O'Malley Thinks Slot Machines will Preserve Funds

There is a $1 billion deficit in the state budget this year, so it looks as thought Governor Martin O’Malley is going to have his work cut out for him – especially if slot machines are not part of the equation. Many are against legalizing slot machines in the state, but with the deficits in key areas of the state – such as parks and roads – the state might not have a choice. The state needs to legalize the slot machines to pull themselves out of the hole they are in, or they are going to have to do a whole lot of bake sales.

Due to budget shortfalls in the Transportation Trust Fund and Program Open Space, slot machines may need to fill those gaps. Governor Ehrlich took money from these programs in order to try and help out the state’s budget, but never paid the money back. So now O’Malley has to come up with a funding source to pay back those groups and make up for the short fall – and that is where slot machines come in.

With a $20 billion budget, if Maryland were to allow slot machines at the racetracks, the state could see a big boost in revenue. A slot machine bill was introduced to the state that would put 12,500 slot machines at five racetracks, which would help the state and help the racetracks. O’Malley has already said that he would be favorable to a limited number of slot machines at the tracks, if only to help the tracks – the money to the state would be a bonus.

O’Malley does not think that they should depend on the slot machines to ensure a more fruitful future, but he does think that they could assist them until they come up with a better solution.

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