Self-exclusion by state · Maryland
How to self-exclude from sports betting in Maryland
Maryland's list is one of the broadest in the country: casinos, sportsbooks, the lottery, fantasy sports and bingo halls. It is also in person only, with just two choices: 2 years or lifetime.
The short answer
One list covers casinos, sportsbooks, lottery, daily fantasy and instant bingo halls. Enrollment is in person only, for 2 years or lifetime. Leaving after 2 years requires a professional assessment.
Program: Voluntary Exclusion Program (VEP), run by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). Official page →
Terms: 2 years · Lifetime
Maryland help: Maryland Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), call/text/chat 24/7 (helpmygamblingproblem.org); free counseling via Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling
What to do today, before the state list kicks in
You can't enroll online, so self-exclude inside each app now and call 410-230-8798 (or email responsible.gaming@maryland.gov) to schedule an appointment.
Then read how to block each app — excluding inside the app is usually faster than any state list, and it’s the first layer of the firewall.
What the Maryland list covers, and what it doesn’t
| Type of gambling | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online sportsbooks | Covered | |
| Retail sportsbooks | Covered | |
| Casinos | Covered | |
| Online casino | N/A | Not legal in MD |
| Daily fantasy / pick'em | Covered | |
| Lottery | Covered | |
| Video gaming machines | Covered | Instant bingo halls in Anne Arundel and Calvert counties are covered |
| Tribal casinos | N/A | No tribal gaming in MD |
| Prediction markets (Kalshi etc.) | Unconfirmed | Not mentioned; not MLGCA licensees, assume not covered |
The gaps people miss
- No online enrollment - must appear in person at a casino or MLGCA HQ; people in crisis should use in-app self-exclusion at each sportsbook meanwhile
- Only 2 years or lifetime - no 1-year or 5-year option
- Removal after 2 years requires a professional assessment or treatment program, not just a request
- Prediction markets (Kalshi etc.) are not covered; Kalshi v. Maryland is on appeal at the Fourth Circuit and Baltimore sued prediction markets in Aug 2026
- Offshore sites and sweepstakes casinos are not covered
- 2026: HB 518 (would codify separate exclusion lists for lottery, fantasy and sports wagering and ban college player props) passed the House 132-0 but was last shown at Senate second reading at sine die (Apr 13, 2026) - appears not enacted · unconfirmed
How to enroll in Maryland
| Way to enroll | Available? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Online | No | |
| In person | Yes | |
| By mail | No | |
| By phone or video | Limited | Appointment scheduling only (410-230-8798 or responsible.gaming@maryland.gov); enrollment itself is in person |
- Bring a government-issued photo ID
- Go to any of Maryland's six casinos (ask for compliance/security) during operating hours, or book an appointment at MLGCA headquarters in Baltimore via responsible.gaming@maryland.gov / 410-230-8798
- Be sober; the in-person application takes about 30-45 minutes
- Choose 2 years or lifetime
- Also self-exclude inside each sportsbook app for immediate effect while the state list propagates
What you need
Government-issued photo ID; must not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
How long it takes to take effect
Player-card deactivation when operator receives the list; direct mail/email marketing can take 4-6 weeks to stop. Sportsbook account lockout timing.
What happens to your balance and open bets
Do this first, whatever your state says: withdraw your balance and let open bets settle before you enroll. Getting money back afterward means dealing with an operator that is now required to refuse you.
Not stated on MLGCA pages loaded.
Can you get off the list early?
No early removal. After 2 years, removal is NOT automatic: you must request it and provide proof of a problem-gambling assessment by a state-certified professional, or completion of an approved treatment/education program (documentation within one calendar year); MLGCA makes the final decision; takes several weeks. Lifetime cannot be removed.
Free blocking software in Maryland
We haven’t found a state-funded free blocker for Maryland. Gamban costs about $42 a year; the iPhone Screen Time lock is free.
The Betting Firewall
This is one wall. You need five.
The Maryland list makes licensed operators refuse you. It does nothing about offshore sites, prediction-market apps, a friend’s account, or the money in your checking account. That’s what the other four layers are for.
- The appsSelf-exclude and close every sportsbook, fantasy, and prediction-market account you have. Guide →
- Your phoneBlock the apps and sites at the device level so a deleted app can't come back. Guide →
- A blockerInstall Gamban or another blocker that can't be removed early. Guide →
- Your moneyCard controls, gambling blocks at your bank, and someone else on the account. Guide →
- The state list — this pageEnroll in your state's self-exclusion program so every licensed operator has to refuse you.
The 24-Hour Betting Shutdown Plan
Self-exclusion is one wall. The Shutdown Plan walks you through all five layers of the Betting Firewall in one day — apps, phone, money, people, and the state list. Free, first name and email only.
Sign-up opens shortly. In the meantime, every step is on the Shutdown Plan page.
No spam, no selling your data, unsubscribe anytime. If you want structure past day one, the 90-Day Stop Betting Program is the next step — we’ll mention it once in the emails.