“It’s like turning off the faucet in the bathroom once the flooding is done,” said James Browning, regional director for Common Cause.
If voters approve the gambling measure, Maryland’s five authorized slots casinos could add such table games as blackjack and roulette. The new law would also allow a sixth casino to be built in the state, in Prince George’s County.
Anti-gambling activists say events in Maryland reflect a national trend over the past decade in which several Democratic governors have come out in support of casino gambling and received substantial industry contributions.
The Democratic Governors Association received $1.8 million from gambling companies and individuals associated with the industry between 2003 and 2011, according to Common Cause. O’Malley took over as chairman of the association at the end of 2010.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) was embarrassed in June when the New York Times reported that a group closely allied with him received $2 million from gambling interests as he developed a proposal to expand casino gambling in the state.
Support from Democratic governors like Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania and Steve Beshear in Kentucky led to more casinos opening near big cities and being more convenient for average people.
“What’s new and what’s transformative is the casinos had traditionally been kept away from major population centers, and it’s been the Democratic Party that traditionally has controlled these big population centers,” said Les Bernal, executive director of the Stop Predatory Gambling foundation.
“Now that’s changed. Democrats have basically given the green light to come on in,” Bernal said. “Part of it is campaign money, and part of it is there’s such a quest for revenue.”
Franchot urged Maryland politicians to voluntarily disclose any contributions this year from gambling interests before the special session, but he was ignored. The public should demand they do so before the November referendum.
Before we vote to make such a big change, we ought to know who’s paying for it.
I discuss local issues at 8:51 a.m. Friday on WAMU (88.5 FM). For earlier columns, go to washingtonpost.com/mccartney.
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