As Maryland embarks on its great slots adventure, surrounding states are not standing still.
Lawmakers in Delaware say the prospects for legalizing sports betting in Delaware are on the rise as Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner leaves office.
As the News Journal of Wilmington reports, Delaware House Speaker Bob Gilligan predicts sports betting will be approved in this year's legislative session. The state Senate's leader said he expects a new bill to get a hearing.
According to the paper, Minner has said she would veto a sports betting plan, but Gov.-elect Jack Markell is undecided about the issue. Delaware faces a $560 million state budget shortfall.
Delaware is one of the states that Marylanders have long travelled to for slots gambling, and has long been concerned about the impact of Maryland gambling on its state revenues. Legalizing sports betting would certainly up the ante (sorry, we couldn't resist) in the regional battle for gambling dollars, and adds weight to the argument of critics who contend that it is nearly impossible to limit gambling once it is authorized.
