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Maryland Question 2, Sports Betting Measure (2020)
| Maryland Question 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2020 | |
| Topic Gambling | |
Status Approved | |
| Type State statute | Origin State legislature |
Maryland Question 2, the Sports Betting Expansion Measure, was on the ballot in Maryland as a legislatively referred state statute on November 3, 2020.[1] It was approved.
A "yes" vote supports authorizing sports and events wagering at certain licensed facilities with state revenue intended to fund public education. |
A "no" vote opposes authorizing sports and events wagering at certain licensed facilities. |
The Maryland Constitution requires that the Maryland General Assembly submit laws expanding commercial wagering to a referendum at a general election. One legislatively referred state statute appeared on Maryland ballots between 1996 and 2018, and it was approved.[2]
Election results
|
Maryland Question 2 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,904,098 | 67.07% | ||
| No | 934,950 | 32.93% | ||
Overview
What did Question 2 do?
- See also: Text of measure
Question 2 authorized sports and events wagering at certain licensed facilities. The state revenue generated by such activities is required to be primarily dedicated to funding public education. The measure also authorized the Maryland Department of Transportation, the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission, and the Maryland Attorney General to contract with a panel of experts to review the “Business Disparities in the Maryland Market Area” study completed in 2017 and determine whether remedial measures need to be taken for minorities and women in the commercial gaming industry.[1]
At the time of the election, the Maryland Constitution required the legislature to submit a referendum to voters in order to expand sports betting. At the time of the election, Maryland was the single state that explicitly allows fantasy sports betting.[3]
Do other states allow sports and events betting?
- See also:States with sports betting
On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the federal government could not require states to prohibit sports betting, thereby overturning the federal ban on sports betting and allowing states to legalize sports betting if they wish. As of October 2020, 22 states had passed laws legalizing sports betting. Voters in Arkansas and Colorado approved statewide ballot measures authorizing sports betting. The 20 other states approved sports betting through the legislative process.[4]
South Dakota voters a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in November that sports betting within the city limits of Deadwood, South Dakota.
Aftermath
During the 2021 legislative session, the Maryland State Legislature passed and Governor Larry Hogan (R) signed a bill to implement sports betting in the state. The law permits sportsbooks to be operated at the state's professional sports stadiums, horse race tracks, state fairgrounds, minor league stadiums, and sports bars. The law establishes a regulatory commission that would issue and regulate the entities offering sports betting.[5]
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[6]
| “ | Do you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education?
[ ] Against the Referred Law[7] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure can be read below:[1]
Ballot summary
The following ballot summary was published on the Maryland Secretary of State's website:[8]
|
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2020
| Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
|
Support
Vote Yes on 2 led the campaign in support of Question 2.[9]
Supporters
Officials
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R)
- Maryland State Senator Pamela Beidle (D)
- Maryland Senate President William Ferguson IV (D)
- Maryland State Senator Guy Guzzone (D)
- Maryland State Senator Nancy King (D)
- Maryland State Senator Cory McCray (D)
- Maryland State Senator Thomas Miller Jr. (D)
- Maryland State Senator Edward R. Reilly (R)
- State Senator Chris West (R)
- Maryland State Senator Craig Zucker (D)
- Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D)
Arguments
Campaign advertisements
The following video was released by Vote Yes on 2:[10]
|
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Opponents
Officials
- Maryland State Representative Neil Parrott (R)
- Maryland State Representative William Wivell (R)
Arguments
Campaign finance
Ballotpedia had identified two committees—Fund Our Future, Bet on Maryland's Future Committee, and Vote Yes on Question 2—registered in support of Question 2. Fund Our Future reported over $117,328.72 in contributions. Vote Yes on Question 2 reported $5.3 million in contributions, and Bet on Maryland's Future did not report any contributions.[11]
If you are aware of a committee registered to oppose this measure, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $5,052,471.18 | $410,178.16 | $5,462,649.34 | $5,032,916.32 | $5,443,094.48 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $5,052,471.18 | $410,178.16 | $5,462,649.34 | $5,032,916.32 | $5,443,094.48 |
Support
The following chart contains the committees registered in support of Question 2.[11]
| Committees in support of Question 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
| Vote Yes on Question 2 | $5,000,571.04 | $344,749.58 | $5,345,320.62 | $5,000,496.20 | $5,345,245.78 |
| Fund Our Future | $51,900.14 | $65,428.58 | $117,328.72 | $32,420.12 | $97,848.70 |
| Bet on Maryland's Future Committee | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $5,052,471.18 | $410,178.16 | $5,462,649.34 | $5,032,916.32 | $5,443,094.48 |
Top donors
The following chart lists the top donors to the committees supporting Question 2:
| Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | $2,250,000.00 | $0.00 | $2,250,000.00 |
| FanDuel | $2,250,000.00 | $0.00 | $2,250,000.00 |
| BetMGM LLC | $509,000.00 | $0.00 | $509,000.00 |
| Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel | $9,000.00 | $16,759.00 | $25,759.00 |
| Horseshoe Casino Baltimore | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
| Maryland Jockey Club | $9,000.00 | $5,850.00 | $14,850.00 |
Opposition
Ballotpedia did not identify any committees registered in opposition to Question 2.
