It was recently reported that The Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland will be backing a proposal that will legalize slot machine gambling in the state. The organization represents twenty local affiliates of the International Association of Fire Fighters and holds over seven thousand members in their organization. The group voted “overwhelmingly to endorse” the referendum.

Other organizations have joined in support of the referendum. The Greater Baltimore Committee, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Maryland Association of Counties have stated they support the proposal.

If the referendum is approved the slots plan would give five locations the right to create slot parlors. The locations are: near Laurel Race Course, two in Baltimore City, near Ocean Downs Race course and Rocky Gap State Park.

Each slot parlor would be in five different locations and revenue would go mostly to public education in the state of Maryland. Five and a half percent of the revenue would go to local governments; seven percent to horse racing purses, two point five percent would go to racetrack renewal and one point five percent to a twenty million dollar minority business investment fund.

The president of the Professional Fire of Maryland, LeRoy A. Wilkison, stated this about why they are giving their support: “Passing the slots referendum and keeping revenue here in Maryland — when it’s already being spent in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia — is critical to public safety. Budget problems flow downhill. And if the slots referendum doesn’t pass the state will reduce county funds — cutting public safety.”


- 2008-09-24