Racetracks Might Not Push Slots

Since 2003, when the slots debate heated up in Annapolis, Ocean Downs has spent more than $1 million on lobbying, and Rickman, his family and their businesses have been heavy campaign contributors. In two days in January 2007, as Gov. Martin O'Malley was preparing to take office, companies affiliated with Rickman and his family gave $48,000 to the governor's campaign account and a joint account with his running mate.

Magna, meanwhile, spent more than $1 million on lobbying in just 2003 and 2004.

O'Malley (D) last year pushed the idea of a public vote on slots to break an impasse over whether the legislature should legalize the machines. Besides Anne Arundel and Worcester County, where Ocean Downs is located, the state would grant slots licenses to facilities in Baltimore and Allegany and Cecil counties, if the referendum passes.

"Given the millions of dollars involved, I do not believe for a minute that [the track owners] won't get involved before this is over," said Scott Arceneaux, a senior adviser to Marylanders United to Stop Slots, a new ballot-issue committee.

Aaron Meisner, chairman of Stop Slots Maryland, said slots opponents expect to be greatly outspent. But he said his side is optimistic that support for slots will erode in the closing months of the campaign, as has happened in several other statewide referendums on gambling in recent years, including those in Colorado, Nebraska and Ohio.

A Washington Post poll last October showed that about seven in 10 Maryland residents favored legalizing slot-machine gambling. Another poll in January showed softer support when voters were asked about the referendum. Fifty-four percent said they would vote to allow slots, while 38 percent said they would vote against it.

The pollster, Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies, noted that in other states, support typically peaks early, while opposition grows during the campaign.

Although neither side in Maryland has sought to actively engage the public yet, the campaign's early stages are underway. Both sides are organizing ballot-issue committees to raise money. Both sides have lined up political consultants. And after an early round of skirmishing, the Maryland State Teachers Association, the state's largest educators lobby, voted last week to support the referendum.

O'Malley is counting on slots revenue to balance the state budget in coming years, and slots supporters argue that public schools have a lot at stake. By 2013, legislative analysts project, 15,000 slot machines would generate more than $1.3 billion a year after payouts to players. Under legislation approved by the General Assembly last fall, $660 million of that would go to a new education trust fund.

Under the projections, the five slots venues would keep about $450 million a year. Another $95 million would be earmarked to enhance racing purses at Maryland tracks, including those that do not receive slots licenses, and $34 million would be provided as grants for "facility renewal" at tracks.

Frederick W. Puddester, a former state budget secretary whom O'Malley tapped to lead the pro-slots campaign, said he was not overly concerned about the early hesitance of the track owners.

"We're just starting in the process," Puddester said.