Maryland Lists Gambling Websites Receiving Cease-and-Desist Orders
Maryland has taken action against unauthorized online platforms, issuing cease-and-desist letters to several companies suspected of offering their services without proper licenses. This list, compiled by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, includes around 15 platforms such as Bet US, Chumba Casino, and Luckyland Slots.
To help consumers make informed decisions, Maryland has disseminated three lists—the banned websites, the licensed online sports wagering operators, and the registered online fantasy competition operators. The list of prohibited websites, however, only includes those platforms that have received cease-and-desist notices.
Despite the ongoing efforts to curb illegal activities, Maryland continues to grapple with the issue of sweepstakes. Maryland is deliberating on a possible law that would restrict or outlaw sweepstakes casinos, but due to the lack of solid evidence and reasoning, such legislation has yet to pass. As it stands, sweepstakes are technically legal in Maryland as long as they adhere to specific regulations—they must offer a free alternative method of entry (AMOE) and cannot involve any form of payment.
Online sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us are legal in Maryland due to their unique legal status. They employ virtual currencies rather than real money, placing them in a separate category from traditional online casinos. For now, no active legislation targets sweepstakes in Maryland, and they remain a popular form of digital entertainment in the state.
[1] Source: ABASCA, "Maryland Online Sweepstakes Casinos: Questions and Answers about the Sweepstakes Model," https://abascagaming.com/maryland-online-sweepstakes-casinos/[2] Source: OnlineSweepstakesLaw.com, "Maryland Sweepstakes Laws," https://www.online-sweepstakes-law.com/maryland-sweepstakes-laws/[4] Source: PlayUSA, "Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Maryland?" https://playusa.com/news/are-sweepstakes-casinos-legal-in-maryland/
[1] The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has issued cease-and-desist letters to several unauthorized online platforms, such as Bet US, Chumba Casino, and Luckyland Slots.
[2] Online sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us are legal in Maryland due to their unique legal status, as they employ virtual currencies instead of real money.
[3] Despite Maryland's efforts to crack down on illegal online activities, sweepstakes remain a popular form of digital entertainment in the state, with no active legislation targeting them currently.
[4] Due to specific regulations, sweepstakes are technically legal in Maryland as long as they offer a free alternative method of entry (AMOE) and do not involve any form of payment.
[5] The Maryland government is considering a law that would restrict or outlaw sweepstakes casinos, but due to the lack of solid evidence and reasoning, such legislation has yet to pass.
[6] The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has disseminated three lists—the banned websites, the licensed online sports wagering operators, and the registered online fantasy competition operators.
[7] Casinos in Las Vegas and other casino-culture hubs are trending towards more responsible gambling practices, a trend that has yet to take hold in Maryland's casino-and-gambling scene.
[8] Among the influential figures in Maryland's casino industry, there is a growing call for the promotion of responsible gambling, citing its importance in fostering a healthy casino-games culture.
