Maryland Sports Betting Surpasses $6.6 Billion In 2025
2025 was a significant year for Maryland’s sports betting industry, as bettors in the state placed wagers totaling more than $6.6 billion amid the continued expansion of mobile sports betting.
The annual handle reached $6.65bn, up 12% year over year, driven by steady demand for football, basketball, and baseball, along with strong engagement in in-play and parlay wagering.
The year ended on a high note. In December 2025, Maryland sportsbooks handled $636.3 million in wagers. Operators retained 12.7% of that amount after payouts, translating to $15.7m in revenue for the state.
The results once again highlighted the dominance of online wagering, with $626.1m of December’s handle coming from mobile sportsbooks. Retail sportsbooks accounted for just $10.2m.
Maryland posted its largest monthly handle earlier in the fall, when a packed sports calendar pushed activity to a record high.
In October 2025, the state recorded $736.6m in wagers, driven by the MLB postseason, full college and professional football schedules and the start of the NHL and NBA seasons.
Sportsbooks held 9.9% of wagers that month, contributing $14.1m to state coffers.
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Tax Policy Changes And Market Shifts
Tax policy changes also played a key role in the second half of the year.
Maryland’s sports betting framework prioritizes funding for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education initiatives.
Retail sportsbooks are taxed at 15%, while mobile sportsbooks became subject to a higher 20% tax rate beginning in June 2025.
Starting in July 2025, mobile operators were also required to contribute to the state’s General Fund. As a result, public revenues increased even as operators adjusted to tighter margins.
By the end of December, Maryland had 12 mobile sportsbooks operating statewide, alongside 11 retail locations, though the retail landscape continued to shift.
Canton Gaming’s retail sportsbooks in Canton and Pikesville closed on December 14, underscoring the shrinking and more fluid nature of in-person wagering compared to app-based betting.
Since the launch of Maryland’s sports betting program in December 2021, cumulative contributions have reached hundreds of millions of dollars.
The majority of those funds have flowed into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, with additional revenue directed to the General Fund and problem gambling programs.
With 2025 handle firmly above $6.6bn, Maryland enters 2026 with two key questions: whether record-setting fall wagering volumes will become the new normal, and how higher mobile tax rates and evolving operator strategies - ranging from promotions to parlay-focused offerings - will shape sportsbook performance and state revenue in the years ahead.
