The people who live in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland don't want to see gambling expanded in their town.
The question on Tuesday’s ballot read like this: 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?
According to the voter information page on the town’s website, 1,285 of the 1,684 people who voted on the measure said “No.”
In other words, 76% of voters voted against the idea.
Same Result Occurred Four Years Ago
In 2020, the Mayor and town council successfully convinced the state legislature to stop the expansion of gaming, which many people opposed. Over the next few years, there were several attempts to expand gaming in Chesapeake Beach, but the Town Council consistently stopped the attempts.
After this most recent vote, it is now up to the new mayor and town council to decide what to do based on what the citizens said in the 2024 election.
Over the past four years, the outgoing mayor and town council have supported the decisions of the electorate. However, the public has now elected a new mayor and town council. Bruce Wahl narrowly won the mayoral race and will now lead the charge.
Maryland Gambling Expansion Talk Likely Won’t End
With the introduction of both retail and digital sports betting, as well as the approval of a statewide online wagering initiative, Maryland has expanded its gaming options.
While real money online casinos are not yet available in the state, residents can enjoy free-to-play online casino games through platforms associated with Maryland's land-based casinos.
Maryland continues to rely on gaming as a revenue source, and future ballot measures concerning gaming and potential expansions are likely. While gaming has typically found approval, local perspectives can significantly influence the outcomes, as we have seen in Chesapeake.
Will History Repeat Itself in Chesapeake Beach?
Outgoing Chesapeake Beach Mayor Pat Mahoney emphasized the town's opposition to gaming expansion, highlighted by a 72% vote against it in a 2020 ballot.
This time, there’s even more opposition (76%), so the majority is clear on where it stands when it comes to gambling expansion in this beach town of just over 6,000 residents.
Despite attempts in 2022 and 2023 to double the town's gaming machines from 450 to 900, Mahoney advocated against these efforts in Annapolis, presenting the referendum results. His efforts were successful, as the proposed bills were defeated both years.
It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself if and when new gambling ballot measures are introduced.
