Ocean Downs Casino

History

Ocean Downs began as a half-mile harness racing track in Berlin, Maryland, opening in 1949. For more than six decades it was primarily a summer racing venue serving vacationers and horseplayers on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Rickman family, long associated with Maryland harness racing, acquired the track and continued operating it through the years. When Maryland voters approved video lottery terminals at selected locations in 2008, Ocean Downs secured one of the licenses, and the first casino floor opened in January 2011. The property thus became a “racino,” combining harness racing with a modern casino, and table games were later added after Maryland voters authorized them.

Business Model

Ocean Downs makes money from casino gaming, pari-mutuel wagering, sports betting, and food and beverage operations. Its slot machines and table games are regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, and a portion of gaming revenue is directed to state programs, including Maryland’s education trust fund. The casino also benefits from its racetrack operations, including live harness racing and simulcast wagering, which give the venue a broader equine sports identity than most commercial casinos.

Gaming Floor and Sports Betting

The casino floor features hundreds of slot and video poker machines alongside a range of live table games such as blackjack, roulette, and three-card poker. In 2021, Maryland legalized sports wagering, and Ocean Downs launched retail sports betting in partnership with PointsBet; the sportsbook later became Fanatics Sportsbook after Fanatics acquired PointsBet’s U.S. business. The sportsbook gives the venue another way to attract visitors on racing and non-racing days, complementing its traditional pari-mutuel wagering operations.

Market Position

Ocean Downs is one of six casinos in Maryland, but it occupies a distinctly regional position compared with larger competitors such as MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino & Hotel, and Horseshoe Baltimore. It is the only casino on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, drawing heavily from the Ocean City summer resort market and nearby Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia visitors. Its smaller scale and harness racing heritage make it a more intimate “local” casino, while still competing for discretionary gaming spend across the state.

Ownership and Regulation

Ocean Downs is owned by Ocean Downs LLC, a Rickman family entity tied to Maryland harness racing. The casino operates under a Maryland video lottery terminal license and must comply with state reporting, compliance, and responsible-gaming requirements. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency oversees its operations, publishes monthly revenue reports, and audits the facility, making it one of the most closely regulated gambling venues on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Recent Direction

In recent years, Ocean Downs has focused on broadening its amenities and betting options, particularly through retail sports wagering and enhanced gaming promotions. The transition from PointsBet to Fanatics Sportsbook reflects a broader industry trend in which national sports betting brands replace original regional partners. The property has also continued to invest in the racing side, maintaining a summer harness racing meet that remains culturally important to Maryland’s horse racing community.