Online sports gambling is live in Maryland as of November 23rd, 2022.
That means now is the time to take advantage of the best sportsbook promotions each has to offer.
Online sportsbooks create new-user promos so bettors can get a sense of the sportsbook’s odds, interface and promotions. Every sportsbook offers a new-user promo, which means if you’re in Maryland and want to bet on sports, you should take advantage of the free money each book has to offer.
If this sounds enticing, but you’re unsure where to begin, you’re in the right place. Here’s a look at how to take advantage of sportsbook promos in Maryland.
What is a MD Promo Code? And Why Use One?
A promo code is a code sportsbooks provide for new users to use to unlock an offer. Those who have purchased discounted items on goods or services with an online retailer should be acquainted with the concept.
Since sportsbooks typically have multiple new-player offers available at the same time, they sometimes require promo codes or opt-ins to unlock a specific offer. These offers are usually deposit matches, risk-free bets or bet-and-gets.
Best MD Sportsbook Promos
There are five new sportsbooks in Maryland going live on Nov. 23rd. Here’s a look at the ones we like best.
Caesars Maryland
- New Player Offer: First-bet Bonus Up to $1,000 (if it loses)
- Status: Active
You probably know the Caesars casino brand, but if you have been watching sports in the past year you’ve undoubtedly become familiar with the Caesars Online Sportsbook.
Caesars leaped into the sportsbook game with both feet when it purchased the popular British-based sportsbook William Hill in 2021. Since it has been making huge inroads in the United States with an aggressive marketing campaign and oodles of terrific promotions for new bettors.
Caesars is now bringing a great new-player offer to the Old Line State by offering users this awesome offer: A first-bet bonus up to $1,000.
Fortunately, The Game Day produces analytical content aimed at giving bettors the best bang for their buck.
The new-player offer is exclusive for users who sign up through The Game Day’s custom, specially curated link. New users must use the promo code GAMEDAY1000 to unlock this new-player offer.
FanDuel Maryland
- New Player Offer: Bet $5, Get $150, plus 3 Months of NBA League Pass (if your NBA moneyline wager wins)
- Status: Active
FanDuel is the No. 1 online sportsbook in America thanks to its broad reach, exceptional innovation and loads of betting markets. The FanDuel Online Sportsbook offers thousands of available betting markets every day, which makes it a superb option for prospective users in Maryland.
FanDuel has a terrific user-friendly app and offers competitive odds. Plus, it invented the same-game parlay, which has since become standard practice in the industry and empowers bettors to combine multiple betting markets from the same game in a single wager. FanDuel upped the ante further in 2021 by creating Same Game Parlay+, which invites bettors to combine multiple markets from multiple games in a single bet.
With FanDuel bettors can deposit in a slew of ways, including Venmo, PayPal, crypto currencies and more. Plus, new users who create an account will get an awesome bet-and-get promotion. These are great because they enable users without a ton of surplus funds the opportunity to play on a sportsbook site.
DraftKings Maryland
- New Player Offer: Bet $5, Get $200
- Status: Active
The DraftKings Online Sportsbook is the most widely available sportsbook in America, serving users in more than a dozen states. DraftKings is an elite option for online gambling, with a plethora of promotions and a surplus of betting markets that also includes same-game parlays for just about every game every night.
DraftKings also has a superb new-user offer where users who sign up ahead of the state’s launch can get $200 in site credit simply by wagering $5.
BetMGM Maryland
- New Player Offer: $1,500 in First Bet Insurance/Bet $10, Get $200
- Status: Active
BetMGM is a titan in the online sports betting space. The BetMGM Online Sportsbook has a user-friendly interface, loads of markets, a livestream option for certain events and a rewards program that new users can participate in before the state even launches.
Users are entitled to the following welcome offers: 1) $1,500 in First Bet Insurance, which refunds your first wager if it loses, matching your stake, or 2) “Bet $10, Get $200," where you receive bet credits just for wagering $10.
