No Maryland statute bans dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency treats them as illegal gaming under existing state law.
That gap between statute and regulator position defines the Maryland picture. Two ban bills passed the House of Delegates by wide margins in 2026 and both died in the Senate.
Most major brands have exited Maryland anyway. Those exits followed cease-and-desist pressure rather than any passed law.
Enforcement targets operators, not players. No Maryland statute imposes a direct penalty on players for participating.
Key Facts
- No statutory ban is in effect. Sweepstakes casinos remain technically legal in Maryland.
- The MLGCA classifies dual-currency platforms as unauthorized gaming and has issued cease-and-desist letters since 2024.
- MLGCA Director John Martin testified the agency sent 75 cease-and-desist letters, with only about a third of operators complying.
- HB 295 passed the House 105-24 on March 20, 2026. HB 1226 passed 134-2 on March 23, 2026.
- Both died in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee when the session ended April 13, 2026.
- Governor Wes Moore backed HB 295 and signalled he would sign it.
- Maryland courts have never ruled on the model. The MLGCA position is administrative, not adjudicated.
- Real-money online casino gaming is not legal in Maryland.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Maryland Right Now
Sweepstakes casinos are technically legal in Maryland because no statute names them as prohibited. That is the narrow legal answer.
The practical answer is more complicated. The MLGCA has applied Maryland’s three-element test for unlawful gaming and concluded that dual-currency platforms satisfy all three elements.
Those elements are consideration, chance, and prize. The agency applied that interpretation in writing to Chumba Casino, operated by Virtual Gaming Worlds.
The Status Is Unadjudicated
Maryland courts have not ruled on whether dual-currency platforms constitute illegal gambling under state law. No case has reached a final resolution for either side.
The MLGCA’s classification is an administrative interpretation. It carries enforcement weight but it is not binding precedent.
The legal status therefore rests on competing claims rather than settled law. That distinction matters for how much confidence anyone should place in either position.
No Ban Does Not Mean Open Market
Several major operators stopped accepting Maryland players despite the absence of any statutory prohibition. Those were commercial judgments about regulatory risk.
The result is a hostile environment in practice without a prohibition in law. Platforms that stayed made a different calculation, and neither decision is permanent.
| Factor | Status |
|---|---|
| Statutory ban in effect | No |
| Regulator position | MLGCA treats dual-currency sweepstakes as illegal gaming |
| Court ruling | None; the question is unadjudicated in Maryland |
| Player legal risk | No direct statutory penalty; enforcement targets operators |
| Operator legal risk | High; cease-and-desist orders active since 2024 |
| Affiliate and publisher risk | None under current statute; HB 1226 would have created it |
| Real-money online casino | Not legal in Maryland |
The 2025 and 2026 Bill History
Maryland has not passed a sweepstakes ban. Each chamber has voted for prohibition, but never in the same session.
In 2025 the Senate passed a ban and the House blocked it. In 2026 that pattern reversed exactly. The House passed two bans and the Senate blocked both.
Senate Bill 860, 2025
SB 860 was the first formal attempt to prohibit sweepstakes platforms. It passed the Maryland Senate unanimously.
The bill then moved to the House Ways and Means Committee, where it stalled without a floor vote. The session ended without it reaching the Governor.
House Bill 295, 2026
HB 295 was sponsored by the House Ways and Means Committee at the request of the MLGCA. That origin matters, because it means the regulator asked the legislature for tools it said it lacked.
The bill created a new criminal prohibition on interactive games. It targeted online games using multiple currency systems of payment that allow exchange for prizes, awards, cash, or cash equivalents.
The definition also required the game to simulate casino-style gaming, lottery games, or sports wagering. Games awarding only noncash prizes were explicitly excluded.
Penalties ran from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation with up to three years imprisonment. The House passed it 105-24 on March 20, 2026, without floor discussion.
