Stake.US, McLuck Sweepstakes Casinos Ordered to Leave Maryland

You can claim to be a "free-to-play" online gambling site, also known as a sweepstakes casino, but in the end, U.S. state regulators may see things differently.

Stake.US is the latest such site to come under the ire of state regulators, this time in Maryland.

Stake.US is the sweepstakes/social platform of the larger Stake.com operation that operates internationally, including Canada.  That company was one of only six that responded to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency demand to cease operating in the state. 

Those six, which include the popular McLuck social casino, all operate from within the United States.  Five others operate from outside the U.S.

It appears that the eleven sites were selected at random as several dozen sweepstakes casinos directly target Maryland residents.  Many advertise in the state.

A large number of offshore gambling sites, including MyBookie.ag and Bovada, either restrict or discourage those in Maryland from playing on their respective websites.

The news comes the same day that Maryland announced a massive 100% tax hike on regulated gambling operators (15 percent to 30 percent).

The table game tax rate would move from 20% to 25%.

The rate increases are part of the budget presented by Governor Wes Moore for the year 2025.

Shares of DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) and Flutter Entertainment (LON:FLTR), the parent company of FanDuel, both edged down 1% on Wednesday.