. If processors stop handling Maryland transactions, platforms may leave the state regardless of what the legislature does.
We will update this guide when a 2027 bill is filed.
FAQ
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Maryland?
Maryland law does not expressly address dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as of October 2026. The state's gaming regulator says they are not authorized and has sent cease-and-desist letters, and a 2026 bill to prohibit them passed the House but died in the Senate.
Did Maryland ban sweepstakes casinos in 2026?
No. HB 295 passed the House of Delegates 105-24 on March 20, 2026, but did not get a Senate vote before the session ended on April 13, 2026.
Why do some sweepstakes casinos not accept Maryland players?
Each operator decides its own eligible states. Many have added Maryland to their restricted lists, often after receiving letters from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Check the platform's official sweepstakes rules before you sign up.
Are online casinos legal in Maryland?
No. Real-money online casino gaming is not authorized in Maryland as of October 2026. Online sports betting has been legal since November 2022, and six commercial casinos operate in the state.
Will Maryland ban sweepstakes casinos in 2027?
It may try. The regulator has backed a ban in consecutive sessions, and a 2027 bill is widely expected, but none had been filed as of October 2026.
How old do you have to be to play?
Each sweepstakes platform sets its own minimum age, usually 18 or 21. You must be 21 to gamble at Maryland's casinos or bet on sports.
Rules and operator eligibility change. Treat this guide as a summary of public records, not legal advice, and check each platform's own terms before you play.