House Bill 1226, 2026
HB 1226 was the broader of the two. Titled the Maryland Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act, it passed the House 134-2 on March 23, just ahead of the crossover deadline.
It named sweepstakes platforms explicitly as illegal online gambling. It also extended liability beyond operators to promoters, service providers, and affiliates.
That extension would have created direct publisher risk in Maryland, mirroring the approach California took in AB 831.
The bill would have empowered the MLGCA and the Attorney General to issue cease-and-desist orders, block payments and site access, and pursue civil and criminal penalties.
The Senate Companions
Both House bills had Senate counterparts. SB 112 was the companion to HB 295 and received the first hearing of the session on January 28.
SB 652 was the companion to HB 1226 and was heard on March 11. It explicitly defined multi-currency systems and sought to prohibit them.
Neither Senate bill advanced past its initial committee hearing. Lawmakers in those hearings repeatedly questioned whether regulation was a better path than prohibition.
Bill Timeline
| Bill | Session | Chamber and margin | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 860 | 2025 | Senate, unanimous | Stalled in House Ways and Means |
| SB 112 | 2026 | Senate companion to HB 295 | Heard January 28; no vote |
| HB 295 | 2026 | House, 105-24 on March 20 | Died in Senate Budget and Taxation |
| SB 652 | 2026 | Senate companion to HB 1226 | Heard March 11; no vote |
| HB 1226 | 2026 | House, 134-2 on March 23 | Died in Senate Budget and Taxation |
House margins of 105-24 and 134-2 are not close votes. The MLGCA requested the authority and the Governor signalled support.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is the only obstacle that has held. It has held for two consecutive sessions.
How Maryland Enforces Without a Ban
The MLGCA uses two tools that do not require a statute. Both operate under existing administrative authority.
Cease-and-Desist Orders
The agency issued orders to multiple operators across 2024 and 2025. Recipients include McLuck, Stake.us, Chumba Casino, Fortune Coins, Golden Hearts Games, and Zula Casino.
Director John Martin testified in February 2026 that the agency had sent 75 cease-and-desist letters. Only about a third of recipients complied.
By March testimony that figure had grown to more than 80 letters. The non-compliance rate is the agency’s stated rationale for seeking statutory authority.
A Maryland cease-and-desist order is an administrative letter, not a court injunction. Operators can and do ignore them.
Without a ban, the MLGCA has limited means to compel compliance from platforms incorporated outside Maryland with no licensed presence in the state.
Payment Processor Targeting
The MLGCA also contacts payment processors and financial institutions handling transactions between Maryland players and sweepstakes operators.
An operator that loses card processing, ACH, or digital wallet access for Maryland customers cannot serve those players effectively. The website staying online does not change that.
This lets the agency restrict activity indirectly when a cease-and-desist letter goes unanswered.
The Chumba Case and the Baltimore Lawsuit
Chumba Casino is the most publicly documented Maryland enforcement case. The MLGCA notified Virtual Gaming Worlds that Chumba’s offerings contain consideration, chance, and prize.
The agency’s letter concluded that the dual-currency model, taken as a whole, satisfied all three elements regardless of the free entry route.
Separately, the City of Baltimore filed suit against sweepstakes casino operators in early 2026. That added municipal legal pressure alongside state enforcement.
Virtual Gaming Worlds operates both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. Both have exited Maryland.
Player Risk
Maryland enforcement targets operators. No statute imposes a direct penalty on players for participating.
Players are not named in cease-and-desist orders and were not named defendants in the Baltimore suit.
Future legislation modelled on HB 1226 could change that picture for affiliates and promoters. No such law is in effect.
Why Maryland Disputes the Dual-Currency Model
Gold Coins are the entertainment currency. Players receive them free at registration and through daily bonuses, and can also purchase them. They carry no cash value.
