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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 4^th.

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.

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