Maryland Sportsbooks Pay $13.8m for October, but Fiscal Year Take Is Down 12.6%

Maryland's October was its fourth-best month for state contributions, yet handle and taxable win both fell short of October 2025. Over the fiscal year, more wagers are producing less tax, because hold is lower and free bets are taking a bigger bite.

• Maryland sportsbooks took $710.1 million of wagers in October and produced taxable win of $69.2 million and state contributions of $13.8 million, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming
• Handle fell 3.6% and contributions 2.2% against October 2025, while both rose sharply on September, when contributions were $9.1 million
• Mobile wagering took 98.6% of handle, and two mobile licensees, Live! Casino and DraftKings, accounted for 72.3% of it
• Fiscal year contributions of $38.3 million are 12.6% behind last year even though handle is up 6.3%, with both years taxed at the same 20% mobile rate
• Maryland's six casinos generated $159.7 million in October, down 1.4% year on year, with MGM National Harbor still the largest at $66.2 million

October Was Strong on September but Slightly Behind Last Year

Maryland Lottery and Gaming said on 10 November that sportsbooks in the US state generated $13,780,116 for the state in October, its fourth-best single month. Handle of $710.1 million was the third-highest monthly total since wagering began in December 2021, according to the regulator. Players won back $637.7 million, leaving a hold of $72.4 million, or 10.2%.

Taxable win, after prizes, deductible free bets and other deductions, was $69.2 million. The state took $10.4 million for the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund, which pays for public education, and $3.4 million for the General Fund.

Against October 2025, handle was down from $736.6 million and taxable win from $70.8 million, a fall of 2.3%. Contributions fell from $14.1 million. Hold improved from 9.9%. Against September, handle rose 8.9% from $652.2 million and taxable win 50.7% from $45.9 million, as hold recovered from 9.0%.

Mobile handle was $700.1 million, down 3.2% year on year, with taxable win of $68.0 million and tax of $13.6 million. Retail handle fell 24.5% to $10.0 million, and retail sportsbooks paid $172,619 in tax.

Two Licensees Take Most of the Market

The regulator's licensee data shows that the mobile licence held by Live! Casino and Hotel's owner, which the regulator's licensee list pairs with FanDuel as operator partner, took $313.1 million of handle, 1.3% less than a year earlier, and taxable win of $33.3 million, up 3.0%. DraftKings took $200.4 million, down 7.6%, with taxable win of $18.9 million. Together they held 75.4% of taxable win.

Maryland Stadium Sub, the Commanders stadium licence, grew handle 24.3% to $58.0 million but its taxable win fell 24.3% to $2.9 million on a 7.4% hold, after $1.3 million of the month's $1.6 million in mobile free bet deductions. BetMGM took $44.9 million, down 7.9%. Bet365, through Riverboat on the Potomac, grew 11.3% to $39.4 million, and Caesars fell 22.1% to $22.0 million.

By sport, parlays took $301.8 million, 42.5% of handle, and held 17.2%, or $51.8 million, which is 71.5% of the month's gross hold. Professional American football took $118.4 million at a 6.2% hold.

The 20% Mobile Rate Was Already in Force a Year Ago

The regulator's data notes state that since 1 July 2025, 15% of mobile taxable win has gone to the Blueprint Fund and 5% to the General Fund, a 20% rate. Retail remains at 15%. October 2025 was already taxed at 20%, so this month's year-on-year comparison is like for like.

Maryland's six casinos generated $159.7 million from slots and table games in October, down 1.4%, the regulator said on 5 November. MGM National Harbor fell 2.6% to $66.2 million, Live! Casino and Hotel 0.4% to $59.4 million and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore 9.8% to $14.0 million. Casino contributions to the state were $67.9 million, down 0.8%.

More Betting Is Producing Less Tax

The fiscal year figures are the bigger concern for Annapolis. Handle for July to October is $2.32 billion, against $2.19 billion a year earlier, but taxable win has fallen 12.7% to $192.7 million. Hold is 10.0% against 11.1%, and deductible free bets have almost doubled to $33.2 million from $16.9 million. The 20% rate was in force in both periods, so the $5.5 million shortfall comes from hold and promotion, not tax policy. New York shows the same pattern: its record October handle came with lower fiscal year revenue.

A Concentrated Market Pays Most of the Bill

With Live! Casino's licence and DraftKings taking three-quarters of taxable win, Maryland's receipts depend on two operators' pricing and promotional choices. DraftKings has just cut its 2026 profit guidance, and pressure on margins could make operators more careful with free bets. The regulator also notes that monthly hold is based on wagers placed, so it will change as bets settle.

October showed Maryland can still produce strong months under the 20% rate. The fiscal year shows that higher handle alone will not keep receipts rising.