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Slot Machine Revenue Disappoint
Many in Maryland were disappointed and discouraged by the low number
of bids for slot machines, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike
Miller. Senator Miller was an outspoken supporter of slot machines for
the purpose of helping the state meet obligations lift uncertain by a $2
million budget deficit. Miller was especially annoyed by the failure of
companies like Magna Entertainment Inc. and Empire resorts to come up
with their license fees.
“The way this was set up is you got to pay to play, and anybody who
didn't put up their initial payment in my opinion is not a significant
investor,” said Miller.
“You've got to find someway to reach a happy medium so that we can
move forward, and I think the obvious part is that the so-called slot
machine monies that we were going to count on in two years, we got to
recognize , and start recognizing very soon , that they're not going to
materialize,” continued Miller.
Miller encouraged the slot machine commission to “revisit this whole
process.”
According to Miller the commission should “look at the other states
that have dealt with this issue, including the state of Kansas, where it
failed to materialize, as it appeared to have not materialized here in
Maryland , and reassess it and move on.”
Both Miller and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley have long been in
favor of slot machines operating at state racing venues.
“My position on this in the past was I would have preferred to see
them all located at tracks, if I were the one vote that mattered in
this, but I wasn't,” said Governor O'Malley.
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