Next week Maryland gamblers will hold their breath in anticipation for the slot machine verdict, as General Assembly session will ponder once again on this issue. It is yet to be decided whether slot machines, indeed, appear on the Maryland land, since the House and Senate cannot reach compliance on slots bills, each of them has approved. The bills are vastly different and the compromise is not looming on the horizon.
Observing the precedent in other states, officials predict that the Maryland Lottery could benefit a great deal if gambling is expanded in the state. The records point to a steady climb of lottery growth in states where slots have been legalized, a trend driven by the increasing popularity of scratch-off games. Slots opponents, however, foresee troubles with more slot machines coming along, saying it would only drive the level of excitement far off.
In any case, it seems lottery revenues will not be overshadowed by slots, should they be legalized. Buddy Roogow, executive director of the Maryland Lottery said that one reason for this is the diversified crowd attracted to these games. Slots draw older, wealthier gamblers and those who typically purchase scratch-off tickets are tourists, coming from overseas
