$600 Million In Revenue Not Enough For Maryland Slot Detractors

Gambling opposition groups will go to some wild depths to try and make their point against casino or slot expansion. The angle that is being taken in Maryland, however, is by far the most self serving, far reaching reason for voters to turn down slot expansion.

The general assembly and Governor Martin O'Malley have approved a package that would bring slot halls to the state of Maryland. The goal of the package at the time it was offered was to cut the $600 million budget deficit.

That deficit has grown since the time of the proposal to $800 million. That is the reason that the state's chief tax collector, Peter Franchot, has given for opposing the slots proposal on the ballot.

"It's not going to help the deficit. We are going to have $1 billion deficits as far as the eye can see with or without slots," said Franchot. Indeed, that is one way of looking at things to prove a point.

The truth, however, is that with $600 million from slot revenue, the state would only have a $400 million deficit, not $1 billion. It is much easier for taxpayers to absorb $400 million than it is for them to foot the bill of $1 billion.

The statement by Franchot once again exhibits the lengths that gambling opposition groups will go to try and create a false facade for voters. Governor O'Malley, showing why he is the leader of his state responded to Franchot's off color remarks.

"We all agree it would be far, far, far, far worse if slots revenue are not available to us," said O'Malley. Yes, we all agree except for people who simply do not want to see slot gambling in the state.

October 19, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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