Maryland to vote on slots in November 2008

Slot machines will go in at Ocean Downs and Laurel Park and not Rosecroft Raceway nor Pimlico Race Course if Maryland voters give the approval in a referendum vote in November of 2008.

Maryland legislators passed the referendum bill early Sunday morning, bringing to a close the special legislative session called by Gov. Marin O’Malley (D) to deal with the state budget which is approximately $1.7 billion in debt.

According to published accounts, the referendum will ask votes to approve the installation of 15,000 slot machines at five locations throughout the state. They include Baltimore City and Allegany, Ann Arundel (Laurel Park), Cecil and Worcester (Ocean Downs) counties.

A separate piece of legislation that was passed over the weekend allocates 48.5 percent of the slots revenue to an education trust fund, 33 percent to the slots operators and the remaining 18.5 percent to horse racing purses, aid to local government and other expenditures.

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