I love playing with BetMGM, especially since it makes betting a breeze and is available in more than a dozen states and Ontario in Canada. They give users loads of free bets and competitive odds. Plus, the risk-free bet, which reimburses as site credit if it does not hit, is a great new-user bonus that lengthens a bettor’s ability to play even if his/her initial wager falls short.
Use the promo code GAMEDAY upon signup to unlock the bonus bet offer from BetMGM.
Are Maryland Sportsbook Promos Worth It?
Of course. Betting on sports requires money, and the sportsbooks are giving you playable funds for free! If you sign up without opting into the new player offer you’re leaving free money on the table, particularly since new-user promos are one-shot deals that you either use or lose.
Why Do Maryland Sportsbooks Offer Promo Codes?
Sportsbooks give bettors promo codes or new-user offers to entice them to play on their website or app. Many sports fans are interested in becoming sports bettors, but sportsbooks get them to dive in by offering them playable funds in the form of risk-free bets, deposit matches and bet-and-gets.
The longer a player has to play on a sportsbook app or website, the more he or she will become invested in that site or app. By taking advantage of multiple online sportsbooks, users can discern what they like and what they dislike then determine which is their preferred sportsbook.
Who is Eligible For a MD Sportsbook Bonus?
Everyone 21 or older. You don’t even need to be a resident of Maryland! Simply sign up inside the state’s borders and deposit your money then reap the rewards and start playing.
MD Sportsbook Promo Code vs Bonus Code
A promo code and bonus code may be used interchangeably, but both terms mean the same thing. Each site may refer to the code used to unlock the new-user offer differently.
Do You Need A Maryland Promo Code?
Some sportsbooks require promo or bonus codes to unlock their best new-user offers, but some simply require an opt-in. Either way, those interested in betting with a specific new sportsbook should visit The Game Day’s review page, where they can see the exact terms of that sportsbook’s new-user offer and click through to sign up for an account.
The Game Day’s review pages will also provide new users with the promo code if one is required or will state “no promo code required" if there isn’t one necessary to unlock the best new offer.
Best Maryland Sports Betting Bonus Types
No-Deposit Bonus
A no-deposit bonus is exactly what it sounds: free funds just for signing up. Some sportsbooks, like BetMGM specifically, will give bettors free playable funds just for signing up ahead of a new state’s launch.
No-deposit bonuses are typically more prevalent in the casino domain, so if you missed out on Maryland’s pre-launch, no-deposit bonuses you may need to wait some time before the promotion comes around again.
Deposit Match
A deposit match is my personal favorite sportsbook promotion because it essentially doubles your playable funds up to a certain amount right from the start. With a deposit match bettors can insert their money then receive a match in bonus funds that are playable on the casino app or website.
Bonus funds are not immediately available to withdraw, since sportsbooks typically want users to play with the money a certain number of times before cashing out. The best deposit matches have a 1x playthrough, meaning you need only wager with the money one time before being able to take it out. However, some sportsbooks require 5x or 10x playthrough in order for the funds to be removed.
Risk-Free Bet
Risk-free bets are the most popular new-user offer since sportsbooks are willing to give gamblers a second bet equal to the first as a come-on to sign up, deposit and play with their platform.
Risk-free bets are exactly as they sound. If you win your first bet, great! Keep playing with the funds you won or take some of your money out as profit. However, if your first bet is unsuccessful, the sportsbook provides you a safety net by repaying the amount of your lost bet.
There are usually two types of risk-free bets: those that reimburse in site credit and ones that pay bettors back in a second bet. The best risk-free wagers, in my opinion, pay back in site credit since that lengthens your ability to play. But risk-free bets that reimburse in a second bet aren’t bad. You just could be out valuable funds if your two bets aren’t successful.
Bet & Get
Bet and gets are promotions that are gaining in popularity. Sportsbooks like BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings have produced bet and gets for players to insert a small amount of money, like $10, and place a small wager, about $5, to earn hundreds of dollars in valuable site credit.
