Voters in the US Say Yes to Sports Betting in Many States

The Presidential election has taken center stage in America, but there are other issues on the ballot that pertain to the rapid spread of legal sport betting across the US market.

Sports Betting Votes

Sports betting has generally received strong support in state ballots during the election, with general support for sports gambling shown at all levels of state elections, and several more states moving forward with rules and regulation.

Maryland's Approval

Maryland's Question 2 considered whether sports betting should be legalized.

The proposition calls for the revenue generated from sports betting to be diverted to state educational programs, and was received with an overwhelming margin of 2-1, which sets the table for Maryland to develop a betting regulation model on par with neighbouring regulating jurisdictions to Virginia, New Jersey, as well as Washington, DC.

Louisiana In Favor

In Louisiana, voters in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes voted in favor of sports gambling, with Louisiana’s legislature schedule to begin work in April on the regulatory framework to compete with neighbouring jurisdiction Mississippi.

South Dakota's Approval

In South Dakota, sports gambling eked out a 58% majority vote in support of Constitutional Amendment B, paving the way for sportsbooks in Deadwood and on tribal reservations to start taking bets on July 1 of next year.

Games of Chance in Nebraska

Meanwhile, in Nebraska 65% of voters approved gaming expansion. The Nebraska ballot measure allows for legalized sports gambling actually contains language calling for the legalisation of “all games of chance.” Initiatives 429, 430 and 431 make new casino options possible as the framework for sports gambling regulations.

District Votes

Besides just approvals, there were ballot initiatives related to gambling regulation visible across other states. State of Colorado voters approved by 60% an increase in bet limits at casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek; while Virginia district voters approved an expansion plan which will establish four casinos in the districts of Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth. A fifth district vote in Richmond delayed a similar vote.

Outlook

The widespread implementation of sports gambling and mentions of all “games of chance” in legislative initiatives and new regulation projects indicates early signs of casino games and iGaming being legitimised in the minds of voters.