Lawmakers in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland are moving towards legalizing sports wagering in those states.
Currently the only place for Beltway denizens to bet on the Super bowl or other sporting contests is at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia—a considerable drive.
Sports betting became legal there in September and so far has accounted for $9.5 million in its first five weeks.
D.C. Councilman Jack Evans has introduced a bill, supported by six council members and the mayor, that would bring sportsbook to the district as early as new spring, or, as Evans puts it by “Opening Day” of Major League Baseball.
Evans sees an online component, as well, noting that several area arenas and hotels have shown interest in signing up.
Maryland lawmakers tried and failed to put a referendum on the ballot earlier this year, but some are aiming at another bite at the apple, this time aiming for the 2020 ballot. Unlike Virginia, there are casinos in Maryland.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s office issued this statement: “Legalizing sports betting in Maryland will require action by the General Assembly and ultimately a referendum on the ballot,” adding, “The governor has previously expressed support for the rights of states to make this determination and we anticipate this issue will be debated in the next legislative session.”
Opponents of runaway gaming expansion, such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, are dismayed at the “gold rush mentality” among many states, as Keith Whyte, executive director put it. States are only looking at the taxes and profits and not at the social costs, he says. He fears that soon bets will be made by smartphone while players watch games on TV, or in the stadium. They will, he says, be “able to bet on every single performance by every single athlete on every single play of every single game,” something that is unprecedented in modern history.
Virginia state Del. Marcus Simon recently announced in the next session of the General Assembly, beginning in January, he plans to introduce a measure to legalize sports betting. “I think there will be some appetite for this. I think there is certainly a revenue opportunity in Virginia. We already see a lot of our residents’ dollars go across the river to the MGM casino, and we lose out on a lot of opportunities to capture some of that revenue.”
Simon said although casinos are illegal in Virginia, sports books could be offered at horseracing tracks and off-track betting facilities. “And there is probably a way to facilitate online sports gaming as well,” he said. Simon added his bill would make sports betting legal as of July 2019. However, he commented, “I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the folks in the General Assembly decide it needs another year of study so we can figure out how it might work. That said, I want to get the process started.”
Simon said he’s also drafting a companion bill he calls a sports bettor’s bill of rights. “So consumers and people who engage in this kind of activity will have some basic consumer protections and they can feel confident that their money will be protected and they are participating in a fair game,” he said.
Governor Ralph Northam’s spokesperson Ofirah Yheskel said, “Governor Northam believes any future proposal to expand sports gaming here in Virginia should be considered with the input of the General Assembly and the communities that will be impacted in order to fully assess the benefits and potential consequences for existing industries and businesses.”
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people recently gathered in downtown Bristol to express their opposition to a proposed casino in the vacant Bristol Mall property—even though last month the Bristol city council unanimously approved a resolution in support of the proposal. The project would have to be approved by the state legislature, which also would have to change state law to allow casino gambling. Officials said the facility would require 18-24 months to open.
Developers of the Bristol Resort & Casino recently released site plans for the project, showing gaming areas, restaurants, shopping and other amenities.
At the protest, the crowd included more than 40 religious leaders and members of their congregations. Several said they fear a casino would lead to more crime, addiction and poverty. Organizers said they have distributed nearly 2,000 yard signs and gathered hundreds of signatures on petitions.
