Gambling as Entertainment is a Right of Each State's Citizens

It seems the problems surrounding gambling as entertainment in Maryland and elsewhere are similar. Many states in the last decade have adopted gambling as a source of jobs and tax revenues, some of which come from Indian-owned and operated casinos, operating under federally-mandated sovereign rights, while others are licensed to locals, international chains or combinations of such groups. Most on dry land, some on riverboats permanently docked, in hotels, everywhere. The American appetite for gambling is enormous. Almost every state has multi-state enormous jackpots Lottery Drawings like Mega-Millions, Power Ball, "Scratch-Offs, Daily 3 and 4-digit Lottery Number picks, licensed Bingo parlors with big payouts, Card Rooms, and other choices, and it's growing all over. A recent Mega jackpot was $225 Million, a Power Ball jackpot was $292 Million.

In Maryland the rationale and political machinations are typical of many areas.

The original premise for adopting enabling Slots Legislation in Maryland was:

- Maryland Racing was in substantial decline, partly due to the ability of surrounding and competing states to offer racing subsidies, including larger purses to owners, purse money partly funded by state tax collections from slot revenues, and funds for improvement of facilities. Surrounding states tended to place their "gaming" facilities at or near racetracks for the stated reasons of helping the industry and the proven relationship between racing fans and gambling . As a note, when's the last time you heard the phrase, "I'll bet you..." ten minutes ago, yesterday?

- Maybe. Wait, no maybe. The biggest reason? Maryland is in desperate need of additional revenue. Substantial potential tax revenue is being siphoned off by surrounding and nearby states from slot parlors-in Virginia (Charlestown Racing) Pennsylvania (Meadow Lands Racing), Delaware (Delaware Park Racing) and the most popular, New Jersey's Atlantic City, which offers casino-style gambling; slots, craps, table games like Blackjack and the rapidly rising popularity of Tournament Card Rooms for Texas Hold "Em and other games, and headline entertainment with great names.

How much tax revenue? Slots alone could generate 700-900 million in tax revenue, but, and this is where I think Maryland should be headed, full Casino gambling in at least three of the four places originally designate. Ocean Downs on the Eastern shore of Maryland, Laurel Park Racetrack-home of the Laurel International, one of the world's most famous races, Downtown Baltimore (what an addition to Baltimore's growing convention business appeal with the accompanying entertainment circuit, would again place Maryland in a leadership position among states, solidifying Maryland's reputation as forward-looking, business-oriented, and one of the most desirable place to live.

Such was the feeling in Maryland when proposals authorized by the legislature were requested. For a variety of reasons the owners of Maryland's two largest racetrack facilities, Laurel Park and Pimlico, Magma Entertainment (in bankruptcy at the present time, but potentially well-funded by it's parent company, to whom local racing promoter and historically Maryland-based Joe DeFrancis had sold out, but who remains President) was unable-or unwilling- to post the required-some say ridiculous-application fees.

David Cordish, a nationally known real estate developer and never one to pass an opportunity, then made an application to offer a slots parlor at Arundel Mills Shopping Center, which Cordish owns. The self-serving and opportunistic nature of the proposal, and noting that politics and the prospect of revenues gets the strangest people in-and out of- bed together, brings us to the point where opposition, led by the Maryland Jockey Club-Joe Defrancis, President- has successfully petitioned the Anne Arundel county of Maryland voters for enough signatures to cause a state Referendum on Cordish's Proposal, if it survives Cordish's legal challenges. DeFrancis originally supported gambling venues as a lifeline for his interests in Maryland racing, a lifelong family enterprise.

Rightly so. Aside from the politics, there can be little justification for putting slots gambling in a residential, even a retail commercial area, particularly when a superior venue like Laurel Park is just a few miles away, and by virtue of it's racing supporters and clientele-did you know the Laurel International- an event in a league with the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont- draws horses, owners and fans from all over the world, and just that one racing event is also televised all over the world?

Laurel Park is a place that would grow rapidly and fit perfectly, to say nothing of its entertainment value to the Washington, D.C. market; a four million plus population market area, which has money virtually sloshing around looking for places to spend and entertain. Why, the limousines would be double and triple-parked.

Laurel Park (also in Anne Arundel County) is first, Downtown Baltimore's Convention Center area is second, Ocean Downs on Maryland's Eastern Shore near it's famous Ocean City is third, and Western Maryland's Resort area is fourth, in rankings of potential.

The Baltimore Sun's ( the local newspaper) view that Arundel Mills is a good venue notwithstanding, and which actually occurs from the confluence of circumstances involved in Maryland and Anne Arundel County politics, Arundel Mills is actually a "losing bet." Not only for Anne Arundel citizens and taxpayers, but a loss for Laurel Park and all the potential benefits that Laurel's international and U.S. based fans and supporters would enjoy. And, the local newspaper calling Arundel Mills slots parlor a Casino doesn't make it so; it's just a slots parlor, proposed for a residential area-entirely inappropriate.

Gambling as entertainment has been with America since our founding; George Washington gambled, Abe Lincoln wrestled for money.

The point is gambling as entertainment has it's own unique problems, as does every other entertainment. Some consider anything that creates pleasure endorphins a vice, only worthy of a "no."

A more rational view is that gambling, like other forms of entertainment, deserves only appropriate and unbiased licensing and regulation, suited to the needs of the gamblers and the communities in which they reside.

If you agree that gambling is just entertainment for most people, then make sure that it is managed professionally, regulated transparently, and that tax revenues go to education and health programs, and if used in other areas, not as political favors. Gambling revenue is real money and from real money comes real power. It's wise to keep that in mind when "helping" our politicians evaluate gambling proposals.