Pro viewpoint on legalized slots and/or gambling legislation in Maryland

Essay by mademan0902University, Bachelor's April 2004

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The issue of legalizing slots and/or legalized gambling in the State of Maryland is a complex one, and one of great consequence to both the State's residents, and the future of the State itself. Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich's slots bill 322 proposes that the State place a total of 15,500 slot machines or video poker machines in six different locations, three of which would be chosen from a pool of four Maryland racetracks. The racetracks that would be eligible to install slots or video poker machines are Laurel Park racecourse in Laurel, Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's county, a track that would be built at a later date in Allegheny county, and the Preakness Stakes host Pimlico in Baltimore; In effect turning those racetracks into "racinos". The bill goes on to stipulate that the State's portion of the revenue be used exclusively for education. On the surface, both sides' opinions and arguments are seemingly valid and deserve the attention of the state's legislative bodies.

On one hand, you have those who hold the opinion that said legalization would prove beneficial to the State by providing a much-needed revenue source that would propel the Maryland's education system into the 21st century. Basically, that legalized gambling would bail out the State's ailing education system. On the other hand, you have those who feel that gambling or slots, whether at racetracks or otherwise, would bring an unwelcome criminal element to Maryland and have a detrimental effect on our residents-specifically the State's younger residents. They basically feel that if the State legislature were to pass this piece of legislation through, that they would be promoting widespread moral decay by turning the residents of Maryland into compulsive, degenerate gamblers. I am of the opinion that the long-term benefits of legalizing slots and/or gambling outweigh...