Decision '08: Maryland OKs Slots; Mass. Bans Greyhound Racing
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Slot Approval To Help Maryland Horse Racing
Better Compete With Neighboring States |
The Maryland referendum on legalizing slot machines that passed Tuesday "was considered the final hope to salvage" the state's racing and breeding industries that have been "devastated in recent years by competition in neighboring states," according to Jon Scheinman of the WASHINGTON POST. Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Richard Hoffberger: "What it does is it puts Maryland racing on a level playing field with our surrounding states and competition -- West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. And by the time the machines come online, it will mean the people that participate in the horse racing industry in Maryland will be able to run for purses that are competitive with the other states. The people in Maryland will be able to stay in Maryland." Through the referendum, Maryland voters "approved 15,000 slot machines at five sites around the state." Seven percent of the entire gross revenue up to $100M a year from the machines "will be directed to race purses and breeding fund programs," and the money will be divided 80% for thoroughbred interests and 20% for standardbreds. Another 2.5% "will be designated for the refurbishing of state racetracks for a period of eight years, provided track owners contribute matching funds." Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) President & COO Tom Chuckas, whose company runs Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, said that the racing and breeding industry "should not expect to see revenue from slots until the middle of 2010 at the earliest" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/6).
PLACING THEIR BETS: In DC, John Wagner notes slot machine gambling is "projected to eventually generate more than $600[M] a year for state education programs." The referendum "received majority support in Baltimore and all 23 Maryland counties, including those jurisdictions slated to have slots parlors." The MJC yesterday also "announced its intention to seek a slots license at Laurel Park," while potential bidders for the five sites authorized by voters "face an aggressive Feb. 1 deadline to pull together proposals, and no one knows how many will come forward." Wagner notes it "could be more than two years before all slots locations are fully operational, but preparations that began in recent months are certain to accelerate in coming weeks" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/6). In Baltimore, Bill Ordine notes the MJC "will apply for one of five slots licenses with the hope of having slots at Laurel." Chuckas said that "passage of the slots referendum should bring improvements at" Laurel and Pimlico and "help ensure that the Preakness Stakes stays in the state" (Baltimore SUN, 11/6).
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Mass. Greyhound Track Owners Hope For
Slot Approval In State Following Racing Ban |
GREY DAY: In Boston, Ebbert & Legere report Massachusetts voters banned greyhound racing in the state by a 56-44% vote. Track owners and supportive lawmakers said that they "will launch a renewed effort to legalize slot machines in dog and horse tracks in the hope of restoring the estimated 1,000 jobs and millions of dollars in gambling revenue that will be lost when live racing ends." Wonderland Greyhound Park Majority Owner Charles Sarkis said that the "time is right for Mass. dog, horse, and harness tracks to persuade the administration to endorse slots because large-scale casinos may have trouble with financing in the current economy and the state is in dire need of revenue." But yesterday neither Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick nor Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi "expressed a willingness to endorse slots" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/6). But Massachusetts House Ways & Means Chair Robert DeLeo said that the state's "fiscal crisis, which required cutting nearly $1[B] in spending, could sway gambling skeptics ... to support slot machines" at Wonderland and the state's other track, Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park (BOSTON HERALD, 11/6).
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