Maryland General Assembly leaders are considering a fast-track proposal under which lawmakers would legalize betting on football, basketball and other sports without first seeking voter approval in the 2020 election.
A voter-approved referendum has long been considered a precursor for Maryland to join surrounding states such as Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey, which have all launched sports wagering since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a congressional ban in May. The District of Columbia is in the process of establishing sports betting after the D.C. Council approved it in December.
But Maryland legislative leaders and casino and racetrack lobbyists are now studying a plan in which the state would place the regulation of sports betting under the lottery and gaming agency.
Changes or additions to lottery games are exempt from a 2007 requirement that any new commercial gaming must be approved by a majority of voters in a general election. That’s among the reasons some sports betting proponents believe a ballot referendum might not be needed.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Jeff Barker over at the Baltimore Sun