iDEA Testifies at Maryland Hearing on SB340

Proponents (including several iDEA members) presented strong information and data throughout the 3-hour hearing. We were confronted by familiar opponents including Cordish, Churchill Downs and trade unions who continue to spread fear over cannibalization and job loss. 

There is an effort to remove the constitutional referendum requirement from iGaming. This is critical because the state needs the money now. A referendum couldn’t happen until Nov 26, thus, no revenue to the state until 2027 at the earliest. Getting the State AG to issue an opinion that removes this requirement is a big political challenge.

We are working with other stakeholders to connect with other advocacy groups that are negatively impacted by the state’s budget crisis to see if they will support iGaming as a budget solution.

A House Ways and Means hearing is scheduled for Feb 10, but could be moved.

Here are two documents related to the revenue potential from iGaming and how it is complementary to land-based gaming that we utilized for our testimony in Maryland: 

• MD iGaming Revenue Potential (1-pager)
• iDEA: Pennsylvania Case Study