The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission authorized Canton Gaming’s facility in Pikesville to begin retail sports wagering operations on Friday, partnering with operator Crab Services. The approval followed successful controlled demonstrations on Oct. 21 and Oct. 23 at the site on 1008 Reisterstown Road in Baltimore County, where customers placed live wagers under supervision from state staff. Regulators confirmed compliance with operational procedures and system functionality during the tests.
This addition brings Maryland’s total to 13 retail sportsbook locations, up from 12, alongside 12 mobile platforms available statewide. The expansion occurs amid steady growth in the sector, which generated more than $29.7 million for state coffers during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, covering July through September 2025. Retail operators direct 15 percent of taxable proceeds to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which bolsters public education initiatives including prekindergarten expansion and teacher salary increases. Mobile operators allocate 15 percent to the Blueprint Fund and an additional 5 percent to the state’s General Fund.
State reports detail monthly contributions, with September 2025 alone yielding $13.5 million from sports wagering, including $10.1 million from mobile handles and $3.4 million from retail. Cumulative totals since the program’s 2021 launch now exceed $199.8 million to the Blueprint Fund and $7.3 million to the General Fund. Figures appear on the 10th of each month at mdgaming.com, providing breakdowns by operator and revenue stream.
Canton Gaming, a Class B-2 licensee, previously operated at another Baltimore County site before relocating to the Pikesville address, as approved in August 2025. Crab Services, its operator partner, handles the technical and wagering infrastructure. The facility joins established retail venues concentrated at casinos and racetracks, such as MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Ocean Downs Casino in Worcester County and Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover. In Southern Maryland, MGM National Harbor serves as the primary retail hub, drawing patrons from Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties along Interstate 495. That location processed $2.1 million in retail wagers during August 2025, contributing directly to regional education funding.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, enacted in 2021, channels gaming revenues into K-12 enhancements, community college affordability and career technical education programs. In fiscal year 2025, sports wagering alone funneled $88.9 million to the fund, supporting initiatives like universal prekindergarten slots for 5,000 more children annually and literacy interventions in underperforming districts. For Southern Maryland residents, these dollars translate to targeted investments: Charles County Public Schools received $4.2 million in Blueprint allocations for the 2024-2025 school year, funding advanced placement courses and STEM labs at sites like Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf. Calvert County allocated portions for dual-enrollment partnerships with the College of Southern Maryland, while St. Mary’s County used funds to expand mental health services in Leonardtown schools.
Maryland’s sports wagering framework emerged from voter approval of a 2020 constitutional amendment, with retail operations launching in January 2022 at select casinos. Initial rollout focused on in-person betting to build infrastructure, followed by mobile expansion in November 2022. Regulators now oversee 30 licensees, enforcing age verification, geofencing for mobile bets and responsible gaming measures like self-exclusion lists. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, headquartered in Baltimore, conducts monthly audits and hosts public commission meetings, with the next scheduled for Oct. 23, 2025—though the Pikesville approval predates that session.
Growth in the sector reflects broader trends, with total handles reaching $400 million in June 2025 alone, a 12 percent increase from prior months. Retail sites like the new Pikesville venue emphasize in-person experiences, including multiple viewing screens and food service integrations, appealing to bettors on events from NFL games to horse races at nearby Pimlico. Yet officials monitor for risks, as a recent study noted a rise in disordered gambling behaviors post-legalization, prompting expanded helplines at 1-800-GAMBLER.
As Maryland’s gaming landscape evolves, the Pikesville launch underscores regulatory priorities on compliance and revenue generation. Monthly reports at mdgaming.com track progress, offering transparency on how wagers from Reisterstown Road to Route 4 in La Plata fuel public priorities.