Sweeps Coins are the promotional currency. Players earn them through gameplay, bonuses, or the free entry route, and can redeem them for cash or gift cards after identity verification.
| Feature | Gold Coins | Sweeps Coins |
|---|---|---|
| How obtained | Purchased or received free | Gameplay, bonuses, or free entry |
| Cash value | None | Yes, redeemable for prizes or cash |
| Redeemable | No | Yes, after verification and minimum threshold |
| Role in the model | Entertainment play | Promotional contest entry and prize |
The Operator Argument
Operators claim exemption through federal promotional-contest law. The model requires no purchase to obtain the redeemable currency.
Under federal promotional law, a contest does not require consideration if a meaningful free entry path exists. Operators argue this removes the consideration element entirely.
The MLGCA Rejection
The agency treats the dual-currency structure as a whole rather than isolating the free entry pathway.
It found consideration in the purchase option and the economic relationship between the two currencies. It found chance in random number generation and prize in redeemable Sweeps Coins.
In the MLGCA’s view, the free entry route does not eliminate the other two elements or change the overall character of the activity.
The Bill Text Reflects That View
HB 295 was drafted to target the mechanic precisely. It prohibited interactive games using multiple currency systems of payment exchangeable for any prize or award.
That phrasing was deliberate. Maryland’s legislature understood the specific structure and chose to name it rather than rely on a general gambling definition.
Platform Status in Maryland
Platform access in Maryland shifts frequently. Verify the restricted-states list on each platform’s own terms page before registering.
Operator terms are authoritative over any third-party source, including this page.
Best Maryland Sweepstakes Casinos 2026
Clovr confirmed eight partner platforms accepting Maryland players. Each was cross-checked against its restricted-states list.
Maryland access can change without notice. Verify each platform’s live terms before registering.
| Rank | Casino | No-Purchase Welcome | Min Redemption | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TaoFortune | 150,000 GC + 2 Secret Coins | 25 SC gift; 100 SC cash | 18+ |
| 2 | Jackpot Rabbit | 175,000 GC + 3 Super Coins | 25 SC gift; 100 SC cash | 18+ |
| 3 | Funrize | 1,175,000 TC + 60 PE | 25 PE gift; 100 PE cash | 18+ |
| 4 | FortuneWheelz | 250,000 GC + Fortune Coins via wheel | 25 FC gift; 100 FC cash | 18+ |
| 5 | ScarletSands | 350,000 GC + 1 SC | 25 SC gift; 100 SC bank | 21+ |
| 6 | NoLimitCoins | 110,000 GC + 1 Super Coin | $25 gift; $100 cash | 18+ |
| 7 | FunzCity | Confirm at registration | Confirm at registration | 18+ |
| 8 | MrGoodWin | 160,000 GC + 2 SC | Confirm at registration | 18+ |
1. TaoFortune
TaoFortune is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. It operates within the A1 Development LLC network.
New registrants receive 150,000 Gold Coins and 2 Secret Coins with no purchase required. Secret Coins are the SC-equivalent, redeemable at 1 Secret Coin to $1 USD.
TaoFortune hosts 1,800+ titles, the largest catalog available to Maryland players in this guide. Redemptions start at 25 Secret Coins for gift cards and 100 for cash.
The A1 Development network shares compliance infrastructure across several brands, which has helped it maintain access in states where other operators have withdrawn.
- Welcome Bonus
- 250K Tao Coins (TC)
- + 3,000 Secret Coins
- 550K TC in Magic Pots
- 180K Tournament Coins
- Progressive Jackpots
- Refer a Friend for 900K TC
Terms 18+
2. Jackpot Rabbit
Jackpot Rabbit is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. It is operated by UTech Solutions LLC and launched in late 2024.
New registrants receive 175,000 Gold Coins and 3 Super Coins with no purchase required. Redemptions start at 25 Super Coins for gift cards and 100 for cash.
Super Coin winnings at Jackpot Rabbit carry no playthrough requirement. That is unusual across the market and shortens the gap between winning and redeeming.
