Six States Have Legal Gambling Expansion On Their Nov. 3 Ballot
- Six different states have sports betting or casino games up for legalization through voting on Tuesday’s ballot.
- By Tuesday night, the gaming industry of the United States could be seeing a huge expansion.
BALTIMORE – Tuesday doesn’t just mark the 2020 Presidential Election but numerous other things will have their place on state ballots across the country with over a handful of places putting different types of legal gambling to a public vote.
Six separate states will ask constituents to weigh in on the local gaming industry. Voters that will see gambling expansion in their state on their ballots reside in Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Virginia.
Colorado
Coloradoans will be voting on Amendment 77 as gambling in the state is already legal at casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The amendment to the laws already in place will take away the $100 wagering limit on any hand of a casino game.
Along with doing away with the monetary limit per hand rule, both pai gow and baccarat will be added to the gaming menus at casinos with the majority vote of approval on Amendment 77 in the Centennial State.
Louisiana
In Louisiana, all 64 parishes will be asked whether or not they want to see legalized sports betting industries within their communities. A similar vote was done with Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in 2018 where 47 of 64 parishes were in favor of legal DFS.
The same rules apply for the sports betting vote. The 2021 legislative session will then discuss rules and regulations for a legal sports wagering market for the parishes that voted in favor of legal sports betting.
Maryland
Question 2 on the ballots for Marylanders will seek to get sports betting made into a legal market for the state. Lawmakers want to see legal sports wagering industries open in Maryland because it is an untapped market and residents are going elsewhere to gamble on sporting events which is all revenue lost for Maryland.
However, it’s uncertain whether this measure will come to pass as constituents have been apprehensive on Question 2 because it is far less detailed which could mean that voters would be agreeing to anything, even a farfetched thunder dome of legal sports betting rules and regulations.
Nebraska
While Nebraska is home to Tribal gaming, they’re venturing into commercial territory with their three initiatives. The state has overloaded their ballot like a baked potato with three different casino gambling initiatives. Initiative 429 would allow casino licenses for the racetracks of Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Lincoln, Omaha, and South Sioux City.
Initiative 430 would create the “Nebraska Gaming Commission” which would oversee the newly legal commercial gambling industry should it be given the majority vote and Initiative 431 has voters agree to a 20% tax on GGR from the gaming industry.
South Dakota
South Dakota has gaming options in the town of Deadwood. Residents would see the question of Amendment B regarding sports betting on their ballots. Casino games are currently legal in Deadwood whereas sports betting is not. A vote of “Yes” on Amendment B would see legal sportsbooks in Deadwood but would inherently give tribal casinos across the state the same right.
Virginia
Voters in Virginia get to vote on whether they want to see casinos open in the cities of Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond. Should any of these towns be in favor of legal gambling, more voting would take place on different aspects of the industry.
However, within the already created proposal, sportsbooks would open in any city that allows for casinos, officially legalizing sports betting in the Commonwealth. Taxes on sports wagers will be on a sliding scale of anywhere from 18%-30% as stipulated in the current proposal.
November 3 Is Coming
Each of these states will be able to put in their final word on gambling issues on Tuesday, November 3. The approval of these measures would increase the economic revenue which is much needed nationwide because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The six states voting on legal gambling topics should know the result by Tuesday night and then lawmakers can move forward on future legislation.