The lottery, as well as horse racing betting, has always been legal in Maryland and sports betting appears to be next on the agenda.

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found 53% of people would vote in favour of being able to bet on professional sports, while 37% rejected it. The remaining 10% did not take part.

Despite the result, the people of Maryland will have to wait until at least November 2020 before they can place their first sports wager.

A Maryland bill calling for a voter referendum on sports gambling passed in the House of Delegates but not the Senate. As a result, the state’s voters will get a referendum but not until 2020.

The vast majority of registered voters aged 40 or less backed sports betting, while fewer than four in 10 people aged 65 or over supported legalising sports betting.

The poll also indicated a rare agreement between opposing parties. Democrats, Republicans and independents all expressed support for legalised sports wagering, rather than opposing it.