Methodology
To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.
Media editorials
- See also: 2020 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on Question 2. If you are aware of a media editorial board position that is not listed below, please email the editorial link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
Opposition
Polls
Goucher College conducted a poll of 713 Maryland adults from February 13 to 18, 2020, asking respondents how they would vote on Question 2 if the election were held that day. A second poll of 650 likely Maryland voters was conducted from September 29 to October 1, 2020, by Our Voice Maryland, asking voters how they would vote on Question 2. Results are below.[12][13]
| Maryland Question 2, Sports Betting Measure (2020) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Support expanding sports gambling | Oppose expanding sports gambling | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||||
| Our Voice Maryland poll 9/29-10/1/2020 | 52% | 29% | +/-4.6 | 650 | |||||||||||||||
| Goucher College poll 2/13/2020-2/18/2020 | 47% | 43% | +/-3.7 | 713 | |||||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 49.5% | 36% | +/-4.15 | 681.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Background
2018 Supreme Court ruling on sports betting
In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case, Murphy v. NCAA (originally Christie v. NCAA), regarding the legality of a law implementing New Jersey Public Question 1 (2011). On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the federal government could not require states to prohibit sports betting, thereby overturning the federal ban on sports betting and allowing states to legalize sports betting if they wish.[14]
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and Murphy v. NCAA
- See also: Murphy v. NCAA
Murphy v. NCAA (originally Christie v. NCAA) was a case about the anti-commandeering doctrine, which is based on the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and dictates that Congress cannot commandeer state governments to enforce federal law. The question, in this case, was whether the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal law that prohibits states from authorizing sports gambling, violated the anti-commandeering doctrine.[15]
The United States Congress passed PASPA in 1992. The act prohibited any governmental entity, including states, from sponsoring, operating, advertising, promoting, licensing, and/or authorizing by law any wagering scheme on amateur or professional team games. However, PASPA contained certain exemptions. One of those exemptions allowed New Jersey to enact a sports gambling scheme if the scheme were written into law within one year of PASPA's enactment. At that time, New Jersey declined to implement such a scheme, and the one-year exemption under PASPA expired.[15]
Then, in 2011, New Jersey voters approved an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution authorizing the legislature to legalize betting on the results of professional, college, and amateur sporting events.[15]
Based on the amendment, New Jersey passed the Sports Wagering Act of 2012. The law provided for regulated sports wagering in New Jersey's casinos and racetracks and established a state regulatory scheme for sports wagering in the state. Four professional sports leagues (the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (referred to together as the leagues) filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop enforcement of the New Jersey law, arguing that it violated PASPA. In response, New Jersey acknowledged that the law violated PASPA, but argued that PASPA violated the anti-commandeering doctrine and was therefore unconstitutional.[15]
States with sports betting
As of September 1, 2022, sports betting was legal, or laws to legalize had been approved, in 36 states and D.C. The following map shows the status of sports betting in each state.[16]
Sports betting ballot measures
As of 2021, five of the states to legalize sports betting did so through a ballot measure. All of the ballot measures were approved by voters.
| State | Year | Measure | Type | 'Yes' Percent | 'No' Percent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2011 | Public Question 1 | Legislative | 63.91% | 36.09% |
|
| Arkansas | 2018 | Issue 4 | Initiative | 54.10% | 45.90% |
|
| Colorado | 2019 | Proposition DD | Legislative | 51.41% | 48.59% |
|
| Maryland | 2020 | Question 2 | Legislative | 67.07% | 32.93% |
|
| South Dakota | 2020 | Amendment B | Legislative | 58.47% | 41.53% |
|
Ballot measures in Maryland
From 1996 through 2018, 34 measures appeared on the ballot in Maryland. Of that total, 31 measures were approved. Only one legislatively referred state statute appeared on Maryland ballots in that period of time—Question 7 (2012). It was approved with 51.9 percent of the vote.
