BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland’s sports wagering market has achieved a significant milestone, with contributions to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund reaching $61,171,291 through the first eight months of FY2025 (July 2024 through February 2025), exceeding the full FY2024 total of $60.3 million. This figure, announced on March 12, 2025, reflects a robust increase from the $37,051,266 contributed during the same period in FY2024. The Blueprint Fund, which supports public education initiatives, benefits from a 15% tax on taxable winnings, highlighting the state’s growing reliance on sports betting revenue.
February 2025 marked the ninth-best month for the program, generating $6,350,174 in contributions. Bettors wagered $475,708,504 across 11 mobile platforms and 13 retail locations, with $415,733,938 returned as prizes. The combined hold was $59,974,565 (12.6%), with a taxable win of $42,334,492, taxed at 15% to yield the February total. Retail betting contributed $12,535,593 in handle (6.0% hold, $72,923 tax), while mobile betting dominated with $463,172,911 (12.8% hold, $6,277,251 tax). The Greene Turtle/betParx retail sportsbook in Towson closed on February 9, reducing active retail sites to 12.
Since its launch in December 2021, Maryland’s sports wagering program has contributed $149,624,451 to the Blueprint Fund, with an additional $3,693,049 from expired prizes supporting the Problem Gambling Fund. The state’s 11 mobile platforms and 12-13 retail locations, including a recent reopening of Long Shot’s in Frederick with Caesars Sportsbook, reflect ongoing market expansion. Detailed monthly data, including handle by sport, is available at mdgaming.com.
This surge raises questions about the sustainability of such growth. While FY2025’s $61.2 million in eight months outpaces FY2024’s annual total, the reliance on mobile betting (97% of February’s handle) suggests vulnerability to shifts in online engagement or regulatory changes. The Blueprint Fund’s education focus is a positive, but the disparity between retail and mobile performance—retail’s 6% hold versus mobile’s 12.8%—may indicate uneven market dynamics. Public enthusiasm, possibly fueled by local teams like the Ravens and Commanders, as noted by Director John Martin, could be a factor, though exact correlations remain unverified.
