Voters in Maryland passed expanded gambling, in-state tuition for undocumented students, and same-sex marriage Tuesday.
The Old Line State joins the District of Columbia and six other states in allowing same-sex couples to obtain a civil marriage license.
However, before Tuesday, voters had not yet approved such a measure on a referendum. Maine voters also approved same-sex marriage this Election Day.
Maryland's same-sex marriage law was passed in February and signed into law by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley on March 1. Opponents of the measure submitted a petition with more than 100,000 verified signatures to the Maryland Board of Elections in July to force the issue to a referendum.
Fifty-two percent of Marylanders voted to allow same-sex marriage.
The in-state tuition measure, known as the Maryland Dream Act, allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition to Maryland state community colleges -- provided that they attended high school in Maryland for at least three years, they or their parents filed income taxes, they intend to apply for permanent residency, and they have registered with the selective service system.
If students complete 60 credit hours or graduate from a Maryland community college, they would then be eligible for in-state tuition to a four-year public college or university.
Approval of the expanded gambling measure, Question 7, clears the way for a casino at National Harbor in Prince George's County in 2016. That allows Baltimore's Harrah's casino to open with a few years to get off the ground before competition from Prince George's, News4 Prince George's County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins reported.
"It was something we were willing to come to the table on," Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker said. "It gives them a chance to build the facility they want and it also gives us a chance in Prince George's County to bring in the type of partner we want.
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At the Maryland Live casino, a spokesman said they are expecting to hire 1,200 new people to handle the introduction of table games.
In recent weeks, supporters of expanded gambling had cut advertisements featuring Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, and former Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington.
Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, issued a statement early Wednesday morning that reads in part:
"The people of Maryland have delivered a message: Sorting through an onslaught of dishonesty, voters chose to support progress. They want good jobs and more money for their kids' schools.
...Starting today, MGM’s talented team of designers and resort experts begin work on our proposal for a great destination resort for the people of Prince George's County and the State of Maryland. We stand ready to compete with all comers for this license and the privilege to bring an MGM resort to National Harbor."
While MGM has made it clear that it wants to win the bid to build the casino at National Harbor, anyone can submit a bid, including the casino company that put millions into trying to stop Question 7 -- Penn National Gaming.
Click here for updated results on all three ballot questions.
