Maryland votes to legalize slots machines
 

Voters in Maryland approved the legalization of video lottery terminals in the state, according to published reports.

Voters approved the measure, which was “Question 2” on the ballot, with 60% of the vote with 33% of the precincts reporting, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The constitutional amendment would allow about 15,000 slot machines in the state. Legalized slot machines are expected to pump millions of dollars into the state’s ailing Thoroughbred and harness racing industry as well as Maryland’s public schools.

The Sun reported that Laurel Park is expected to bid for a license for slot machines.
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...-machines.aspx

That truly is great news. I love Pimlico!!!

:wf

Laurel Park is a dump. It was like walking into McCain headquarters tonight.

No slots at Pimlico.

The neighborhood around Pimlico.....Saigon was safer in '72.

Now you'll have Delaware opening sports books in reply to Maryland cutting into their revenue. The only thing left after that to get a leg up would be a legalized brothel in Bethany Beach. Anything is possible we put a brotha in the White House yesterday!!

They don't currently have the room for 1500 machines at Laurel. Where would the other 4 licenses of 1500 a county actually end up?

Laurel isn't a "dump" per se, though I can't say I enjoy the indoor grandstand with the temperature consistently set at hot or hotter. I will enjoy playing Sligo inbetween races, however.

Might actually happen in New Jersey in the next 5 years.

Let me clarify something I said... Pimlico is a DUMP, we can all agree on that. But MD racing did not deserve to lose the Preakness, one of the world's greatest sporting events and very much one of my favorite days of the year (been to the last 12), because neighboring states (with much less racing history) have gaming in place and they do not.

Hasn't WV allready approved or voted to approve table games at Mountaineer and Charles Town? Thought I had read that some time back. Any way, you are 100% correct - each state will be in competition to become the next Vegas in order to out do each other.

In WV the tracks, casinos, and the lottery account for something like 80% of the state's total revenue. They will install free brothels at each border crossing to insure that money stays rolling in.

Former Governor Wise had proposed table games, but it is my understanding they haven't been formally approved as of yet. I could be wrong though.

Already approved and up and running.

Just checked - back in June of '07 Jefferson County voted it down, Ohio county voted for it. So none at Charles Town, but already in place at Mountaineer.

http://www.mtrgaming.com/index.php

Unless they're hiding at the no-windows gentlemen club across the way, there definitely are not table games at Charles Town. Did I miss something?

Ah... didn't know it was a county vote. I played some poker and blackjack on a stop at Mountaineer... they have poker at Wheeling Island as well. Never been to Chuck Town

You are most certainly missing out; the prime rib buffet on Saturdays is glorious.

Saratoga Harness has a nice prime rib buffet too....lots of seafood in theres along with the Prime Rib....it alone makes it worth watching some Harness races.

Slots will also help the Stallion Farms there....Maryland has some nices stallions there curently and with the slots they might pick up some more.

The slots deal in Maryland will turn out to be the biggest political joke ever thrown at voters in Maryland.

There is still enabling legislation associated with the passage of the referendum to be dealt with . The General Assembly will have field day with that legislation and the Speaker of the House, Mike Busch, will be leading the charge. The man literally kept slots out of MD while the previous Gov and the Senate President did everything they could to get them legalized.

Busch and Miller both get to appoint a member, or members, to the committee that will review the applications for slots licenses. I can't believe Busch will capitulate on his desire to keep slots revenue out of the hands of Magna, and more importantly, Joe DeFrancis, who still stands to reap a huge windfall from slots profits for the next 20 years. I don't see Laurel Park (Magna) getting slots. I can see Magna selling MJC soon, though. I can also see a major casino operator coming in to bid on the license intended for the Laurel and placing the facility close-by the track.

I also would not be surprised if the division of revenue funds isn't gutted and reallocated during the enabling legislation discussion. I can hear Mike Busch's speach now - "This referendum was passed by the people of the State to help fund education for our children. In these tough economic times, we need to provide more funding for our children and not enrich a Canadian company who will reinvest their profits in Canada - let's keep Maryland money in Maryland. So, not only are we not going to grant Magna a license, but we are cutting the 7% race purse funding to 1%. Racing is a dying industry and we shouldn't prop it up with slots proceeds. The money is for the children."

I hate to be so cynical but anytime you throw bait to a sucker, you catch a sucker - and that's what the MD Dem's caught yesterday.

the county that Mountaineer is in approved gaming and jefferson county where CT is voted against. the vote was set up to allow the counties decide independent of each other.

last i read Alleghany Co. was promised a "casino" or 1 of the licenses, to bring jobs back to far western md.