Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller insisted yesterday that Maryland will legalize slot machines within the next year, but he said he will not push a gambling bill through his chamber without Gov. Martin O'Malley's blessing.

Miller has been at the forefront of an effort to have Maryland address its long-term budget shortfalls immediately, and he made his case yesterday at a hearing on his slots proposal before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. But he acknowledged that he can't win passage without the support of O'Malley and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, two fellow Democrats.

"If the governor says, 'Pull the trigger,' I'm going to pull the trigger and move forward as quickly as possible," Miller said, adding that unless that happens, "I'm not going to ask the committee to take a vote."

Miller stirred up a quiet General Assembly session last week when he introduced his slots bill along with a proposal to raise the gasoline tax, but his comments yesterday suggest that he won't push for a confrontation this year on an issue that has sharply divided the Senate and House of Delegates.

A House committee is scheduled to hear testimony on several slots-related bills tomorrow, but the basic positions of the two chambers appear not to have changed, despite dire fiscal projections for the state and renewed pleas from horse racing boosters that slots are needed to save their industry.

O'Malley has said he favors a limited slots program at tracks such as Laurel and Pimlico to save horse racing, but he has also said he wants to consider the issue as part of a comprehensive look at the state's finances next year.

"It was for discussion purposes, and we were listening," O'Malley spokesman Steve Kearney said of the hearing.

Busch said the House is concerned about the fate of the horse racing industry but that it will look for ways to help without giving track owners a blank check.

"Hopefully, we can give some definitive structure to exactly what the needs of the horse racing industry are in terms of being viable regardless of how it gets its revenue source," said Busch, who pushed a House bill last year that would have allocated $15 million from the state lottery to supplement purses.

The event had a familiar air for most of the participants. More than two dozen slots proponents made their fifth annual trek to the committee yesterday, an exercise they variously described as "Groundhog Day," "deja vu all over again" and "preaching to the choir."

The Senate is full of slots fans, and there is no place they are more concentrated than in the Budget and Taxation Committee. The last time a slots bill moved through, the committee voted to support it, 11-2. Despite some turnover after November's election, people on both sides of the debate agree that pro-slots sympathy is just about as strong there.

Most of the arguments slots proponents gave are ones that they have provided in previous years. Members of the horse racing industry said they are suffering from competition in bordering states where slots are legal, and they predicted that without the addition of slot machines, Maryland tracks will cut racing days, breeding operations will move elsewhere and jobs will be lost.

The situation is more dire this year, though, because of the advent of slots at racetracks and other locations in Pennsylvania.

"Why is this year different from any other year?" said Alan Foreman, general counsel to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "We have cut days. We have cut races. We have cut stakes. We have cut purses. We have people leaving the state. But the simple fact is, we're out of money. ... It's all over now."

Several committee members left little doubt about where they stood on the issue.

"You made the plea to us, and we responded," Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, a Baltimore Democrat, told the slots backers.

"Your problem is on the other side," he said, referring to the House. "At some point, they're going to have to understand the severity of the situation."

As slots backers in the Senate see it, the situation is bleak not just for the horse industry but for the state treasury as well. Propped against the wall behind Sen. Ulysses Currie, the committee's chairman, was a poster showing a graph of Maryland's "structural deficit," a gap between the amount the state is expected to spend and what it is expected to take in. The projected deficit is $1.3 billion next year.

Miller said that if the state raised the sales tax, the income tax and the property tax, it still wouldn't generate enough money to fill that hole.

"This bill is not about myself. It's not about the speaker. It's not about the governor," Miller said. "It's about the people of Maryland and the financial situation of the state."

Slots foes took a hands-off approach to the hearing. Comptroller Peter Franchot, a slots opponent from his House days who has promised to use the influence of his new office to fight gambling, said yesterday morning that he wants to "put a stake through the heart of the vampire called slots once and for all."

But he didn't testify at yesterday's hearing and neither did many other slots opponents. Only three showed up, and they didn't get a chance to speak until the senators had heard nearly three hours of pro-slots testimony.

W. Minor Carter, a lobbyist for slots opponents, said the lack of opposition in the Senate committee was a strategic decision because there was little chance of changing minds there. That will be different if Miller's bill passes the Senate and moves on to the House.

"You're going to see a lot of people down here," he said. "It's going to be awful hard to walk through the House office building."

