Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder privately urged Maryland legislative leaders on Tuesday to allow gambling at a future stadium in the state, a sports betting proposal that places him at the forefront among NFL owners.
Snyder, who requested at least three separate meetings in Annapolis, told lawmakers that a gambling license was integral to his plans to build a new stadium on the site of FedEx Field and move the team’s training facility from Richmond to Landover.
The visit to Annapolis, confirmed by six lawmakers who attended, suggests that Maryland is still in the running for the stadium, a possibility that seemed remote after land-swap negotiations with Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration fell apart last year.
The team has sought a new facility in the District at the site of its old home, RFK Stadium, but the city has not been able to gain control of the property from the federal government. The team has also explored possibilities in Virginia. The team’s lease keeps it at FedEx Field through 2027.