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Fraternal organizations operating low stakes slot machines for the
sake of raising funds is nothing new and it certainly is not a novel
idea in Maryland. As a matter of fact, the fraternal organizations in
the Maryland Eastern Shore fully depend on slot machines for their
survival.
In most cases, at least half of the revenue brought in from slot
machines are used to help nonprofits. Last year, fraternal
organizations on the Eastern Shore used money from slot machines to help
schools, little league baseball organizations, hospice groups, and
volunteer fire departments.
“It's the lifeblood of all the fraternal organizations that are now
in Wicomico County,” said Eddie Meyer, donation committee chairman for
American Legion Post 64 in Salisbury.
Joseph Shapiro, spokesperson for the Maryland office of the
comptroller, said the statistics indicate that fraternal organizations
operating slot machines donated roughly $1.2 million to charities. Only
$159,000 went to charitable causes in Somerset County, but there are far
fewer slot machines spinning in that area.
The Maryland General Assembly adopted the slot machine law back in
1987. It permitted fraternal organizations on the Eastern Shore to
operate slot machines. Worcester County was excluded from the law
because Ocean City officials wanted to preserve the image of a family
resort.
Now Worcester County wants their slot machines and a new bill is
likely to give it to them. The proposed bill would allow fraternal
organizations to operate no more than five slot machines each. The
machines would come equipped with a tamper proof counter. Use of the
slot machines would be monitored by the county Sheriff’s office.
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