Slot Machines in Frederick
From an article by in yesterday’s Baltimore Sun:
Lawmakers should seriously consider adding Frederick County to the locations where slot machine gambling would be allowed under a proposal for a state referendum being weighed by the General Assembly, several delegates suggested yesterday in a brief hearing on the matter.
“This is a very popular part of the state that we’ve just kind of left alone,” said Del. Frank S. Turner, a Howard County Democrat who chairs a House subcommittee that is considering a Senate bill on slots passed last week.
This is definitely another hot-button issue in our neck of the woods.From a November 3rd FNP article:
Although the state wouldn’t see much of the money right away, slot machines would eventually generate an estimated $700 million annually after several years, according to O’Malley administration estimates. More than half of the money would go toward education.
From the same article:
On the other side of the debate, Comptroller Peter Franchot, who has been an outspoken slots opponent, said he was saddened to see the state pursuing a “sleazy, predatory, corrupt, regressive tax on poor people.”
Franchot pointed out that Maryland once had legalized slot machines. In 1949, Charles County earned the nickname “Little Vegas” for having slots, only to have the machines banned in 1967.
“The results were disastrous: corruption and crime, broken families, ruined communities, destruction of things that we care about,” Franchot said at a morning rally against the machines. “Yet, here we are again, going down the same old troubled path.”
What do you think? The only experience I have with slot machines is a few years ago in Las Vegas where I lost about $20 on a nickel slot machine. I didn’t see much thrill in the whole thing but I did notice some people at the same slot machines hour after hour. I have heard the argument that most people who gamble at slot machines are the ones who can least afford to lose the money. I wonder if that’s true. If it is, slots in Frederick could be a very dangerous proposal for many people.
A subcommittee of state lawmakers voted today to add Frederick County as a location for slots.
Frederick replaces slots at Ocean Downs Racetrack near Ocean City.
Gov. Martin O’Malley originally proposed five locations for slots in Maryland, but did not include Frederick.
The Financial Resources subcommittee added Frederick because it would compete with Charles Town, W.Va. and make more money, committee members said.
(UPDATE again)
Looks like it’s a moot point, at least for now.
I think it will be a real blow to all of the progress Frederick County has made if slots become a reality in our county. I totally agree with what the Comptroller Peter Franchot said. Let’s hope it does not pass–and let our representatives know we don’t like the option!
Interesting as well that a rep from Howard County suggested Frederick County. Real nice.
I think the existing racetacks in Maryland are better locations. Those who go to the racetracks are usually gambling on horses anyway. That keeps it all together. I think the reason they are proposing Frederick County is to head off the folks who would otherwise go the Charlestown WV.
Yep, dc, that’s exactly what they want, based on the FNP article I cited in my update.
~L~
Can we fix the infrastructure here first? And working on higher paying jobs. Here again and industry where the employees won’t be able to afford living here.
Their intent is to pull business from Charlestown.
Now they’ve decided *not* to bring slots here:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/displayUpdate.htm?StoryID=67677
I wonder how many times they’re going to flip-flop on this.
Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort is located in the heart of Rocky Gap State Park in Western Maryland. Amidst the ridges, gaps and valleys of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, lies a beautiful new place to relax and conduct business.
The mountains, forests, and serene 243-acre lake will quiet the mind, while the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will quicken the pulse because the Golden Bear has carved a truly varied and challenging course out of the mountain. Our 220-room lakeside lodge provides everything you need for a productive meeting, including nine modern meeting rooms for 15 to 550 people, full service restaurant and lounge, private dining room overlooking the lake, and lobby with a large stone fireplace for unwinding at the end of the day. We also offer white sandy beaches, fishing for trout and largemouth bass, fitness room, outdoor swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, a gazebo dock with paddle and electric boats, and a fire pit for late night lakeside campfires. — from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/rockygap.html
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The plan is to ruin Rocky Gap with slots too. This should not even be a consideration. This is nowhere near a population center and it truly is a beautiful park and resort. It will be just lovely having the ability to camp and kayak right next to a casino, not.
“The plan is to ruin Rocky Gap with slots too. This should not even be a consideration. This is nowhere near a population center and it truly is a beautiful park and resort.” <– Not near a “population center”? Uh, what do you call Cumberland, LaVale and Frostburg?
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the idea of slots at Rocky Gap, though. I make an annual pilgrimage out to Cumberland that I look forward to throughout the year. The economy out there is already sketchy, and there’s apparently a fairly large low-income population. “I have heard the argument that most people who gamble at slot machines are the ones who can least afford to lose the money. ” <– I’d so hate to see that happen to people out there. Personally, if there are going to be slots, I feel they should put them at existing gambling locations (ie, racetracks).
Maybe “population center” is too loose a term. But from the 2000 Census stats:
Cumberland – 21,591 – per capita income $15,813
La Vale – 4,613 – per capita income $20,989
Frostburg – 7,873 – per capita income $13,821
By contrast, Baltimore had 650,000 people. Montgomery County, MD has 860,000 people. Frederick City – 60,000 people.
I really think the best place for the slots would be in Potomac. It’s right across the bridge from Virginia and there are plenty of wealthy people there. (Like that would ever happen.) I doubt there will be enough opposition to stop it even if that was the wish of the people. The Rocky Gap Lodge is owned by Crestline Hotels which was spun off from Marriott, I believe (need confirmation). I am sure the corporate powers that be will win this one.