It was announced last week that MI Development Inc, the parent company of track owner Magna Entertainment Corp., will be giving a portion of a $100 million loan to “fund costs associated with the up-coming Maryland slots referendum”. The owner of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park will be able to use up to $2 million to raise awareness and hopefully get votes to authorize slot machine gambling in the state. Voting will take place in November.

If voters authorize an amendment to the constitution that will allow the expansion of gambling then Laurel Park will one of five sites that will add slot machines. If an amendment is passed, Magna will have to compete for a license though a bidding process as the company does not currently hold a slots license.

Study Polls taken in Maryland show that support for slots is solid though it has dropped slightly. As the election grows closer, pro-gambling advertising will be rising and multi million dollars are expected to be used to try and raise support. Anti slot activists have also been trying to take action.

One company lining up to support an amendment for slots is Penn National. They have indicated that they will be supporting the cause as they have interest in building a slots site in Cecil County. Horse Racing operators in the state of Maryland have already donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the cause.

Pro slots ads have already began to run in the Baltimore area as well as in Washington markets. The ad states that those opposed to the referendum have “proposed $700 million in new taxes” as a way of earning money instead of using slots revenue. The committees for Anti slots have not proposed a tax increase though many support higher taxes for a budget balancing plan.

If the amendment is passed, it is believed that slots revenue will be more than $600 million on a yearly basis and could be used to fill in gaps in the state’s budget.


- 2008-09-22