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Slot Supporters Made Big Bucks

The group that is working the hardest to bring slot machines to the Old Line State released its official figures regarding political contributions this week. For Maryland, For Our Future filed official documents with the Maryland State Board of Elections two days ago to reports its three-point-eight million dollars in support, over half of which was generated by the state horse racing industry. As of October 5th, the closing day of the financial report, the group still had a little bit over five hundred fifty thousand dollars in its coffers.

For Maryland, For Our Future was required to turn in its official fundraising numbers as part of state law that any group making more than ten thousand dollars in the goal of influencing voters regarding the November 4th slot machine referendum voting date must report it. This esoteric bit of legislation was passed during the previous year’s General Assembly. Two anti-slot game groups must also accordingly report their contributions before this Friday’s cut-off date.

The Maryland slot machine referendum is one of the biggest stories in the world of American casino gambling right now. Those in favor of bringing the controversial gambling devices into Maryland argue that the tax income derived from their use would provide a major budgetary boost. Slot machine foes counter that fruit machine income is actually a drain on the economy, because gamblers could be using that money elsewhere. Both sides of the debate are pouring no small amount of money into convincing state voters that their view is the right one; only time will tell the outcome.

Back to October 2008 Archive.