In a state where operator access can shift, the absence of a playthrough gate is a practical advantage. The library covers 1,100+ slot titles from 16 providers.
- Registration Bonus
- 175,000 GC + 3 SC
- No purchase necessary
- 100% First Purchase Boost
- Massive Refer a Friend Bonus
- Exclusive VIP Offers
- 10K+ Social Casino Games
Terms 18+
3. Funrize
Funrize is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. It operates within the A1 Development LLC network.
New registrants receive 1,175,000 Tournament Coins with no purchase required. Tournament Coins are the GC-equivalent and Promotional Entries are the SC-equivalent at 1 PE to $1 USD.
Redemptions start at 25 PE for gift cards and 100 PE for cash. Funrize structures play around tournament sessions rather than individual spins.
The platform carries an iOS app, which is uncommon among sweepstakes operators serving Maryland. The library covers roughly 1,000 titles including fish games.
- Welcome Bonus
- 125,000 Coins
- after registration
- Daily Offers
- Funrize Races
- Mobile App
- Refer a Friend Bonus
Terms 18+
4. FortuneWheelz
FortuneWheelz is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. It operates within the A1 Development LLC network.
New registrants receive 250,000 Gold Coins with no purchase required. Fortune Coins are not awarded at registration.
Fortune Coins are earned through the twice-daily prize wheel and via the first optional Gold Coin purchase. Redemptions start at 25 Fortune Coins for gift cards and 100 for cash.
Maryland players who log in and spin both daily wheels accumulate Fortune Coins steadily without spending. The library covers 850+ titles from 20 providers.
- Sign-up Offer
- 250,000 Gold Coins
- +100% Sale on 1st purchase
- Daily Login Bonus
- Weekly Tournaments
- Refer a Friend for 900K GC
- Available in 46 US States
Terms 18+
5. ScarletSands
ScarletSands is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 21 and older. It is operated by UTech Solutions LLC.
New registrants receive 350,000 Gold Coins and 1 Sweeps Coin with no purchase required. That is the largest Gold Coin allocation in this guide.
Redemptions start at 25 SC for gift cards and 100 SC for bank transfers. The library covers 1,000+ games including slots and fishing titles.
Note that ScarletSands requires at least one optional Gold Coin purchase before a redemption can be submitted. That purchase gate is why it sits below the platforms above it despite the larger welcome package.
- Extra 100% Welcome Drop
- 200,000 GC + 20 SC
- for just $9.99
- FREE 250,000 GC upon Sign-up
- 15 SC Daily Free Credits
- 900K GC + 25 SC Referral Bonus
- Social Media Bonuses
Terms 18+
6. NoLimitCoins
NoLimitCoins is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. It operates within the A1 Development LLC network.
New registrants receive 110,000 Gold Coins and 1 Super Coin with no purchase required. NoLimitCoins uses a different conversion rate to every other platform here, where 100 Super Coins equal $1 USD.
The minimum redemption is $25 for gift cards and $100 for cash. Because of the conversion rate, that means 2,500 and 10,000 Super Coins respectively.
NoLimitCoins structures play around four-hour Super Coin tournaments running on a fixed session window. That suits players who prefer a defined format over open-ended play.
- Welcome Pack
- 7,000k Gold Coins (GC)
- + 325.00 Super Coins (SC)
- Lucky Wheel Spins – 2x Daily
- Email/Social Media Contests
- VIP Exclusive Rewards
- Daily Slot Tournaments
Terms 21+
7. FunzCity
FunzCity is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. City Coins are the SC-equivalent, redeemable at 1 City Coin to $1 USD.
FunzCity offers a 300% first-purchase City Coins match for players who choose to buy an optional Gold Coin package. That is a promotional bonus, not a direct purchase of prize currency.
The free entry route through daily login bonuses and mail-in requests produces City Coins without any purchase.
Confirm the current welcome bonus and minimum City Coins redemption threshold at the live site before registering.
