In Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, they’re not only voting on their next mayor and Town Council – they’re also going to decide if this beach town of about 6,500 residents wants to consider expanding its gambling options.
Voters are considering whether to support expanding gaming options, which includes additional electronic bingo machines, casino slots, and table games.
Here’s the text of the question: Do you support the State of Maryland permitting expanded gaming (i.e. additional electronic bingo machines, casino slots, table gaming) to venue(s) in the Town of Chesapeake Beach?
But it's not an election day like no other.
Similar Vote Four Years Ago
Back in 2020, residents voted against gambling expansion. However, since then, both retail and digital sports betting have been introduced in the state, following the approval of a statewide online wagering initiative that same year.
“This is important because the 2020 Town election ballot had a similar question where citizens overwhelmingly provided feedback to the town that they did not desire any expanded gaming within the municipal limits,” said Town Administrator Holly Wahl. She provided information about the vote in a YouTube video explaining what’s at stake on election day. “The mayor and Town Council will use this information to advocate on citizens behalf when bills are introduced at the state level to expand gaming in Chesapeake Beach,” she said.
Mayor Fights for Citizens Based on Results
This system worked the last time. After overwhelmingly opposing gaming expansion in 2020, the Mayor and Town Council successfully lobbied the State legislature to prevent it.
Although multiple bills to expand gaming in Chesapeake Beach were proposed in subsequent years, they were defeated due to the Town Council's advocacy.
After today’s vote, it will be up to the next Mayor and Town Council to decide what action to take based on the citizens 2024 ballot responses.
No Telling Which Way The Vote May Go
That’s what makes this a bit tricky. The outgoing mayor and town council backed the vote over the last four years, but the town’s future leaders won’t be known until the end of election day.
In a message to the people, outgoing Chesapeake Beach Mayor Pat Mahoney reminded voters about the importance of the gambling vote, in relation to the new body of officials that the town will also choose.
“In the 2020 election, the results of a ballot question regarding the expansion of gaming showed that 72% of you voted ‘no’,” Mayor Mahoney said. “Subsequently, two years later, in 2022 and 2023, multiple bills were introduced that would double the number of gaming machines in town from 450 to 900. Because it was your will, as your mayor, I made many trips to Annapolis to ensure your voice was heard. I presented key state leaders with the referendum results, and guess what? Annapolis heard us loud and clear, and for two years in a row, those bills were defeated” he added. “It's just as important that you have a body of elected officials who are willing to fight to ensure that your voice and your will are heard, no matter what.”
So, there is a lot at stake in this beach town. Maryland remains dependent on gaming as a source of revenue, and this probably won't be the only time a ballot measure on the subject will occur. Although gaming has generally received approval, local viewpoints can greatly impact the results.
Experts believe that gambling expansions are more likely to succeed in states where similar measures have received voter approval in the past. However, they caution that when debates create confusion, voters typically opt to reject such proposals.
