Maryland & the Facts on Slots
Many say slots are immoral, slots are wrong and regressive. Why can't you face the fact that a majority of Marylanders do not want to pay higher taxes and are perfectly happy to have slots palaces?
The answer is simple: "slots and gambling are inherently fun," according to proponents, "and once in a while it becomes fruitful."
Despite this Maryland legislators are moving for the kill against slot machines in their state?
The Gaithersburg Democrat, Kumar Barve, who's the majority leader of the House, was ambivalent regarding slots once. But the more the Gaithersburg Democrat learned about slots, the more he became an opponent of the idea. He was arguing for the downside of slots, namely: the gambling addictions, the sleazy folks, the crime, etc. His solution is to cut spending on developing slots and get rid of them, at least, in Maryland.
Slot machine proponents, on the other hand, are arguing that to remove slot machine much revenue would get out of the state, thus cutting the state's revenue further. "People are going to gamble whether you like it or not?" they believed. "So, the thing is, why not keep the dollars here?" If Maryland would not support gambling, their citizens will head to West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In this case, Maryland loses.
Demographics in Maryland shows that the most number of slot players in the state are blacks. There are some proposal then that gambling halls be put in Prince George County and Baltimore - the aim of which is to cater the predominantly black population. In addition, these are the places where most slot players come from. Many are playing lotteries in those neighborhoods too.
According to demographics approximately half of blacks and half of whites play the lottery at least occasionally, but they play the games in various ways. Whites playing the lottery regularly spend an average of $210 a year; while blacks spend an outrageous sum of $998 each per year. That's more than double the sum of any other demographic slice, whether classified by age, sex, race, marital status, income, etc. About 25 percent of the heaviest lottery players are Blacks. They make up for 12% on the overall population measure.
There's no evidence that slots cater a different crowd of players from lotteries. So why maintain lottery and kick slots out. The downside of this is cutting the revenue inflow to the state of Maryland. Slots, like lotteries, do some good in building revenue. Plus, it's relaxing and fun. And it makes Marylanders think twice before going to Vegas.