Maryland pols savor slots victory

6 November 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland -- As reported by The Washington Post: "Voters ended Maryland's marathon debate over legalizing slots on Tuesday night. By yesterday morning, a sprint to get the machines in place had begun -- with almost everyone expecting some hurdles.

"Before 9 a.m., the Maryland Jockey Club announced its intention to seek a slots license at Laurel Park in Anne Arundel County. Potential bidders for the five sites authorized by voters face an aggressive Feb. 1 deadline to pull together proposals, and no one knows how many will come forward.

"Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and legislative leaders said they would move briskly to appoint a commission to pick Maryland's slots operators. That is just one of many administrative steps required before slots parlors can open to the public -- and before the state can begin to reap a share of the proceeds. Slot machine gambling is projected to eventually generate more than $600 million a year for state education programs.

"...The governor was basking in election results showing that almost 59 percent of voters approved of his plan to authorize as many as 15,000 slot machines in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties and Baltimore. The ballot measure received majority support in Baltimore and all 23 Maryland counties, including those jurisdictions slated to have slots parlors.

"It could be more than two years before all slots locations are fully operational, but preparations that began in recent months are certain to accelerate in coming weeks..."