Maryland voters finally approved a referendum to legalize slot
machines. The revenues from slot machines will go to improving the
Maryland school system. According to George L. Leventhal, a Montgomery
County Councilman, Maryland’s poor fiscal out look influenced the vote.
Supporters for the referendum of course had strong reasons for voting
in approval. Legalizing slot machines will arguably generate seriously
needed revenue into the Maryland state budget. Currently $400 million
that could potentially be going into Maryland state coffers is being
lost to slots parlors in neighbor states of West Virginia and Delaware.
Now that Pennsylvania has legalized casinos there are even more dollars
leaving the state of Maryland.
Opponents are skeptical of the potential of slot machines. They do
not believe that the machines will bring in as much as proponents
estimate. In addition, they fear that gambling interests will corrupt
state politics and higher rates of problem gambling will be introduced
to Maryland society.
Both sides took to the television to sway voters in to their side.
Just last week, anti slot machine advertisements appeared on television
spots. Pro slot machine groups took advantage of the media much earlier
on. For Maryland, For Our Future paid for television spots that aired
as early as a month before Election Day, November 4th.
It was no secret that anti slot machine groups did not have the
financial resources as those that thought slot machines will be a great
thing for Maryland. Marylanders United to Stop Slots chose to hold
several news conferences and rallies each month to compete as best they
could with the spending of proponents of slot machines.