Faced with surrounding states raking in millions from internet gaming and sport betting, the Maryland state Senate last week passed a measure that ultimately would remove the requirement for an amendment to the state constitution—and its required approval by citizens in a statewide vote—before any gaming expansion measure can be enacted.
Maryland lawmakers have been busy in recent weeks preparing a bill that would create a referendum for November’s ballot that would amend the constitution to allow sports betting. State senators, however, aware that waiting for additions like sports betting is yielding millions in revenue to other states, are doing an end-run with legislation to create a constitutional amendment to do away with the required constitutional amendment.
The Senate voted 46-1 for the constitutional amendment, which now goes to the House.
If the House approves, Maryland voters would still have the final say about whether they want to take themselves out of the process in November.
Under the proposed change, lawmakers would decide whether to expand forms of gambling that are not currently offered at the state’s six casinos. The law requiring lawmakers as well as voters to decide on any further gambling expansion was part of the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2008 to allow casinos.