Path to the ballot
Legislatively referred state statutes
The Maryland Constitution requires that the Maryland General Assembly submit laws expanding commercial wagering to a referendum at a general election. In Maryland, a simple majority vote is needed in each chamber of the Maryland General Assembly to refer a state statute to the ballot for voter consideration. The governor must sign it within 30 days of receiving it, or it will be certified for the ballot without his signature.
Senate Bill 4 (2020)
Question 2 was introduced into the Maryland General Assembly as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) during the 2020 legislative session. On March 14, 2020, the Maryland House of Representatives voted 129-3 with two not voting and seven absent. On March 18, the Maryland State Senate voted 45-0 with two members absent. Governor Larry Hogan (R) did not sign or veto the bill by the May 7, 2020 deadline. Therefore, the bill was certified for the ballot on May 7 without his signature.[17][18][19]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Maryland
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Maryland.
| How to cast a vote in Maryland | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Maryland, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[20] Registration requirements
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, to register to vote in Maryland, one must be a United States citizen and Maryland resident who is at least 16 years old. Although a 16-year-old can register to vote, he or she cannot vote in an election unless he or she will be 18 at the time of the next general election (i.e., 17-year-olds are permitted to vote in primary elections, so long as they'll be 18 by the time of the corresponding general election).[21] Maryland allows same-day voter registration during the early voting period and on Election Day.[21] Voters may register online, by mail, or in person at one of the following locations:[21]
Automatic registrationMaryland automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Motor Vehicle Administration.[22] Online registration
Maryland has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[22] Same-day registrationMaryland allows same-day voter registration.[22] Residency requirementsMaryland law requires 21 days of residency in the state before a person may vote. Verification of citizenshipMayland does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. Several local jurisdictions in Maryland permit noncitizens to vote in at least some local elections. These jurisdictions maintain separate voter registration systems for noncitizen voters. See here for more information. All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[23] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe voter lookup page, run by the Maryland Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsMaryland does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases.[24] A voter will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the Maryland Attorney General's voting information page to ensure you have the most current information.
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maryland General Assembly, "Senate Bill 4," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ Maryland State Legislature, "Fiscal and Policy Analysis," accessed April 2, 2020
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Legality of Fantasy Sports," accessed May 15, 2020
- ↑ USA Today, "Supreme Court strikes down ban on sports betting in victory for New Jersey," May 14, 2018
- ↑ Action Network, "Maryland Sports Betting Bill Signed Into Law: Here’s What Comes Next," May 18, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Secretary of State, "2020 State Ballot Questions," accessed August 20, 2020
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Maryland Secretary of State, "Ballot Question Summaries," accessed September 30, 2020
- ↑ Legal Sports Report, "FANDUEL, DRAFTKINGS FUNDING CAMPAIGN FOR MARYLAND SPORTS BETTING," September 15, 2020
- ↑ YouTube, "‘A Win for Maryland Education: Vote Yes on 2," accessed September 16, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "Campaign Finance Database," accessed March 30, 2020
- ↑ Goucher College, "Goucher College Poll Results: ," accessed September 16, 2020
- ↑ Maryland Matters, "Forget the 2020 Election. Here Are Some Early Poll Results on 2022," October 7, 2020
- ↑ USA Today, "Supreme Court strikes down ban on sports betting in victory for New Jersey," May 14, 2018
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, National Collegiate Athletic Association et al. v. Governor of the State of New Jersey et al. August 9, 2016
- ↑ American Gaming, "Interactive Map: Sports Betting in the U.S.," accessed June 28, 2022
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "SB 4 Overview," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ Maryland State Legislature, "Senate Vote Count," accessed March 30, 2020
- ↑ Maryland State Legislature, "House Vote Count," accessed March 30, 2020
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Rules and Information for Voters," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Maryland State Board of Elections, "Introduction," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 25, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Maryland Attorney General, "Voting FAQ," accessed April 13, 2023
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