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MD Slot Foes Grouse Over Ballot Language Decision

The Maryland Supreme Court was willing to concede a little to the many foes of slot machine gambling in the state. The slot game critics have been all worked up over the precise wording of a referendum measure that would legalize slot machine gambling in The Old Line State, and claiming that the language approved by the Secretary of State was not sufficiently descriptive. Apparently, saying that the “purpose” of the slots’ legalization was to fund education was not sufficient, given that much of the money brought in by the devices that did not go back to players would first be distributed among casino operators and used as the means of filling horseracing purses.

The Supreme Court decided to rectify this apparently VERY concerning issue by adding one tiny word – “Primary.” As in: The PRIMARY purpose of making slot games legal is to fund education. This isn’t making the anti-slots faction happy, either. They state that it is inaccurate to state that education is the number one purpose of slots, given that only six or seven percent of casino proceeds will be channeled towards this purpose. Of course, paying back gamblers is, by the numbers, the biggest use of slot funds – many machines offer payout percentages of over ninety percent.

The opponents of slot machine gambling do not seem cognizant of the fact that the Ballot Board only allots one hundred words to describe the purpose of ballot initiative in a nonpartisan, comprehensive manner. Just goes to show that you really can’t make everyone happy!

Back to September 2008 Archive.