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Many people are speculating as what cause Maryland to suddenly change its largely negative point of view about slot machines.  The state had a brief flirtation with slot machine back in the 50s and 60s.  The ending result was a bankrupt families and a sorely bruised reputation for Southern Maryland.  But things have changed.

It is believed that proponents of slot machines can thank the ailing economy.  Slots proponents pushed the very appealing argument that revenues from taxing slot machines will remove the need to make large cuts in the budget because of huge deficits.  Opponents agreed that poor economic conditions made it very difficult to oppose slot machines. 

“They saw this as a way of easy money,” said former senator, J. Frank Raley

“This was a good time for that to be on the ballot because the economic system has really got people upset and nervous and it's money.”

The insufficiency of the current Maryland budget diminished the argument from opponents that slot machines would not yield the estimated revenue as well as the argument that Maryland communities will be plagued with gambling addictions and crime. 

“When you have legitimate ties to gambling, that gives the gambling interests wide open spaces to work the legislature and use their money, so they become a very powerful force as far as what the legislature does,” continued Raley.

About half of revenues from slot machines will be designated toward improving education in Maryland’s public schools.  The rest of the money will be divided among slots licensees, minority businesses, the horse racing industry, a gambling addiction treatment center, and a few other public programs.

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