Self-righteous legislators who defeated slots should be ashamed. State tax coffers, more than racing tycoons, will suffer from the state ban.
Pennsylvania gambling regulators approved slot-machine licenses for five racetracks last week. Reports say some of the tracks plan to open slots before the end of the year with the rest to follow in 2007.
That means Maryland slot players have five good reasons to spend their money in Pennsylvania instead of home racetracks. It means Pennsylvania will benefit from new jobs generated by the casinos.
Our legislators must approve slots immediately upon their return in January to stem a stampede north.
Unlike Democrats in the state legislature, the party?s gubernatorial candidate, Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley, says he does not oppose slots.
“I?m in favor of keeping a limited number of slots at the race tracks for the purpose of keeping racing in Maryland,” O?Malley told The Examiner last week. “I?d hate to see those 18,000 jobs leave, and I believe a limited number of slots at the tracks would be a reasonable compromise.”
Even without giving us a specific definition of “limited,” O?Malley at least agrees our state government should not push jobs and revenue to other states. Gov. Robert Ehrlich championed slots in his first run for office and has remained a staunch supporter.
If the two candidates, who disagree on everything, find common ground on this issue, state legislators can too.
