Talk of legalizing slot machines in Maryland has been renewed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. as a response to the news that the number of live racing days in Maryland has been decreased from 200 to 120. The reason for this cut in racing days is due to the fact that competition from slot machine prizes is very high in West Virginia and Delaware, causing many punters to go out of state to gamble.
Maryland General Assembly’s failure to pass a law legalizing slots is to blame for the need to cut horse racing days. Obstacles that prevented the legalization of slots over the past three years are still very strong, and a slots plan still needs to be agreed upon by Ehrlich, House Speaker Michael E. Busch, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.
According to Ehrlich, Busch is to blame for the failure to legalize slots. Miller, who along with Busch failed to reach some type of slots agreement, feels that the decision to cut horse racing days is tragic, and could lead to a loss of many jobs, as well as acres of agricultural land.
