The cloud of darkness still hovers upon the Maryland slots
Though the bill on slot machines was approved by the House, the Maryland racing leaders did not seem to exhibit any euphoric feelings on this regard as the bill was passed by the lowest possible margin and setbacks that obstruct the venue to the ultimate legislation are yet far too great.
The house bill is set to legalize about 9,500 slot machines at four different sites in compliance with rigorous restrictions besieged upon the possible locations, where merely one of them could be a racetrack. The application for the licenses can be performed by Laurel Park but no assurance as far as getting will be provided.
On Feb. 25, the House approved a slots bill by the narrowest possible margin: 71-66. Seventy-one is the number of votes required to pass a bill in the 141-member chamber. The revenues would be divided in the following manner: 30 percent would go to operators and 3 percent would be allocated to the state's tracks for capital improvements.
In spite of seemingly passing a slot machine legislation in which both of the chambers of the Maryland General Assembly were involved, the Baltimore Sun proclaimed the yet uncertain future for slots.
