BALTIMORE — Maryland’s sports wagering market contributed $4,419,403 to the state in March 2025, bolstering the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs. The figure, derived from a total wagering handle of $588,500,308, reflects steady growth in the state’s betting industry, with mobile platforms driving the majority of activity.
From July 2024 through March 2025, the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2025, sports wagering generated $65,590,694 for the Blueprint Fund, a significant increase from $41,905,251 for the same period in FY2024. Since the program’s launch in December 2021, contributions have reached $154,043,854, with an additional $3,784,407 from expired prizes directed to the Problem Gambling Fund. These funds support initiatives like teacher salary increases and early childhood education, as outlined in the Blueprint’s framework.
In March, bettors wagered $588.5 million, with $573.4 million through 11 mobile platforms and $15.1 million at 12 retail sportsbooks. Prizes paid totaled $540.6 million, leaving a combined hold of 8.1%, the second-lowest in the past year. Retail hold was notably slim at 2.4%, while mobile betting held 8.3%. Operators pay 15% of their taxable win—after deductions for prizes and promotional wagers—to the state, resulting in $4.3 million from mobile bets and $81,455 from retail.
The taxable win, calculated after subtracting prizes, promotional wagers, and other deductions, was $29.5 million, with mobile betting accounting for $28.9 million. Promotional wagers, which operators use to attract customers, totaled $17.2 million, mostly via mobile platforms. A detailed breakdown, including handle, hold, and contributions by sportsbook, is available at mdgaming.com.
Maryland’s betting market, regulated by Maryland Lottery and Gaming, has grown since retail sportsbooks opened in December 2021 and mobile betting began in November 2022. The state’s 11 mobile apps and 12 retail locations processed a March handle up 9.65% from March 2024’s $536.7 million, though the hold dipped from 8.4%. Football and basketball typically dominate wagers, with March Madness likely boosting activity, though specific sport breakdowns weren’t detailed in the latest report.
“We’re encouraged that the sports wagering market continues to generate additional funding to support schools, and at the same time we also encourage everyone to be responsible about their betting,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin in a prior statement on the industry’s growth. The agency promotes tools on mobile apps for setting betting limits and offers free help for gambling issues at 1-800-GAMBLER or mdgamblinghelp.org.
The Blueprint Fund, established in 2020, channels wagering revenue to enhance K-12 education, including career counseling and community schools. In FY2024, the fund received $60.3 million from sports betting, part of a broader $1.585 billion from lottery, casinos, and wagering, per Maryland Lottery and Gaming. The state’s education budget benefits from this steady stream, complementing casino contributions to the Education Trust Fund, which topped $600 million in FY2024.
Retail betting’s low hold reflects tighter margins at physical sportsbooks, possibly due to promotional offers or bettor success. Mobile platforms, handling 97% of wagers, remain the market’s backbone, aligning with national trends where digital betting accounts for over 80% of sports wagering revenue, according to the American Gaming Association. Maryland’s market, while smaller than states like New York, ranks among the top 10 nationally for handle.
Transparency is a priority, with monthly reports posted at mdgaming.com detailing each sportsbook’s performance. The data underscores betting’s role in Maryland’s fiscal strategy, though critics note the 15% tax rate is lower than some states, like Pennsylvania’s 36%. Still, the steady revenue growth supports advocates who argue wagering provides a reliable education funding source without raising taxes.
As Maryland’s market matures, operators face challenges like promotional costs and competition. The closure of a Towson retail sportsbook in February suggests consolidation risks, yet new partnerships, like Caesars Sportsbook at Long Shot’s in Frederick, show resilience. With no new platforms launched in March, the market appears stable, focusing on responsible growth.