- 300% First Purchase Offer
- 750,000 Fun Coins
- + 50.00 City Coins
- Sign-up, Get 125,000 FC
- Daily Playback: 100K FC; 100.00 CC
- VIP Club Rewards
- Unlock Scratch Cards
Terms 18+
8. MrGoodWin
MrGoodWin is a sweepstakes casino accepting Maryland players aged 18 and older. New registrants receive 160,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins with no purchase required.
MrGoodWin operates in a number of states where other sweepstakes casinos are restricted. That broad-access footprint makes it a useful fallback if other listed platforms change their Maryland terms.
Given how quickly the Maryland operator pool has contracted, having a broad-access option available matters more here than in settled states.
Confirm the minimum redemption threshold and payout options at the live site before registering.
- First Purchase Offer
- 2,000,000 GC and 100 SC
- + 10 Free Plays for $49.99
- Sign-up, Get 160,000 GC + 2 SC
- Free Coins + 60 Free Plays Daily
- Earn SC in Fortune Quests
- 5,000 GC + 20 SC Referral Bonus
Terms 18+
Platforms Restricting or Exited From Maryland
Mega Bonanza, McLuck, Play Fame, and Stormrush each list Maryland as a restricted state in their current terms.
Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Stake.us, Hello Millions, and Jackpota previously served Maryland players and have since exited.
The pool of platforms accepting Maryland has contracted since 2024. Re-entry or additional exits are possible at any time.
The Wider Maryland Picture
The Commercial Casino Motive
Maryland operates six licensed commercial casinos. They are MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino, Horseshoe Casino, Hollywood Casino, Ocean Downs, and Rocky Gap.
These properties generate substantial tax revenue and represent significant licensed capital investment.
The commercial casino industry views dual-currency platforms as competing products operating without equivalent licensing burdens or tax obligations. Revenue protection is a documented factor behind the enforcement posture.
The Budget Backdrop
Maryland entered 2026 with an approximately $1.5 billion budget shortfall. The legislature considered regulated iGaming as a potential revenue source.
Senator Ron Watson introduced SB 761 and SB 762 to authorize online casino gaming, conditioned on a statewide voter referendum. SB 761 was withdrawn after its hearing was cancelled.
Maryland finished the session without legalizing iGaming and without passing a sweepstakes ban.
The Referendum Requirement
Maryland legalized retail casinos and mobile sports betting through voter referendums. Any new commercial gambling expansion requires the same.
That requirement is part of why iGaming bills stalled in 2024, 2025, and 2026. It raises the procedural bar considerably compared to a straightforward statute.
The Industry Position
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance represents the sweepstakes industry in Maryland. Managing Director Sean Ostrow welcomed the 2026 outcome.
The alliance argues that prohibition ignores consumer protections built into the model and forfeits tax revenue a regulated framework would generate.
It has stated its intention to engage the 2027 session and advocate for regulation rather than a ban.
Maryland in the National Picture
Maryland is an outlier among states that have moved against sweepstakes casinos. Most acted through legislation. Maryland has acted only through its regulator.
California’s AB 831, effective January 1, 2026, extended liability to affiliates. That is the model HB 1226 would have followed.
| State | Mechanism | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| California | AB 831, ban with affiliate liability | January 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee | SB 2136, direct ban | In effect during 2026 |
| Indiana | HB 1052, direct ban | July 1, 2026 |
| Iowa | SF 2289, regulator enforcement authority | July 1, 2026 |
| Maine | LD 2007, direct ban | July 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Acts 182 and 48, ban plus racketeering | August 1, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | SB 1589, direct ban | November 1, 2026 |
| Maryland | Two House bills passed; both died in Senate | No ban in effect |
Six states restricted the category in 2025, including California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and Montana. Washington, Idaho, and Michigan excluded it earlier.
The District of Columbia has been identified as a likely next market to act, through the proposed Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act.
