League of Women Voters of Maryland

The League of Women Voters strongly opposed both bills covered below: THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND The bill proposed the following • that there will be slots and casinos • that none of the nefarious types would take over the slots casinos (same as in past legislation) • that the slots casinos proceeds pay for public education, including public school construction and capital improvements, from pre K through university level • that regional centers be established to provide services for compulsive gamblers, and local programs for those who reside in the state and their immediate families e.g. outpatient/in- patient, partial care, educational services for victims of domestic violence and other preventive treatment. • that there be a prevalence study to measure the pathological gambling problem. Study deadline is 1 July 2009 and then again in at least five years. • that a slots casiono which might open at a race track – even if it is a temporary facility – would have to be operational within ten years • that the 5 video lottery terminal (VLT) licensees could award more than 15,000 VLT operation licenses. • that the facility could be open from 8:00 am to 2:00 am each day • that none under 21 years of age be allowed to play or be in such areas • that by regulation a list of certain individuals can be mandatorily excluded or ejected • that there be a mitigating problem gambling list e.g. limit the number and locations of ATMs, limit the dollar amount the VLT will accept (both credit and debit cards) and that no marketing practices be allowed, • that the legislature enact statutes establishing criminal offenses and penalties related to VLT Horseracing: ° Protect Pimlico if possible and Laurel Park’s Maryland Million Race. ° Permit 40 racing days at Pimlico each year; ° Improve the quality and marketing of Maryland horseracing; provide capital improvements: a master plan, with at least $1,500,000 annually; ° A licence can last 15 years and can be extended; The Purses: ° The Purse Dedication Account: 80 percent to the thoroughbred industry; 20 percent to the Standard Bred. ° 89 percent: Pimlico; Laurel Park, Allegany County course and the Timonium racecourse; ° 11 percent to the Maryland Standard Bred Race Fund, at Rosecroft, Ocean Downs, and Allegany; ° A Racetrack Facility Renewal Account and a Horseracing Museum. VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS — AUTHORIZATION AND LIMITATIONS — A REFERENDUM The bill proposes a referendum on slots and slots casinos. Because the bill is a referendum, and if it passes, the legislation will become part of Maryland’s Constitution. There is no other way to have a referendum in Maryland. The proposal has selected five locations for the slots casinos: Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, Worcester County, Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Allegany County; or in Baltimore City. It appears that the citizens and local governments will be cut out of planning. There is no requirement to educate Maryland’s voters about what the bill will create and its long-term consequences. COMMENT: The final word on this is not complete because some legal scholars are now looking into the issue or question of whether local jurisdictions retain their local control.