A recent poll in Maryland suggested that Marylanders not only favor legal online casino apps, but that they value the horse racing history in the state and their professional sports teams.

According to a survey of likely voters by Victoria Research, taken between Nov. 9-14, more than two-thirds of those surveyed support legalizing and taxing online casino, reported Maryland Matters. Maryland is the state that many gaming stakeholders have been pointing to as having the best chance at legalizing iCasino in 2024. In mid-November, a report commissioned by the Maryland Lottery stated that the state stands to take in $200 million in tax dollars with legal online gaming.

Marylanders legalized retail and digital sports betting at the polls in November 2020. Wagering at brick-and-mortar casinos opened a year later, and the first mobile bets were taken in November 2022. The state took in $36.5 million in tax revenue through the first 11 months of wagering.

The 45-question survey suggested that Marylanders are generally optimistic about the future. The poll was broken into two parts, with 813 people registered to vote in the general election of all political backgrounds as well as 502 Baltimore City Democrats likely to vote in the primaries polled. The statewide survey had a 3.3-point margin of error. Those surveyed in the city of Baltimore had a 4.4-point error margin. Political lobbying firm Perry White Ross and Jacobson paid for the poll.

Marylanders support professional sports teams

Beyond supporting legal online gambling and the new revenue that it would bring to the state, 70% of those polled said they would support initiatives to keep the Washington Commanders in Maryland. Also, 66% of those polled say they would like to see increased promotion of the Preakness Stakes, which has undergone a makeover, and that the state should tie the race to its historic horse racing industry.

Last week, ESPN reported that Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, has plans to move his teams out of the District of Columbia to a new arena in Virginia. When sports wagering was legalized in both Virginia and Maryland, part of the discussion was what each state could do to potentially attract some of the D.C.-area sports teams.

Within the city of Baltimore, 75% of those polled said that investments to improve the Orioles’ Camden Yards and Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium are a priority, along with a revitalization of Harborplace.