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Maryland Gambling Opponents Urge End to Slot Legislation

MARYLAND – As reported by the Washington Post: "More than 100 gambling opponents testified in Annapolis yesterday against proposals to bring slot machines to Maryland, as anti-slots forces pinned their hopes on the House of Delegates to kill such legislation for the second year in a row.

"…[Rep. Wayne T.] Gilchrest was among several high-ranking politicians who testified as the House Ways and Means Committee opened the first of two hearings on a variety of gambling bills. The Senate has passed a measure, endorsed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), that would legalize 15,500 slot machines at three racetracks and three other unspecified locations. That proposal is scheduled for a hearing next week.

"…One of the leading gambling proponents yesterday was Del. Clarence Davis (D-Baltimore), the sponsor of two slots bills. One would legalize 10,000 of the machines at four horse racing tracks. The other would allow service and fraternal organizations across the state to have small numbers of slot machines for charitable purposes; currently, such operations are limited to the Eastern Shore.

"Davis cited polls that show a majority of Marylanders in favor of slots and noted that thousands of residents travel across state lines to Delaware and West Virginia to play the machines…"

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