Is Maryland Getting More Slot Machine Locations?
(Part II of II)
Senator
C. Anthony Muse says that he is all for helping out the track
and feels that it must be saved – but does not think that slot
machines are the way to make that happen. The government of the
state doesn’t want to add another location to their line up as
they are aware of the problems that they have had so far for the
existing approved locations. The governor says that to bring in
more slot machines at this late of a date is simply going to
muck up the works, and they feel that they have enough on their
plate already.
The
problem is that if they decide to bring in more slot machines to
the county that it is not as simple as simply asking for them.
Instead they have to go back to the legislature and see if they
can get a bill passed that would allow slot machines to be in
the state. Then they have to go to the voters to see if they are
willing to approve the constitutional amendment that would allow
the slot machines to come into the county. The voters already
approved slot machines in five other locations back in 2008, but
because there has been so little movement forward in getting the
slot machines up and running, they feel that it would be a gross
waste of time to try and get slot machines approved again. They
feel that most residents are going to feel that adding in more
when they can’t get the ones done that they already have is a
waste of time and energy.
But
Miller says that the state needs to look at the big picture. He
says that this is not just about saving the track and all of the
jobs that go with it – but that it is also about the additional
income that they would be able to supply the state with. They
said that the county and the state would get much more revenue
from additional slot machines and that this is money that they
cannot afford to pass up.
Muse
said that if there were no other way he might consider slot
machines as there is not just the matter of keeping the tracks
open, but an expansion of gambling might just add to the number
of jobs that are currently available in the area – which is good
for everyone. He said that they were looking at all “viable
options” to save the harness track.
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