I believe an expanded gambling bill should have been passed 4 years ago. However I do not believe that it should be limited to just slots. Everyone around us has slots so why not add table games? Gambling is gambling is gambling. It doesn't matter if it's tip jars, keno, the MD lotto, slots or table games. It's time the folks in Annapolis get off their moral high horse and pass a expanded gambling bill. I live in Western Maryland and I can tell you that Charles town races and slots in WV is packed with vehicles from MD. Why not keep the money in MD? We (MD) have to deal with the "social ills" associated with expanded gambling with none of the benefits. I just don't get it! :bash:

I believe an expanded gambling bill should have been passed 4 years ago. However I do not believe that it should be limited to just slots. Everyone around us has slots so why not add table games? Gambling is gambling is gambling. It doesn't matter if it's tip jars, keno, the MD lotto, slots or table games. It's time the folks in Annapolis get off their moral high horse and pass a expanded gambling bill. I live in Western Maryland and I can tell you that Charles town races and slots in WV is packed with vehicles from MD. Why not keep the money in MD? We (MD) have to deal with the "social ills" associated with expanded gambling with none of the benefits. I just don't get it! :bash:

Because part of the Democrat's Evil Selfish Scheme is to prevent money generating and remaining in Maryland. Which also explains why Maryland has such a Difficult time Attracting Business/Economic/Revenue Growth.

The slot issue is such a joke. the damm general assemby need to get it head out of it ass and pass it. All the states areound Maryland minus dc and Virgina have slots. There is already gamblimg a the race tracks so what is the big deal.
The majority of Marylanders support it adn the rest couldn't give damm. None of what higher taxes. So Michael Bush you are the problem. Get it done.

i knew we were gonna' eventually get slots. now, i promised StevenW that i would never bring up politics again, so i won't. but i'll just say that there was never an issue of WHAT was being asked for, but WHO was asking for it. the end.

I really like the idea of slots. Where should they go though?

Put expanded gambling at the racetracks. You could also have casino boats that could travel the Bay and or the Potomac. While I understand that some people have addictive peronallities and cause themselves harm by gambling I have seen Charles Town go from nothing to an economic development engine for that area. I have spoken with several people that live in and around the racetrack and there were many more positive things said than negative.. Traffic being the worst.

I really like the idea of slots. Where should they go though?
Laurel & Pimlico.

Put expanded gambling at the racetracks. You could also have casino boats that could travel the Bay and or the Potomac. While I understand that some people have addictive peronallities and cause themselves harm by gambling I have seen Charles Town go from nothing to an economic development engine for that area. I have spoken with several people that live in and around the racetrack and there were many more positive things said than negative.. Traffic being the worst.
according to o'malley, the idea with the casino boats will never happen; not now, not ever. he approves of slots if they're ONLY at the racetracks.

Put expanded gambling at the racetracks. You could also have casino boats that could travel the Bay and or the Potomac. While I understand that some people have addictive peronallities and cause themselves harm by gambling I have seen Charles Town go from nothing to an economic development engine for that area. I have spoken with several people that live in and around the racetrack and there were many more positive things said than negative.. Traffic being the worst.

Yeah, but I would rather have people with addictive personalities helping to pay for state funded projects than me paying for their court regulated rehab.

according to o'malley, the idea with the casino boats will never happen; not now, not ever. he approves of slots if they're ONLY at the racetracks.

I believe that is very short sighted, but it's obviously much worse to gamble on a boat than at a racetrack. Beside why would we want to generate as much revenue as possible when we can just pick a tax and raise it or better yet create a new one.

Yeah, but I would rather have people with addictive personalities helping to pay for state funded projects than me paying for their court regulated rehab.

I agree 100%

I really like the idea of slots. Where should they go though?

There was also discussions about a new racetrack in Western Maryland that could become home to slots if built.

I am personally strongly opposed to creating slots as way to generate revenue for the General Fund.

I may be amenable to them for certain, isolated capital projects, but only at racetracks.

I am against anything that essentially requires the citizens of Maryland to gamble to balance the budget.

Nate

Mason, I really hope they can get this done. If it does go through, it would really show how the house was just trying to screw Ehrlich the whole time though, as he was a huge proponent of slots. Busch is going to be a real obstacle. Why he keeps getting elected I really don't know.

I am personally strongly opposed to creating slots as way to generate revenue for the General Fund.

I may be amenable to them for certain, isolated capital projects, but only at racetracks.

I am against anything that essentially requires the citizens of Maryland to gamble to balance the budget.

Nate

New Jersey, Deleware, and Connecticut have Gambling Casinos and they have a Far greater resources(Education, Highways, Mass Transit, Business/Economic/Revenue Growth) than Maryland.

Mason, I really hope they can get this done. If it does go through, it would really show how the house was just trying to screw Ehrlich the whole time though, as he was a huge proponent of slots. Busch is going to be a real obstacle. Why he keeps getting elected I really don't know.

I'm still trying to figure out how the Hell the same ol' good ol' boy network of anti-progressive Communist Dictating Democrats continue to get selecting into Maryland Office.

The slot issue is such a joke. the damm general assemby need to get it head out of it ass and pass it. All the states areound Maryland minus dc and Virgina have slots. There is already gamblimg a the race tracks so what is the big deal.
The majority of Marylanders support it adn the rest couldn't give damm. None of what higher taxes. So Michael Bush you are the problem. Get it done.

