Find Your Favourite Maryland Casinos and Resorts 2026

Maryland's six casinos are all commercially operated under licences issued by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. There is no tribal gaming in the state, which has no federally recognised Native American tribes. The market was built in two stages: a 2008 voter referendum approved slots at five locations, and a second referendum in 2012 expanded the framework to include table games and a sixth licence, which ultimately became MGM National Harbor.

Casino revenue is split between operators, the state's Education Trust Fund, and the local jurisdictions hosting each property. Table game proceeds are divided with 80% retained by the operator, 15% going to the Education Trust Fund, and 5% to the relevant local government. The minimum age for casino gaming and sports betting is 21 across all six properties.

Maryland's casinos generated a combined $162 million in revenue in April 2025 alone, with MGM National Harbor consistently accounting for around 40% of the statewide total. The market is concentrated at the top end, with MGM and Live! Casino and Hotel together responsible for the large majority of revenue generated across the state each month.

Maryland's six commercial casinos range from one of the most celebrated resort openings in recent American history to a lakeside retreat in the Appalachian mountains. All require visitors to be 21 or older to access the gaming floor.

• MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, MGM Resorts International: The state's flagship property, opened December 2016 on the Potomac River ten miles from downtown Washington DC. The $1.4 billion resort spans 125,000 square feet of gaming across 3,300 slots, 140 table games, and a 50-table poker room, alongside a 308-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, and restaurants from José Andrés and the Voltaggio brothers.
• Live! Casino and Hotel, Hanover, The Cordish Companies: Maryland's largest casino by gaming volume, with 4,000 slots, 200 table games, and the biggest poker room in the state. The AAA Four Diamond hotel tower runs 310 rooms, and the property draws more than ten million visitors a year, sitting mid-way between Baltimore and Washington DC near BWI Airport.
• Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, Baltimore City, Caesars Entertainment: A 122,000-square-foot gaming floor in the heart of Baltimore with more than 1,600 slots, 105 table games, and a dedicated poker room. No hotel on site.
• Hollywood Casino Perryville, Cecil County, Penn Entertainment: Maryland's first casino, opened September 2010 on the Chesapeake Bay. A smaller, locals-focused property with slots, table games, and live entertainment on weekends.
• Ocean Downs Casino, Berlin, Churchill Downs Inc: The state's only racino, combining a casino floor with live harness racing and year-round simulcast wagering. Located near Ocean City on the Eastern Shore, table games were added in 2017.
• Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone, Century Casinos: The most scenically distinctive property in the state, set within Rocky Gap State Park on the shores of Lake Habeeb near Cumberland. The 200-room lakeside lodge features the only Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in Maryland alongside 630 slots and 12 table games. The only Maryland casino without a sportsbook.

Comparison

Maryland's sports betting market arrived in two stages. Retail wagering launched in December 2021 at five of the state's six casinos, with Rocky Gap the only property to sit out. Online betting followed on November 23, 2022, with seven operators going live simultaneously. The market has grown steadily since, with 12 licensed mobile operators active as of early 2026.

The tax structure was updated in July 2025 when Governor Wes Moore signed legislation raising the mobile sports betting tax rate from 15% to 20%, a compromise after his initial proposal to double it to 30% failed to gain enough legislative support. The retail rate remains at 15%. Revenue from sports betting is directed to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund, which supports public education programmes across the state.

Bettors must be 21 or older and physically located within Maryland to place wagers. Proposition bets on individual college athletes were banned in 2024, bringing Maryland in line with a growing number of states introducing similar protections. All other college sports betting, including wagering on Maryland-based teams, is permitted.

Maryland's casino market splits neatly into two tiers. MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino and Hotel are full destination resorts drawing visitors from across the DC and Baltimore metro areas. The remaining four properties are more regional in character, each with its own distinct appeal. Rocky Gap in particular occupies a category of its own, combining casino gaming with a genuine mountain resort experience that has little equivalent anywhere on the East Coast.

Getting There

MGM National Harbor sits just off Interstate 95 and the Capital Beltway in Oxon Hill, around ten miles from downtown Washington DC and accessible via the NH2 bus line from the King Street metro station in Alexandria. Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover sits at the intersection of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 100, approximately seven miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, which it serves with a complimentary shuttle. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore is in the city's south side near M&T Bank Stadium, straightforward to reach by road or rideshare. Hollywood Casino Perryville is on Interstate 95 in Cecil County, convenient for travellers between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Ocean Downs is near Ocean City on the Eastern Shore, around 130 miles from Baltimore. Rocky Gap requires a drive of roughly two hours from Baltimore via Interstate 68, close to the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders near Cumberland.

Arrival and Entry

All six Maryland casinos require guests to be 21 or older to access the gaming floor and photo identification is required at entry. All properties operate around the clock. Parking is free at every Maryland casino, with covered garages available at MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino and Hotel.

Slot Machines

Live! Casino and Hotel leads the state with 4,000 machines across a wide range of denominations. MGM National Harbor runs over 3,300. Horseshoe Baltimore carries more than 1,600, Hollywood Perryville and Ocean Downs offer more modest selections, and Rocky Gap operates around 630 machines. All Maryland casinos use ticket-in, ticket-out systems.

Table Games

Full table game offerings are available at all six properties. MGM National Harbor runs 140 live tables and Horseshoe Baltimore operates 105, making both strong destinations for table game players. Live! Casino and Hotel carries 200 tables, the largest selection in the state. Rocky Gap is the most limited at 12 tables, suited to casual players rather than serious grinders.

Poker Rooms

Live! Casino and Hotel operates the largest poker room in Maryland with 50 tables running cash games and tournaments around the clock. MGM National Harbor has a 50-table poker room of its own. Horseshoe Baltimore also offers dedicated poker. The remaining three properties do not have poker rooms.

Taking a Break

MGM National Harbor's dining programme was built around celebrity chefs from the outset. José Andrés opened his first seafood restaurant at the property, and Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, who grew up in nearby Frederick, Maryland, operate their Steak House there. Live! Casino and Hotel carries The Prime Rib, a Zagat-rated institution, alongside ten further dining outlets. Rocky Gap's Lakeside Restaurant offers views across Lake Habeeb and Evitts Mountain that are genuinely hard to beat for atmosphere, particularly in autumn.

Staying Over

MGM National Harbor's 308-room hotel is a 23-story tower with Potomac River views, a destination spa, and an infinity pool. Live! Casino and Hotel's AAA Four Diamond rated tower runs 310 rooms including 50 suites and is the only accommodation in Anne Arundel County to hold Four Diamond status. Rocky Gap offers 200 lakeside rooms and suites with access to the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a private beach on Lake Habeeb, and water sports including kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Horseshoe Baltimore, Hollywood Perryville, and Ocean Downs do not have hotels on site, though each sits within easy reach of third-party accommodation.

Maryland residents and visitors can access free, confidential support for problem gambling at any time by calling 1-800-GAMBLER. Additional resources, including self-assessment tools and information on treatment programmes, are available through the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling.

Self-exclusion in Maryland is managed by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency and covers all six licensed casinos. Individuals can apply to exclude themselves for a period of one, two, three, or five years, or on a permanent basis. Once enrolled, self-excluded individuals are prohibited from collecting any winnings at Maryland gaming facilities. Applications can be made in person at any of the six casinos.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Gambling laws and casino operations are subject to change, and some details on this page could not be independently verified. We recommend checking directly with individual casinos and the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency before making any decisions based on the information provided. You must be 21 or older to gamble at any Maryland casino or sportsbook. Please gamble responsibly.