Slots Missing From Maryland General Assembly

Anyone remember the last three Maryland General Assembly sessions, when slot machines were a big deal?  That was a time, seemingly long, long ago when Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) rode high on his horse about finally legalizing gambling machines in the state.  His equally determined opponent was House Speaker Michael Busch.  Those were the days. 

This year’s session has plenty of slot machine bills, but they may as well not have any at all.  They are being swamped by veto overrides, strikes against convicted sex offenders, and debates over stem cell research.  Of course, as we all know, yet no one admits, no one wants to touch the topics of legalized gambling and slot machines as it is an election year.   

Shareese N. DeLeaver made a few comments on behalf of the governor’s office on Monday, “As spokespersons for the governor, our office has spent a lot of time over the last three sessions answering questions about slots.”  Apparently the one inquiry that she received this week was the only question they have had about the topic all year.   

In the February 1^st issue of the Baltimore Sun, Busch made it clear that this session would not consider any slot machine bills.

DeLeaver confirms, “Speaker Busch has drawn a line in the sand so to speak.  The governor feels he has a very moderate legislative agenda, and he will not squander any more political capital on an issue the speaker sees as a nonstarter.”

There are a few bills currently in the House of Delegates with the intention of placing firmer ties on slot machines. 

Delegate Shirley Nathan Pulliam, District 10, sponsored House Bill 1438.  The bill proposes to make it a misdemeanor to sell, lease, or lend slot machines or video gaming devices unless they meet specified requirements.  Any establishment carrying the slot machines would need to be notified that cash payouts to customers were prohibited.   The slot machines themselves would need to carry signs above them alerting patrons to the same stipulation.

14 state delegates sponsored House Bill 193.  The bill, if passed, would amend the state constitution by restricting the number of facilities that offer slot machines to only six.  The bill also proposes cutting the number of authorized slot machines to 13,000.

House Bills 442 and 575 are very similar.  442 would authorize the use of video lottery terminals like slot machines in the state of Maryland.  The bill would have the State Lottery Commission regulate the operation of the slot machines and the slots profits would go toward education.  575 would require the Lottery Commission to regulate slots at racetracks and the profits would fund the construction of state public schools. 

DeLeaver gave her perspective on the Governor’s actions should any of these bills see the light of day.  “If the bill were to restrict slot machines, the governor would veto it.  Governor Ehrlich believes it is inevitable slot machines will come to Maryland.”

Senate Bill 42, in the Budget and Taxation Committee, would leave the fate of slot machines in the hands of the Maryland people.  The question of slot machines would be placed on the ballot of the upcoming general election.  Voters would have the opportunity to express their opinion of having slot machines at three racetrack locations and three non-racetrack locations.  Senate Bill 42 was sponsored by Senator Richard F. Colburn, District 37. 

Senator Norman Stone, Distrct 6, says of slot machine bills, “I can’t believe that one won’t be present in the Senate before the end of the session.”

It remains that any real forward progress on slot machines in Maryland may be put off until after the end of the election year.  Neither side really wants to deal with the hassle of explaining yea or nay votes to citizens. 

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