Political Money for Slot Machines Flows Freely

The Baltimore Sun has discovered that those with a political agenda behind slot machines coming to Maryland have donated more than a million dollars to the political coffers of those that they believe will help them get them passed. As a matter of fact, they have given more than $2.6 million lobbying Annapolis just over the past two years.

They say that Governor Martin O'Malley, who seems to be in the slot machine mood lately, received at least $135,000, as did Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. The former governor of the state, Robert Ehrlich, who was also a big supporter of slot machines took in $131,000. Some say that this explains the pushing of slot machines lately in their state government.

Some have a real problem with the fact that they feel that their government has been bought and paid for by special interest groups, and that if you don't have thousands to put behind your governor, etc. then you can forget your cause. They also say that this allows those groups to control their government instead of the other way around. Many don't want them to be able to take money from anyone who might be able to influence them for the time that they are in office.

In some cases, it is rather extreme sounding, as in that of William Rickman. He has given close to $400,000 to Maryland political candidates, etc. since 2003 - and he just happens to be the owner of Ocean Downs in Worcester County. Others say that this is how business is done, and if they don't like it well, that's really just too bad. As long as political candidates keep taking their money and voting the way they want, they will keep giving it.

Back to Monthly Archive // Main Slot Machine News Index