{"id":153371,"date":"2020-10-26T15:11:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T22:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=153371"},"modified":"2020-10-26T15:30:23","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T22:30:23","slug":"fanduel-predicts-successful-maryland-sports-betting-referendum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/fanduel-predicts-successful-maryland-sports-betting-referendum\/","title":{"rendered":"FanDuel Predicts Successful Maryland Sports Betting Referendum, Claims Adequate Public Support"},"content":{"rendered":"

FanDuel, which along with DraftKings, is funding the public campaign to bring legalized sports betting to Maryland, expects the ballot referendum to pass next month.<\/p>\n

\"Maryland
Maryland residents could soon bet on their professional sports teams in Baltimore, which play near Inner Harbor (pictured). (Image: Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maryland voters will decide who should lead the country as president for the next four years, but also determine if Maryland should become the 24th state to pass legislation to permit gambling on sports. Question 2, the Sports Betting Expansion Measure, requires only a simple majority.<\/p>\n

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Cory Fox, vice president of government affairs for FanDuel, told WTOP News <\/i>this week that the company’s polling shows that public support among likely voters is in the 55-60 percent range.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Polling on Question 2 has been limited. A Goucher College poll conducted in February found that only 47 percent of respondents voiced their support for sports betting. The margin of error was 3.7 percentage points.<\/p>\n

However, a poll conducted by Our Voice Maryland earlier this month concluded that 52 percent of state voters support Question 2. The poll’s margin of error was 4.55 percent, concerning for supporters on both sides of the issue.<\/p>\n

Sports Betting for Education<\/b><\/h2>\n

The two sportsbook operators have contributed more than $2.75 million<\/a> to the “Vote Yes on Question 2” campaign, which is using the money on media spots, including television, radio, and online and social media ads. The campaign is also paying for robocalls, telling those who don’t hang up on the benefits of legalized sports betting.<\/p>\n

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) supports the ballot referendum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Question 2 provides a critical revenue source for public education without raising taxes on families and businesses,” Hogan said in a statement last week. “This initiative builds on the very successful ‘Hogan Lockbox,’ which puts casino revenues in a lockbox dedicated to education.”<\/p>\n

Question 2 would legalize sports betting in Maryland. But a host of issues would need to be ironed out by lawmakers. A few pertinent questions:<\/p>\n