Majority of Maryland Residents Favor Slots Referendum

On September 26th, 2008, more than half of Maryland residents plan to vote in favor of the slot machine referendum this November 2008, according to a recent survey conducted in the state. The survey conducted and released by the Rasmussen Reports found that fifty-four percent of Marylanders are in favor of slot machines, while thirty-five percent are against the slots referendum. The survey was conducted by telephone on September 20th, 2008 by interviewing five hundred Maryland residents.

The margin of error on the survey was 4.5%. Aside from that, the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance is slated to endorse the slots referendum. The group includes the members of the Maryland State Police, Natural Resources Police, State Forest and Park Service, the Department of General Services Police and the State Fire Marshals. The group joins an increasing number of groups that are in favor of the slots referendum. The Greater Baltimore Committee threw its support behind the referendum and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Association of Counties have done the same.

If approved, slot machines would be place at five locations around the country: near the Laurel Race Course in Anne Arundel Country, in Baltimore City near Interstate 95 and Route 295, near Ocean Downs race course in Worcester County, near I-95 in Cecil County and at Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County. Profits would be allotted to public education in the state.

Five and half percent would be allocated to local governments; seven percent will be allocated to horse racing purses, 2.5% to racing track renewal and 1.5% to a twenty million pounds minority business investment fund.

Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Alex Van Der Butz