Maryland Betting Hub’s Rating Guidelines

Our mission in Maryland Betting Hub is to help every bettor in the state enjoy their betting journeys and make informed and responsible betting decisions. Through our betting guide that is built on hands-on testing under real-money conditions, transparent scoring, and player-first accountability.

What makes our ratings stand out is that we don’t just rate sportsbooks, we test them the same way you would, by using our own money, following the same verification standards of sportsbooks, and within the legal requirements set by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA). Every review is shaped by what you’ll experience as a Maryland bettor.

Our rating methodology is tailored specifically to Maryland’s regulatory environment, including MLGCA licensing rules, geolocation mandates, data-security requirements, player-protection standards, and advertising restrictions. Because Maryland has one of the most structured and consumer-focused sports betting frameworks in the U.S., our process is made to meet those expectations ensuring accuracy, compliance, and statewide relevance.

Every rating we publish on our site is independently verified, peer-reviewed, and continuously updated. We follow a fully documented 12-step testing protocol, use weighted scoring rubric, apply red-flag rules to safeguard players, and maintain a public changelog so that you can track how and why scores evolve over time.

Editorial Independence & Trust

At Maryland Betting Hub editorial independence is our core value. We always emphasize that ratings mean nothing if influenced by commercial interests, operator pressure, or internal bias. To protect the integrity of our work, we maintain strict separation between our research team and any business partnerships.

Real-Money Testing Without Operator Coordination

We conduct our test under the same condition as any bettor would by using verified accounts and fund them with our own money. At no time will we notify operators before our testing, request special access, or accept testing environments built for media. We test independently to ensure authentic results and eliminate the possibility of operator manipulation.

Editorial Team Separate From Business/Partnerships

Our analysts, researchers, and writers operate separate from the business and partnerships team. Our editorial staff does not participate in affiliate negotiations, revenue planning, or commercial strategy. We created this strict structure to ensure that partnerships never affect our ratings, rankings, or recommendations.

Peer-Reviewed Before Publication

Every one of our sportsbook reviews goes through a structured peer-review process, involving:

• A secondary reviewer who confirms accuracy
• A QA specialist who evaluates consistency against our rubric
• A compliance check for Maryland-specific requirements

This multilayered system ensures that our ratings are fully evidence-based, fact-checked, and independently validated.

Transparent Methodology Anyone Can Audit

Our entire structured protocol is publicly displayed here. We believe in transparent methodology, published criteria, and documented findings. If you want to know how a score was calculated, you can follow the same steps yourself.

Scope – What We Rate

The objective of our rating is to give a safe, clear and accurate betting guide. To protect Maryland bettors, we evaluate only operators that meet strict eligibility standards.

Who We Rate

• Licensed Maryland online sportsbooks
• Serving age-verified players (21+)
• Accessible to bettors physically located within Maryland borders
• Sportsbooks that are regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA)

Who We Exclude

• Unlicensed or offshore sportsbooks
• Operators failing minimum security requirements
• Sportsbooks without responsible gambling tools
• Platforms with unresolved payout issues

Our Testing Methodology

To make sure we cover the processes and conditions every Maryland bettor will go through while placing a bet at any licensed Maryland sportsbook, we set out a well-structured 12-step testing protocol that mirrors the real play journey. These steps cover every process from sign-up to withdrawal, ensuring results that are replicable, auditable, and grounded in evidence.

Step 1: Researcher Prep

• Verifying the operator’s active Maryland license
• Mapping the platform (web, iOS, Android)
• Preparing a structured test plan
• Reviewing Maryland regulatory compliance obligations

Step 2: Account Creation

• Sign-up friction
• Form clarity
• Mandatory fields
• Two-factor authentication availability

Step 3: Identity & Geolocation

• KYC verification
• Age verification (21+)
• Geolocation confirmation
• Testing accuracy of location prompts

Step 4: Deposit Testing

• Fees
• Processing times
• Minimum/maximum limits
• Accuracy vs. posted timelines

Step 5: Bet Placement

• Pregame bets
• Live bets (latency, bet acceptance speed)
• Parlays and props
• Odds competitiveness
• Bet limits
• Cash-out availability

Step 6: Withdrawal Testing

• Actual processing times
• Posted vs. real payout accuracy
• Fee transparency
• Documentation required

Step 7: Support & Responsible Gambling Tools

• Live chat
• Email support
• Availability hours
• Response accuracy
• Deposit limits
• Time-outs
• Self-exclusion access

Step 8: UX & Reliability

• Navigation
• Layout clarity
• App stability/crash frequency
• Page load speed
• Consistency across devices

Step 9: Evidence Documentation

• Timestamped screenshots
• Bet slips
• Support transcripts
• Full audit trail

Step 10: Scoring

• Weighted criteria
• Red-flag rules
• Automatic score caps for compliance issues

Step 11: Editorial Review

• Fact-checking
• Consistency checks
• Regulatory alignment

Step 12: Publication & Monitoring

• A documented changelog
• Version history
• Re-test triggers for future updates

Rating Criteria & Weights

These weighted criteria allow transparent, repeatable scoring, with clear prioritization of security, market quality, and pricing.

