Another PAC backed by iGaming money bets big on Bill Ferguson, while avoiding any mention of gambling
Chaired by political operative Patrick Murray, a newly created PAC sends out a mailer with a clenched fist representing Maryland Senate President Ferguson fighting high costs and Donald Trump
Above: Social media personality Bobby Lapin (left) is challenging Senate President Bill Ferguson for his 46th District seat.
A second political action committee funded by online gambling interests has poured over a quarter of a million dollars into supporting Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson’s primary run against an opponent with a fraction of his resources.
Virginia-based Sports Betting Alliance is the chief backer of Expanding Opportunities Maryland PAC, which has so far spent $288,000 in direct mailers and online advertising to support Ferguson’s bid for a fifth term in Baltimore’s 46th District.
For the first time since winning his senate seat, Ferguson faces a credible challenge from Bobby LaPin, a social media personality and charter boat captain who has gained support by lambasting Fergsuon for allegedly ignoring his district, caving in to Donald Trump and blocking a progressive Democratic agenda.
Expanding Opportunities Maryland is chaired by Patrick H. Murray, the former chief of staff for Ferguson’s predecessor, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., recently in the news for allegedly trying to steer Baltimore County’s ex-inspector general away from investigating a zoning matter involving developer David Cordish.
Ferguson, meanwhile, has been highly critical of Baltimore City’s inspector general, Isabel Mercedes Cumming, calling her “not sufficient professionally,” and stymied legislation in Annapolis that would have returned records access to her and other IG offices.
An advocacy organization for legalized online betting, Sports Betting Alliance has connections to American Future, a Texas-based PAC that separately bought $327,591 worth of TV ads and direct mailers on behalf of Ferguson.
American Future is backed by DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel, the same betting apps that underwrite the Sports Betting Alliance (along with BetMGM and bet365).
Together, American Future and Sports Betting have spent over $610,000 backing Ferguson, with six days to go before the June 23 primary, according to online filings with the State Elections Board.
Under the law, PACs can spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they operate independently of the candidate they are supporting.
The Ferguson campaign told The Brew it has no control over “outside spending” and is legally forbidden to coordinate with the groups.
The Sports Betting Alliance is not unknown to Ferguson. It was among the $25,000-a-ticket guests at a retreat held by Ferguson at a dude ranch in Colorado to benefit the Democratic Senate Caucus Committee. And the largess from the two PACs has allowed the Senate president to keep his personal campaign account largely intact.
As of last Friday, Citizens for Bill Ferguson reported a $905,937 cash balance, a drop of just $60,000 from his campaign’s previous report.
Among the recent contributors to his campaign: Harborplace developer P. David Bramble, restaurateur Alex Smith, and 15 officers from the University of Maryland Medical System and University of Maryland Baltimore.
The Expanding Opportunities Maryland PAC includes this glossy 16×22 inch poster promoting Sen. Bill Frguson’s re-election bid in its mailer to 46th District voters.
High-Stakes Issue
IGaming, or legalized online casino and sports betting, has become a contentious issue around the country and will doubtless engage the Maryland General Assembly after the November elections.
As long as he is reelected, Ferguson will play a key role in deciding future gambling legislation.
Two years ago, he waffled on iGaming, which is legal in the District of Columbia but is currently barred in Maryland, Virginia and many other states. The House voted to legalize iGaming that year, but the measure stalled in the Senate.
In the 2026 session, a bill by Senator Ronald L. Watson (D, 23rd) to put issue of online casino gaming before voters was introduced and then withdrawn.
Opponents say nonstop, 24-hour digital casinos – operating directly on a user’s phone – will only drive up compulsive gambling, draining family savings and leading to financial ruin. Maryland’s brick-and-mortar casinos worry that iGaming will divert customers and cause layoffs, especially among casinos in relatively remote locations.
Supporters see legalized, regulated and taxed iGaming as a means to raise revenues needed to stem Maryland’s growing structural deficit and to help restore needed social programs. Remember a decade ago that Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore and MGM National Harbor were promoted as the way to lower property taxes and bring more money to public schools.
The latest mailer from American Future hails Bill Ferguson as “Baltimore’s champion against Donald Trump.”
Avoiding the “G” Word
Both the barrage of TV ads and the literature headed for 46th District mailboxes make no mention of their sponsors’ gambling connections. Instead, they tout Ferguson’s work on education, health care, housing affordability, cutting consumer costs and, especially, opposing President Trump.
By far the fanciest of the mailers, a thick, slick bundle distributed this week by Murray’s Expanding Opportunities Maryland PAC, consists of pictures of smiling voters and of elected officials who have endorsed Ferguson. Among the sparse copy is the statement, “As our senator, he has stood up to Trump, lowered utility bills and fought price gouging.”
The mailer features a 16×22 inch poster of a stylized fist with the header, “Bill Ferguson Fights Back.” A union label certifies that the mailer was produced by a Teamster shop located in Jacksonville, FL, not in Maryland.
In addition to the Sports Betting Alliance, other contributors to the Expanding Opportunities Maryland include AFSCME ($50,000), the Maryland State Education Association ($20,000), and Canton Port Services ($20,000).
In a letter to the State Board of Elections, Murray indicated that he hopes to raise at least $500,000 before the PAC closes.
He said Committee Treasurer Alexa Milanytch will be paid $5,000 for her services, but “may receive” a $5,000 bonus if the group raises more than $500,000 before the pre-general financial report in August or the committee’s closing.
Bobby LaPin has a sliver of Bill Ferguson’s campaign cash. (bobbyforbaltimore.com)
Campaigning on the Cheap
In contrast, challenger LaPin reported a campaign balance of $29,909 – 1/30th of Ferguson’s cash on hand – as he entered the final full week before the primary.
In the May 13-June 7 reporting period, LaPin raised less than $35,000, as opposed to $155,000 raised by Citizens for Bill Ferguson.
His financial report to the State Elections Board lists hundreds of contributors from his army of Instagram and TikTok followers, who typically gave between $5 and $25, and rarely more than $50.
His three largest contributions of $1,000 each were from Deerfield Beach, FL, Dundee, Ohio, and Barre Circle, Baltimore. Another $1,500 worth of support came from the Animal Wellness Action Maryland PAC.
Word of mouth and the internet continue to be LaPin’s main tools of persuasion – last month he spent less than $20,000 on campaign literature and mailers.
• To reach a Brew reporter: reuttermark@yahoo.com