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Bonus TL;DR
- Maryland sports betting revenue dropped 20% year-over-year in September 2026 to $58.5 million due to a lower 8.96% hold rate.
- Total betting handle rose 0.2% year-over-year to $652.2 million, making it Maryland’s third-largest monthly wagering handle on record.
Maryland sports betting revenue fell 20% year over year in September 2026, even as wagers edged up to $652.2 million.
The state recorded its third-largest betting month on record. But that volume did not translate into comparable sportsbook revenue, which totaled $58.5 million as hold came in below 9%.
September Handle Rises Just 0.2%
Maryland’s September results showed a sharp contrast between the amount wagered and the revenue sportsbooks retained. The reported totals were:
- Handle: $652,200,899, up 0.2% year over year.
- Sportsbook revenue: $58,454,385, down 20% year over year.
- Hold: 8.96%.
- Promotions: $10,960,150.
- Taxes: $9,096,265.
Handle measures the amount wagered, while hold is the share of those wagers retained as sportsbook revenue. September’s 8.96% hold meant sportsbooks retained less than $9 for every $100 wagered before accounting for expenses.
NFL Calendar Adds Context to September Results
The report noted that September 2026 had one fewer week of NFL regular-season action than September 2025. Despite that calendar difference, Maryland’s total betting handle was essentially unchanged from a year earlier.
Source: As reported by closingline.substack.com.
