Welcome to Captain Gambling’s weekly industry news digest! Our experts are here to give you all of the latest updates regarding gambling legislation in states across the country as they happen.
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This week’s top stories:
- Louisiana & Maryland to hold “yes or no” referendums on Nov. 3rd
- South Dakota to vote on legalization in Deadwood
- Michigan moves closer to mobile sports betting
- Kentucky Supreme Court overrules historical slot gaming loophole
- Raiders open new stadium in Las Vegas
Louisiana and Maryland
On November 3rd, the same day as the US Presidential election, voters in Louisiana and Maryland will also have the chance to vote on legalized sports betting in those states. The referendum will be a simple “yes or no” ballot on the question of legalized sport betting. Lawmakers in both states pushed through a simplified vote due to legislative sessions being shortened in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Should the states choose to legalize sports betting, the framework of how it will be done should be worked out in 2010.
South Dakota
As well as Lousianna and Maryland, South Dakota will also have a public vote on sport betting legislation on November 3rd. However, the question on their ballot is a lot slimmer than a general “yes or no” to legal betting in the entire state. Instead South Dakota voters will be deciding if sports betting can be added to the list of already legalized gambling possibilities in the tourist city of Deadwood.
Michigan
The Michigan Gaming Control Board looks to have hit the fast forward button on the legalization of mobile gambling and sports betting in the Wolverine State. The state had been expected to legalize sports betting by early 2021, with original plans of a late 2020 date being deemed a longshot by most in the wake of the pandemic. However, legalized online gambling in Michigan now could be a reality by the end of the fall. Richard S. Kalm, executive director of The Michigan Gaming Control Board, is expected to submit the final proposals to the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules and the Legislative Service Bureau at some point next week.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Supreme Court this week overturned a long standing legal loophole that had allowed legalized slot-like gaming in the state. The ruling deemed the slot like horse racing system as no longer legal. Effectively, this move has pulled the plug on a $2 billion industry in the state.
Nevada
After completing their move from LA to Las Vegas back in January this year, the Raiders finally played their first NFL game in their new $2 billion stadium. After years of keeping the legal sports betting industry at arm's length, this move signifies a newfound public embrace between the NFL and the betting industry.