The 1–5 Star Rating Scale

Continuous Monitoring & Updates

To make sure all the information and data published on our site remain current, we maintain a continuously updated database of Maryland sportsbooks using:

Quarterly Reviews

We make sure that every licensed Maryland sportsbook is retested every three months.

Event-Driven Updates

We re-test Maryland sportsbooks when there are new updates, such as:

• Apps launch major updates
• Terms and conditions change
• New bonuses appear
• Regulators issue rulings
• Player reports indicate emerging issues

Transparent Changelog

Every rating change includes:

• Date
• Reason
• Evidence
• Score impact

All version history is archived for accountability.

How to Get Listed

Before any sportsbook can be reviewed, scored, or listed on Maryland Betting Hub, it must meet a strict set of baseline eligibility requirements.

These standards are non-negotiable, and they exist to protect Maryland bettors from compliance risks, unfair practices, and unsafe platforms. When we’re doing our checks, if an operator fails any of the requirements below, we don’t hesitate to exclude them from our coverage, regardless of brand recognition or market size.

Required for Eligibility

• Active Maryland license from MLGCA
• SSL/TLS encryption and fraud prevention tools
• Transparent, accessible terms and house rules
• Full suite of responsible gambling tools
• Customer support for Maryland residents

Automatically Excluded

• Offshore operators
• Unlicensed platforms
• Operators with unresolved payout issues
• Services failing state-mandated RG standards

Our Commitment to You

At Maryland Betting Hub, our responsibility is highly focused on the reader, not on sportsbooks, advertisers, or marketing narratives. Every decision we make, from how we test operators to how we update scores over time, is prioritized towards one aim, which is to give Maryland bettors clear, reliable, and verifiable information they can trust.

To make sure we publish quality and trusted information on our site, we make our ratings to withstand scrutiny, align with Maryland’s regulatory standards, and reflect real player experiences, not promotional claims. That commitment is grounded in three core pillars that define how we operate and how we hold ourselves accountable.

1. Transparency

• Published methodology
• Documented changelogs
• Open criteria
• Full affiliate disclosure

2. Independence

• Editorial fully separate from business
• No operator coordination
• Partnerships never affect ratings

3. Accuracy

• Peer-reviewed ratings
• Evidence-based scoring
• Archived proof of all tests
• Continuous updates

References & Regulatory Framework

All sportsbook ratings we published at Maryland Betting Hub follow the legal and regulatory framework established by the State of Maryland. To make sure our ratings are up to standard, we have a well-structured rating methodology that aligns directly with the rules, consumer-protection standards, and enforcement authority of Maryland’s gaming regulators to ensure accuracy, compliance, and player safety.

Just as you must’ve read at the beginning of this article, we don’t just publish ratings, we follow the standards set by the Maryland regulatory bodies to ensure that our ratings are safe for Maryland players. To learn more about gambling regulations in Maryland, check out the sites below:

1. Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) – Sports betting rules and licensing
2. MLGCA Regulations Portal – Laws, enforcement actions, operator requirements

Our ratings also follow the state restrictions, which include:

• No betting on high-school sports
• College props are subject to Maryland compliance standards
• Geolocation required within state borders

Maryland Responsible Gambling Resources

Responsible gambling is a core component of Maryland’s sports betting framework and a foundational requirement in our rating methodology. As part of our rating standard, we always make sure that all sportsbooks listed on our site feature responsible gambling tools that ensure players safety on their platform.

Betting should remain an entertainment activity, not a way to make quick money or solve your financial needs. Maryland and licensed sportsbooks in the state understand the importance of providing betting tools that give players the control over their betting activities.

That’s why access to clear, immediate, and confidential support resources are always made available for every bettor in the state both in the sportsbook platforms and the state problem gambling website.

To help Maryland bettors who need any help in their betting activities, we’ve provided below helpful resources to get support for any gambling-related issues:

• Maryland Helpline (24/7): 1-800-GAMBLER
• National Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
• Maryland Voluntary Exclusion Program – Allows players to self-exclude from casinos and online sportsbooks

Additional support is available through Maryland’s Responsible Gambling initiatives.
 Visit Responsible Gambling for more tools.

Questions?

We welcome questions, feedback, and constructive input about our rating methodology, scoring process, or how a specific sportsbook was evaluated. Everything we do at Maryland Betting Hub is centered on transparency, and we believe informed readers make better decisions.

If you would like clarification on our rating, have spotted a potential update, or want to share feedback about our evaluation process, you can reach us through our contact page below. For other information, check out our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy page.

• Contact Page: for methodology questions, corrections, or general feedback
• Affiliate Disclosure: to learn more about our affiliate partnership.
• Privacy Policy: for more on how we use and manage information.