Slots in Maryland: we don’t want to go there

Citizens in Maryland are in for “electioneering” from now until the November elections, and it isn’t related to the Presidential race.  Slots are on the ballot and the rhetoric will become quite tiresome.

The Baltimore Sun reports on May 6, 2008 that Governor O’Malley continues to push hard for slots in the state.  Excerpts from that article:

Gov. Martin O’Malley said today that if a referendum on slot machine gambling fails in November, “it’ll be back to the drawing board with a lot of unpopular choices, and I don’t think any of us wants to go there.”

O’Malley said during an interview on WCBC-AM in Cumberland that the money Maryland would eventually get from slot machines would make up about 25 percent of what’s needed to balance the state’s budget in coming years.

If voters approve, up to 15,000 machines would be allowed at five slots parlors, including one location each in Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties, one in Baltimore City and one on state property at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort near Cumberland.

Slots are a bad idea for Maryland (or for any state for that matter).

Here is a previous post

And yet another

Pondering Pastor