Well, casinos all over the state, including a new location in Prince Georges County, will be on the ballot this November for the voters of Maryland. It was on all the papers and even on the teevee, so I am not providing a link here.
What is the official MM position on the expanded gambling situation?
I'm old enough to remember the initial introduction of "The Numbers Game" by the Maryland Lottery, which is now known as "Pick 3". I remember it being used to pay for (gasp!) educational needs and infrastructure.
Similar arguments and debates over the years have ensued about Pick 4. Then Lotto. Then The Big Game. Then Keno. Then Mega Millions. Then Powerball. Then slots. And now, table games. The scratch-offs to support the Baltimore stadiums was in there too. I still think Chris Van Hollen is a schmuck for his opposing those.
Add in the several increases to tobacco taxes over the years and the more recent, long overdue taxes on alcohol, and the fact emerges that Maryland has always relied on sin to balance its books. We're not the only state that does this, but it's the only state we live in.
So on a base level, bringing table games and more casinos to the state makes me nauseous. But, I realize that this is likely going to pass. I'm not sure if I'll vote for it, but if I do, it won't be because I think table games and more casinos are all that. Rather, it'll be an admission that I think our state's leadership is so creatively incapable and compromised by special interests that the lot of them can't come up with anything better.
Far from a ringing endorsement to be sure, and I'm frankly ashamed of myself for that comment. But I wonder how many other Marylanders feel the same way.
