State after state, governor after governor, right across the board in the US, a trend of selling out morally to help balance budgets, has become an enticing quick fix for all involved.
What to do when you are the Governor of a state in America and are faced with millions upon millions of dollars in debt? Legalize gambling is the answer that most of these state leaders are coming up with.
Maryland may be the latest state to turn to slot machines to try and cure their financial problems.
Governor Martin O'Malley has outlined a plan to use slot regulation, which was passed almost three years ago, to wipe out a $1.7 billion budget problem.
The plan calls for 9,500 slot machines spread out among Maryland race courses. The state would own all of those machines. Once the plan is in place, he believes that $550 million would be generated for the state.
According to the plan, $100 million would be used to subsidize annual horse racing, as well as $6 million that would be dedicated to helping problem gamblers.
Currently, there is no state program for helping problem gamblers.
Maryland horse racing industry is large, but O'Malley believes that allowing slots is crucial to keeping the industry booming.
The state has been debating the slot machine issue for years and the Governor believes that it is time to end the debate once and for all, which is why he released his proposed plan. |
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