Thousands of slot machines were headed for Maryland as voters Tuesday backed a ballot referendum supporting the expansion of legalized gambling which Gov. Martin O’Malley called critical to narrowing state budget gaps.

After years of debate by state legislators, voters finally approved installing 15,000 slots machines to racetracks in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties and Baltimore City. The measure gained support all across the state, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, where opposition was believed to be strongest.