We already have slots...well, sort of...

http://www.bingoworld.com/bwvideo.html

I really like the idea of slots. Where should they go though?

Why just slots? Why does every state except NJ and NV always limit just to slots.

Why no table games? We will get slot, lets just hope that Md cuts a better deal than PA., man talk about corruption in Pa whooo.

I'm still trying to figure out how the Hell the same ol' good ol' boy network of anti-progressive Communist Dictating Democrats continue to get selecting into Maryland Office.

I thought you were a commie harlem, you advocate seizing private property by the govermnet.

I am personally strongly opposed to creating slots as way to generate revenue for the General Fund.

I may be amenable to them for certain, isolated capital projects, but only at racetracks.

I am against anything that essentially requires the citizens of Maryland to gamble to balance the budget.

Nate

They won't all be Marylanders. Virginia and DC don't have slots.
Also, you're providing a service for people's money. Instead of spending their time doing something else like going to a movie (where the money leaves the local economy), they'll go to the slot machines to enjoy themselves and keep the money in the local economy.

New Jersey, Deleware, and Connecticut have Gambling Casinos and they have a Far greater resources(Education, Highways, Mass Transit, Business/Economic/Revenue Growth) than Maryland.

Have you not read the articles lately of how Atlantic City is suffering now because of slots, etc. and what is so great about Jersey Highways? And it is a dirty hellhole. Long toll lines and crappy looking landscape along the way?? Also, the Jersery Educational System on a whole does not perform as well as Maryland's does, but that is on a Statewide level, every city can tout good schools and crappy schools. Scrutiny for school systems is probably best left at the local levels. I am all for slots at racetracks, that is fine...Niagara Falls on the US has slots, but only on Reservation Land, but the rest of that small city is still crappy. The Canadians have a lot fo Casinsos on their side, but it is not really the "City" it is just the hotels, etc. that flank the river, not to mention they have the better falls anyway. Oh, and the Mass Transit work throughout Delaware is amazing!! LOL...don't make such broad generalizations all the time. You claim everyone else hates Baltimore, but you are the only person who actually puts it down in comparison to SOOO many other locations. If you hate it that much and hate the politics, social systems, etc. then move to a city like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas or some other city that is just SOOO magnificent to behold. I mean, there should be plenty of jobs for you since they are just the "icon" cities for development.

Have you not read the articles lately of how Atlantic City is suffering now because of slots, etc. and what is so great about Jersey Highways? And it is a dirty hellhole. Long toll lines and crappy looking landscape along the way?? Also, the Jersery Educational System on a whole does not perform as well as Maryland's does, but that is on a Statewide level, every city can tout good schools and crappy schools. Scrutiny for school systems is probably best left at the local levels. I am all for slots at racetracks, that is fine...Niagara Falls on the US has slots, but only on Reservation Land, but the rest of that small city is still crappy. The Canadians have a lot fo Casinsos on their side, but it is not really the "City" it is just the hotels, etc. that flank the river, not to mention they have the better falls anyway. Oh, and the Mass Transit work throughout Delaware is amazing!! LOL...don't make such broad generalizations all the time. You claim everyone else hates Baltimore, but you are the only person who actually puts it down in comparison to SOOO many other locations. If you hate it that much and hate the politics, social systems, etc. then move to a city like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas or some other city that is just SOOO magnificent to behold. I mean, there should be plenty of jobs for you since they are just the "icon" cities for development.
:bow::applause:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The House and Senate gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would allow Charles Town Races & Slots and three other racetracks in the state to pursue blackjack, roulette and similar casino table games. Gov. Joe Manchin said he expects to sign the bill.

Acting on a recurring issue that dominated much of this session, each chamber voted to approve the bill (HB 2718), which permits local elections in each of the four track counties on whether to authorize the games.

Manchin told The Associated Press Thursday he will sign the bill, barring any technical or legal flaws.

The bill includes a provision that would direct a portion of table games revenue from Charles Town Races & Slots to Jefferson County Schools for school construction.

The school funding mechanism was included in the bill after lawmakers including Del. Locke Wysong, D-Jefferson, worked hard on the proposal, lawmakers said.

The amount that would go to schools would be about 3 percent of the track's gross table games receipts and would generate at least $1 million per year, local lawmakers said.

John Finamore said he considered the local school funding provision "a major coup" for the school system.

"When you look at the bill in its entirety, you see a lot of good things in there," said Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Charles Town Races & Slots.

Finamore could not say when the track might consider pushing for a local referendum on table games, adding that track officials have been too busy concentrating on "getting across the goal line."

Jefferson County Commissioner Dale Manuel said he has not heard much about how local residents feel about the games. Manuel said he thinks Jefferson County residents might have been surprised about the success of the table games bill in the Legislature.

