Maryland Slots legislation is oscillating on the committee weights
The fate of Maryland slot machines is placed on weights as cliffhanger committee is ready to cast its vote which would either push the bill to the floor of Maryland House of Delegates or trample it for the forth time in three legislative sessions.
Some uncertainties regarding the bill passing still hover in the Busch (D-Anne Arundel) domain as it seems that there are not enough votes in the House Ways and Means Committee to pass this measure which was a baby of Rep. Gov. Rovert L. Ehrlich since he has undertaken his new responsibilities.
Slot machine bill that has successfully passed last week in the Senate is radically different from its House counterpart. The last one assumes 9,500 video lottery terminals situated at four sites - in Anne Arundel, Dorchester, Frederick and Harford counties. Nearly 36 percent of revenues from slot gaming are planned to be funneled to recreation of schools and the needs of other infrastructures. On the other hand, the Senate allows for 15,500 slot machines planted at seven locations, which would be determined by a special committee appointed by the governor, the Senate president and the House speaker.
Strong opposition to the bill and gambling expansion in general was projected by the counties identified in the House bill, where only one of them has a racetrack.
