| Page 2 of 3 < > |
Ocean Downs Wants to Gamble On Slots; Business Owners Don't
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The precarious financial situation of Maryland's industry was underscored by last month's decision to suspend twice-weekly live racing at Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's County. That left Ocean Downs, with a summer season of 40 nights, as the only Maryland harness track with regularly scheduled races.
More common thoroughbred races, in which horses are ridden by jockeys, still take place at Laurel Park in Anne Arundel, Pimlico in Baltimore and, to a limited degree, the State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
Whatever woes are afflicting the racing industry, many business leaders in Ocean City say they are convinced that adding slots is not the solution, at least not in their community.
Mark Leiner, a restaurant owner and president of the 850-member Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, argued that slots five miles west would threaten many existing businesses, with tourists spending discretionary dollars on slots rather than homegrown restaurants and stores.
"Money that slots takes in is money that's sucked out of the community," said Leiner, whose restaurant, the Bonfire, boasts of a "renowned all-you-can-eat buffet" with seafood, steaks and ribs.
Leiner and other members of the Ocean City chamber -- whose formal position against slots is at odds with the state chamber's -- also say expanded gambling and the social ills it could usher in are inconsistent with the area's character.
"We've spent 50 years promoting ourselves as a family town -- spending time on the beach, playing miniature golf, going out to dinner," Leiner said. "Gambling just doesn't belong in the mix."
During a special session last fall in which the General Assembly agreed to put slots on the ballot, lawmakers attempted to address some of the community's concerns about economic competition.
A provision inserted into the legislation significantly limits the additional financial activities in which the owners of Ocean Downs can engage if they hold a slots license.
No one with a financial interest in the racetrack would be permitted to build a hotel within 10 miles of the property. Nor can anyone build a conference center, convention center, amusement park or miniature golf course -- or stage live music, dancing exhibitions or any other forms of live entertainment.
The legislation makes only two exceptions: fireworks, which are already an occasional feature at Ocean Downs, and "a single piano that is played by an individual."
A lobbyist for track owner William Rickman, a Potomac developer, agreed to the conditions during a legislative committee work session last fall.