If a county approves table games, it would become part of the state Lottery system. West Virginia would join Iowa as the only other state to have slots, table games and racing at a single location, according to the American Gaming Association. The trade group says 11 states host casinos.

The tracks have pursued table games since 2004, but gambling foes and other critics have blocked previous incarnations of the bill.

The tracks already provide hundreds of jobs and hefty public revenues - $2.1 billion since 1995 - thanks to the thousands of video lottery machines they host. But Pennsylvania began opening competing slot machine casinos late last year, and Maryland and Ohio have debated legalizing such devices.

Most who gamble at West Virginia's tracks hail from other states, surveys indicate. Charles Town Races & Slots draws patrons from nearby suburban Washington, D.C., Virginia and Baltimore. Table games could help it retain its base while offering fans of Atlantic City in those areas a closer alternative, Lottery Marketing Director Libby White said .

"If Charles Town were to have table games then it would be pre-emptive in the competitive race for gaming and thoroughbred racing," White said.

But foes consider the emerging competition a chance to lessen the state's reliance on gambling revenue.

"This state is addicted to gambling," Del. Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, told the House before its final vote. "This bill feeds that voracious appetite of exploitation of our people."

Ironically, perhaps, is that more Eastern Panhandle lawmakers voted against the table games measure than voted for it.

Voting for the bill in the House of Delegates were Dels. John Doyle and Locke Wysong, both D-Jefferson, according to The Associated Press.

Voting against the final bill in the House were Del. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley; Del. Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Del. Walter Duke, R-Berkeley; Del. Johnathan Miller, R-Berkeley; Del. John Overington, R-Berkeley; and Del. Robert Tabb, D-Jefferson, the AP reported.

In the Senate, John Unger, D-Berkeley/Jefferson, voted against the bill Thursday, while Sen. John Yoder, R-Jefferson/Berkeley, voted for its passage, according to the AP.

Slots, here we come!!! I can just feel it! :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents:

Have you not read the articles lately of how Atlantic City is suffering now because of slots, etc. and what is so great about Jersey Highways? And it is a dirty hellhole. Long toll lines and crappy looking landscape along the way?? Also, the Jersery Educational System on a whole does not perform as well as Maryland's does, but that is on a Statewide level, every city can tout good schools and crappy schools. Scrutiny for school systems is probably best left at the local levels. I am all for slots at racetracks, that is fine...Niagara Falls on the US has slots, but only on Reservation Land, but the rest of that small city is still crappy. The Canadians have a lot fo Casinsos on their side, but it is not really the "City" it is just the hotels, etc. that flank the river, not to mention they have the better falls anyway. Oh, and the Mass Transit work throughout Delaware is amazing!! LOL...don't make such broad generalizations all the time. You claim everyone else hates Baltimore, but you are the only person who actually puts it down in comparison to SOOO many other locations. If you hate it that much and hate the politics, social systems, etc. then move to a city like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas or some other city that is just SOOO magnificent to behold. I mean, there should be plenty of jobs for you since they are just the "icon" cities for development.

So your saying that If Maryland start to allow Gambling Casinos that the state will get as bad as New Jersey...

If thats what your saying then that is a very very very poor example.

I do not believe that Maryland can get any worse.

What you say about New Jersey does not say anything about Deleware, Upstate New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Nevada in which they all have Gambling Casinos.

I am personally strongly opposed to creating slots as way to generate revenue for the General Fund.

I may be amenable to them for certain, isolated capital projects, but only at racetracks.

I am against anything that essentially requires the citizens of Maryland to gamble to balance the budget.

Nate

We already have gambling to add funds to the budget, The Maryland Lottery and Instant Lottery. I do not see the difference between putting money in an instant lottery machine and a slot machine.

I definitely agree we should not depend on any gambling revenue to balance the budget. Projects should not move forward until we have the money to pay for them.

Hopefully slots will improve the areas around racetracks, Pimlico in particular.

Slots, here we come!!! I can just feel it! :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: :2cents:
chi-ching!!!! c'mon lucky 7's!!!!! lol

Well, I will clarify once again that I am for slots at the racetracks. Personally, I feel the difference between the instant win lottery and slots is exaclty what is posted just above...lights and noise as well as complete, instant gratification. It is much more satisfying to hear bells and whistles and receive a printed receipt to claim your cash or even have coins drop directly than scratching and winning. The lottery has been waning in sales also. People in my generation tend to not really play the lottery all that much. Slots are more amenable to the current human condition of wanting the payoff right away. I suppose it is because technology has allowed us to have so many other things completed right now, instead of having to wait for everything. As for me not looking at Nevada or Connecticut etc. You have a point, and it is noted. Are you Harlem by the way??

chi-ching!!!! c'mon lucky 7's!!!!! lol
I know that's right!! It's going to be wonderful.