DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware's House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill legalizing sports betting Thursday night. But, the measure still has opposition, and not all of it comes from the First State.

The bill passed by a 28 to 10 vote. Representative Vincent Lofink said sports betting would help generate more money for the state. Delaware gaming officials said the state could make $70 million off sports betting. But, Delaware's budget office said that number is closer to $30 million. Lofink said sports betting would help to alleviate the state's budget woes.

Lofink says, "I think in this critical time when we will be asking people for tax increases and cutting programs, to the tune of 200 million dollars, that we come up with something other than taxes or program cuts."

The NFL has started its own campaign against the proposal. They have even gone as far as taking out adds in local newspapers.

The NFL and some state lobbyists have suggested sports betting could lead to more gambling addicts. And the NFL said sports betting is not the way to fix Delaware's budget woes.

Delaware's casinos have been in favor of the proposal from the very beginning. And if sports betting is passed, Dover Downs CEO Edward Sutor said the company would build a sports gaming facility.

"We're willing to put millions of dollars, maybe even tens of millions of dollars into the cost of a Las Vegas style full fledged sports betting parlor," said Sutor.

Sutor said he was happy with Thursday's vote and hopes the bill will be passed by the Senate.

But the bill may face tougher opposition in the Senate. Senate President Pro-Temp Thurman Adams says, "Personally, I have never been a strong supporter of the bill. I think it sends the wrong message to young people about sports."

Even if sports betting does pass the Senate, there is still one more hurdle, Gov. Minner who said betting is a bad influence on children.

This article is a reprint from WBOC TV. To view the original story, click here.