The 2027 Outlook
A 2027 ban is plausible but not certain. Three factors point toward it.
First, each chamber has independently voted yes. The only missing condition is both acting in the same session.
Second, the national wave of restrictions lowers the political cost of Maryland joining them.
Third, the MLGCA’s documented non-compliance problem gives legislators an on-the-record rationale for statutory action.
Against that, the Senate’s resistance in 2026 surprised most observers who expected passage after the House votes. The committee blocked both bills without a floor vote in either case.
Maryland players should treat 2027 session filings as the early indicator of whether access will change.
What Maryland Players Should Check
- Confirm Maryland is not on the restricted list. Open the platform’s own terms page and search for Maryland rather than relying on third-party pages.
- Locate the free entry route. Confirm a no-purchase path to the redeemable currency exists before registering.
- Check redemption minimums and verification requirements. Most platforms require identity verification before a first redemption.
- Confirm the minimum age. Most platforms set 18. ScarletSands requires 21.
- Note the tax thresholds. Redemptions above $600 in a calendar year are federally reportable on IRS Form 1099-MISC.
- Bookmark the platform’s restricted-states section and the MLGCA news page. The Maryland position is expected to shift during the 2027 session.
Tax Treatment
Prize redemptions are taxable at both the federal and state level. Redemptions above $600 in a calendar year are reportable on IRS Form 1099-MISC.
Maryland applies state withholding to winnings exceeding $5,000. The rate is 8.75% for Maryland residents and 7.00% for nonresidents.
This is general information and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Maryland?
Technically yes. No Maryland statute bans them. The MLGCA treats dual-currency platforms as illegal gaming under existing law, but no court has ruled on the question.
The result is that platforms operate in a contested space rather than a clearly legal or clearly prohibited one.
-
Can I get in legal trouble for playing in Maryland?
No. Maryland players face no direct statutory penalty. Enforcement actions and the Baltimore lawsuit both targeted operators rather than individual players.
Legislation modelled on HB 1226 could create affiliate and promoter liability in future. No such law is in effect.
-
Did Maryland ban sweepstakes casinos in 2026?
No. HB 295 passed the House 105-24 on March 20 and HB 1226 passed 134-2 on March 23. Both died in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee when the session ended April 13.
Their Senate companions, SB 112 and SB 652, never advanced past initial hearings.
-
Why did the bans fail if the House votes were so lopsided?
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee did not bring either bill to a vote. Committee members questioned whether regulation was preferable to prohibition.
The same single-chamber block happened in reverse in 2025, when a Senate-passed ban stalled in the House.
-
Is Mega Bonanza available in Maryland?
No. Mega Bonanza lists Maryland as a restricted state. McLuck, Play Fame, and Stormrush also restrict Maryland residents.
Verify each platform’s terms directly, since restricted-state lists change without notice.
-
Is real-money online casino gaming legal in Maryland?
No. Maryland has no regulated online casino framework. The 2026 iGaming bill SB 761 was withdrawn before a committee vote.
Any expansion would also require a statewide voter referendum, which raises the procedural bar beyond a standard statute.
-
Will sweepstakes casinos be banned in Maryland in 2027?
Possible but not guaranteed. Each chamber has voted for prohibition in separate sessions, the regulator has requested authority, and the Governor has signalled support.
The Senate remains the obstacle. That block held twice, and observers who expected passage in 2026 were wrong.
Clovr independently researches each platform listed here. Some links are affiliate links, meaning Clovr may earn a commission if you register. This does not affect which operators are listed or how they are evaluated. This content is not legal or tax advice.
Related reading:
- Best Sweepstakes Casinos
- Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
- How Sweepstakes Casinos Work
- Sweepstakes Casinos in Pennsylvania
- Sweepstakes Casinos in New York
Think You’ve Got a Gambling Problem? Call or text the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline: 1-800-522-4700 (24/7, confidential).
Last updated: August 2026 | Clovr.com
