Slots don’t have a prayer in Maryland — quite literally.
Several church groups, especially in the African-American community, have opposed the push to amend the state constitution to allow slot machines. State-sponsored gambling is going over like a, er, pew in church.
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Of course, we have tons of state-sponsored gambling already. The state lottery Web page advertises so many types of gambling that it’s a wonder you don’t get your tax refund in scratch-off tickets. Multi Match, Mega Millions, Keno, Racetrax, Maryland Hold ’Em.
The Catholic bishops of Maryland are also among the opponents of what’s called Question Two on the ballot, but they might as well confess that we’re a nation of gamblers. When Marylanders can’t gamble here, we gambol to our neighboring states and gamble there.
The Rev. Dean Nelson, executive director of the Network of Politically Active Christians, said slots were “a tax on those who can least afford it.” He’s not exactly right. It’s more of a voluntary tax. You gotta play to win, but you gotta pay to play. The lottery isn’t mandatory — yet.
But that doesn’t stop opponents. Lots of anti-gambling forces have teamed up with a few Republicans to oppose the amendment. You can’t really fault them. They are worried there might be some negative effect from even more gambling.
Some opponents, like Scott Arceneaux of the unsubtlely named Marylanders United to Stop Slots, blame slots for everything from the war in Iraq to tooth decay — “more bankruptcies, domestic abuse, divorce, traffic, more police and addiction counseling that will all come along with slots,” he wrote in this paper.
Even the League of Women Voters came out against slots.
They are all placing the wrong bet.
First off, we need the money. OK, you and I don’t need the money — the Free State free spenders in Annapolis do. Our budget is woefully overcommitted. Business Week counts it up as a $1.1 billion deficit. The only way gambling would solve all of that problem is if we took the money we make from slots and bet it in Vegas on a sure thing — like O’Malley raising taxes or the Orioles having a losing season.
Next, gambling isn’t bad for communities after all. A 1997 study found that “casinos have had quite minor effects on the measured social problems.” In other words, you might get a bit of Atlantic City, but no Sodom and Gomorrah.
I know backing slots means supporting O’Malley, our horrific General Assembly and unions. That trifecta can certainly give a guy pause.
But here are the simple facts. Maryland spends too much money.
In our less-than-ideal world, we either vote for slots or pay more in taxes. Even voting for slots, we probably get a tax increase. The only sure thing here is that the state will get more money somehow. And we’ll pay it as the state preys on us.
Dan Gainor can be seen on the new Fox Business Network. He is T. Boone Pickens fellow at the Media Research Center’s Business & Media Institute, a career journalist and media commentator. He can be reached at [email protected].
