TOP TEN REASONS TO OPPOSE SLOTS

By Michael Tabor

1) Sleaze Factor: Once slots and then gambling gets instituted in Maryland, instead of our state being known for the Chesapeake Bay, Western Maryland's recreation and mountains, and Baltimore's Inner Harbor, we will be par with Reno, Atlantic City and Charles Town, West Virginia.

2) Cost to Society and Citizens: Family breakup, domestic violence, credit card fraud, increased burglaries, check writing scams, organized crime, etc. all increase when slots are introduced according to a University of Michigan study. In the end, we the taxpayers will have to pick up the tab.

3) What's In MD Doesn't Stay in MD: Magna, the largest slots interest, is headquartered in Ontario, Canada. Half “the take” will go out of the country rather than spent here! In the end, it's a net loss for us.

4) Letting the Fox Into The Henhouse: Once slots are in, lobbyists spread their money to whomever will take it; gambling lobbying interests dominate in whatever state they enter.

5) Camel's Nose Under the Tent: Unlike the state lottery, gambling interests enter into a partnership with the State. It's in their interest to expand their power by doling out money, influence, etc.

6) Jail House Rock: Gambling interests are almost always connected with organized crime and corruption. Once in, the indictments, criminal malfeasance, etc. issues follows

7) Counting Chickens Before They're Hatched: There is no guarantee the revenue will roll in. We're close to Delaware, PA, New Jersey, and West Virginia. MD gamblers will go to the state that offers the best competitive advantage and not necessarily spend their money here. Best estimate is that money won't “roll in” until 2011 or 2013, if it ever does.

8) NIMBYism and Montgomery County A study commissioned in '06 by Penn National shows that the best state venues for slots and gambling are Rockville (No. 2) and then Silver Spring (No. 3) Once they're in, you can bet (just a figure of speech) they'll end up here in Montgomery County eventually. City Place is a great venue!

9) A Dollar Short No state with slots and gambling has met the target income they've proposed. It's part of their game plan to ask for more.

10) Tsuris, Tsuris And More Tsuris: Who needs this tsuris in our state? Once they're in, it's difficult, if not impossible, to get them out. Why let them in?

11) A Regressive Tax and A Poor Economic Choice for Our Future: It's really a tax on working class and poor people. And it represents a poor choice for Maryland's economic future. Is this the kind of economy and type of jobs we want to create for our children?