Maryland Voters Approve Slots BALTIMORE, MD (wypr) - The Maryland General Assembly never could agree on whether to approve slot machines on its own. So, last night, when the votes were counted, the state's citizens approved a plan to create five slots parlors in Maryland. WYPR's Bob Costantini has the reaction:

The Maryland democratic party's election night celebration erupted into deafening noise the moment Barack Obama was declared the winner in the presidential race nationwide.

By that time, the politicos in the crowd had grown to be a mix of democrats, who came down on both sides of the slots issue. This included martin O'malley, who, as mayor of Baltimore, had misgivings about expanded gambling, but, who as governor, saw them as a way to help close budget shortfalls.

As the evening progressed, the numbers mounted in favor of bringing 15-thousand machines to Maryland to help fund state needs, and help the horse racing industry, Steve Kearney of "For Maryland, For Our Future" a pro-slots amalgam of government officials, business leaders and gambling interests was thanking the people of Maryland:

State Comptroller Peter Franchot.

"They responded well to a grassroots campaign, ran on a positive message that we needed that money to invest in Maryland money that's already being spent in West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania. We're bringing it home."

It was a more subdued gathering, early in the evening at a fells point bar, chosen because is was close to the headquarters of Stop Slots Maryland, itself a coalition of opponents to the new gambling games coming into Maryland.

State Comptroller, flying in the face of Governor O'malley and other party leaders, has become the face of anti-slots forces:

"We had the Democratic establishment against us; the lobbyists and the deep pockets of the national gambling industry. They ran deceptive TV ads, manipulated the ballot language, misstated the facts and made promises they will never ever be able to keep."

The promises and warnings played out in recent TV and radio ads:

"But we can bring those dollars home by passing slots here in Maryland. Question 2 recaptures the millions slot players are spending out of state and invests 660-million dollars directly into our schools."

Stop Slots Maryland responded, only in the last few days, with an ad featuring a slick looking man representing a typical gambler:

"If it sounds too good to be true, it is! Annapolis politicians promise slots will fix our economy "

Stop Slots Maryland's Aaron Meissner emphasized his organization fought the odds against government and corporate interests:

"I want to say thank you to all our volunteers, our partners at the NAACP, the Sierra Club, the League of Women voters; everybody who's been there for us; all the little contributors."

Opponents argue slots will bring misery of gambling addiction and increased crime as neighboring states with the machines have experienced.

It's estimated, however, as much as one-third of slot revenues in Delaware, in particular, come from Maryland players.

Again, Steve Kearney of for Maryland, for our future:

"It's not easy to lose an election; and there's good people on both sides of this issue. And our state's moving forward."

Slots opponents would not say if they will try court action to prevent the vote in favor of new gaming, that takes the form of a constitutional amendment, from taking effect.

I'm Bob Costantini, reporting from Baltimore, for 88.1, WYPR.
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