Bet and gets are great for players who want to gamble but don’t have thousands, or even hundreds, to put on the line. Instead, bettors may put a small amount on a wager that earns them more in site credit, which lengthens your ability to play.
First Bet Match
A first-bet match is another great new sportsbook promo. You simply register, make a deposit and place your initial bet, and sportsbooks will match that first bet either with a second bet or site credit whether you win or lose.
The best part about a first-bet match is your money is reimbursed whether you win or lose, which gives users the added safety net of having valuable site credit and potential profit if that first bet is successful.
How To Pick the Best Maryland Sportsbook Promotions
Determining which sportsbook you start with is a matter of preference. New-user sportsbook bonuses are a great way to determine which sportsbook you sign up for as sportsbooks will periodically rotate offers during important times of the sports calendar — like the NFL season, March Madness or a league’s playoffs.
My personal favorite sportsbook promotions are bet-and-gets and first-deposit matches since each enable users the ability to play without breaking the bank. But you should pick the promotion that is most conducive to your gambling style. If you are a high-roller, try a large-amount risk-free bet.
But be sure to take advantage of all the promotions since each enables bettors a chance to play with the sportsbook’s funds instead of your own.
How To Use Maryland Sportsbook Bonuses
Playing with bonus money is a great way to take some risks. Maybe you should put an extra percentage on a bet you really love but are anxious about losing. Or you can use bonus funds for a high-risk multi-leg same-game or traditional parlay.
Playing with bonus funds is the best way to learn about online sports betting and how to play with a specific sportsbook. Some sportsbooks like BetRivers give bettors helpful glossaries that spell out exactly what each term means.
There’s no wrong way to use new-user funds as long as you are using them. Treat funds as you would treat your own money and enjoy the ride of playing.
Do Maryland Sports Betting Bonuses Have Restrictions or Limitations?
Some bonuses have restrictions around minimum odds or deposit amounts.
Here are some other restrictions:
- Most bet and gets have a minimum deposit of $5 or $10
- You must be 21 or older and physically present in Maryland
What Are Wagering Requirements?
There are often wagering requirements for how many times a bettor must play through bonus funds in order to cash out. For many first-deposit matches there is a minimum 1x playthrough in order for funds to be available. Other sites require a 5x or 10x playthrough in order to cash out.
If you’re interested in depositing funds and playing with them for a while before cashing out then worrying about the wagering requirements is less important. All sportsbooks will notify you of the full amount you have to withdraw before doing so.
Some risk-free bets require minimum odds of -200 or longer. However, that isn’t always the case.
Some bet and gets require a minimum bet on a specific game or tournament — like a $5 bet on the NFL playoffs or NBA playoffs. Make sure to read the fine print before you dive in and wager on an ineligible bet.
Just be sure to know the terms of each wager or bonus bet before placing it.
Free Bets vs Maryland No-Deposit Bonuses
A no-deposit bonus is typically reserved for a sportsbook to offer ahead of a new state launch, like what was referenced above with BetMGM providing new users with money for signing up early.
However, sportsbooks often give users free bets for loyalty or to reimburse for failed risk-free parlays or risk-free bets. Or sometimes sportsbooks will give users free bets out of the goodness of their hearts.
Look for More Than One Maryland Sportsbook Promo
It is integral that new users in Maryland take advantage of as many new-player promos as possible. The new-user offers are often one-shot deals and the best offer a sportsbook will ever give you.
Signing up for multiple sportsbook accounts, and taking advantage of each new-user offer, is the best way max out your playable funds while also determining which sportsbook you like the best. Keeping funds in multiple sportsbook accounts is also a great way to odds-shop to get the best return on the wager you want to cash in.
With five online sportsbooks guaranteed for Maryland, and others surely on the way behind those, there are thousands of free, playable funds right there waiting for you. Now don’t be afraid to dive in, while playing responsibly of course. Even after signing up, you can always find new betting promotions from sportsbooks.
