Hi everyone,

I just read an article that says Gov. O'Malley is about to cut a deal on slots for Maryland. But, this time, the licenses would be auctioned off. This means they could be coming to a bar or restaurant near you.

What you think? Bring them on -- or not?

Here's a like to the article about the new slots deal:
http://lastreporter.typepad.com/my_weblog/...ey-begins-.html

Bring them on..................... ( :

i think it would be a good idea, but i'm just thinking, if the licences are being auctioned off, i wonder which bars/restaurants in the area will get them... might really change the atmosphere of some of these places, and believe me, some of them need it, but it might detract from others. i wonder if there's a way to know which establishments will be bidding?

As usual, the peoples republik of maryland is a day late and a dollar short on the slots issue. Look how much money is oozing over to Charles Town and soon to Pennsylvania.

MOM (martin o'malley) is probably seething seeing how much WashCo tip jars bring in (albeit, these funds are distributed to generally worthy charities).

Bring on the slots. Not that I'll play them, but what the hell, lets not lose disposable income to another state.

check out what i found in nbc25's classifieds...

Slot Machine
$150.00

For Sale 2 slot machines. $150.00 each. Email or call (301-797-6149)



This item has been viewed 20 times.
(Posted on: August 2, 2007)


i'm taking bids!!

It would be nice if Maryland would quit playing catch up for once and take the lead. I say table games and the sooner the better. Considering this state's voracious appetite for public spending, it would be nice to obtain some of that revenue from willing payees.

i totally agree. i'm not sure what the adversion is to table games in the area. i think it would be a nice boost, and for once, bring people INTO the area for dining and entertainment. something like that could help revive other businesses in the area. like, the Theater. Many people enjoy a nice evening out, and don't just want to go to dinner, walk around walmart, and go home. it would be nice to have some dinner, see a show or concert at the theater, and then go have some drinks and gamble a little. The more people we get coming through this area, the better. People might see a sign for the Mummers Parade, or the Blues Fest, or Augustober fest etc, and come back with their friends...

I say bring them on. What do you say Lee?

X2

no to slots

Ok why not Mcgee? the old morality issue?

not picking on you, of course..

but let's go ahead and touch on that a bit... it's going to come up anyhow.

Bring on the Slots. There is no morality issue what so ever. The biggest opponent to slots is the Catholic Church and the reason is because they are afraid that it will cut into their BINGO (Gambling) profits. I would vote that we should go ahead approve the table gambling as well. No reason to wait a few years when we are behind all of the other surrounding states.

Also this is coming from someone that buys about 4 scratch off tickets a year and has never been to Vegas, Atlantic City, or Charlestown. In other words I don't gamble.

[quote name='hagopinion' date='Aug 20 2007, 02:37 PM' post='85783']
The biggest opponent to slots is the Catholic Church and the reason is because they are afraid that it will cut into their BINGO (Gambling)


being raised catholic ( currently a practicing pagan... No! wait! don't run away!...) i can honestly say that never made sense to me..why oppose some forms of gambling, and HOST others right at your church? not to mention i'm pretty sure they violate some rules... such as bingo held at goretti... players are allowed to smoke indoors, and that gym has no central air system. just big floor fans... as a former volleyball player that school, i can honestly say mondays were NOT pleasant breathing...

at least we can be sure the new slots would be in places that follow health standards!

I can see it now stop at Sheetz for some gas and a couple pulls at the slot machine.

Yoss,
Sorry it took so long to answer.

I don`t like slots. It sucks you in and you are a looser from the start. Most people play them to try and win some money. sure you win some. But most but not all the money goes out of the area it`s located in. It will take 5 years to see a return on the income when it begins.

Ok, Here is some take on what it takes to run a slot casino.
1- It takes on average 250,00 gallions of water just to run a place for a day with a 1 mile horse track. That`s counting resturant,rest rooms, water for the horses and track. That is if you have 250 machines running. this info comes from a meeting inwhich I was present in Allagany County. The location for Rickmans slots. That won`t happen at it`s perposed location in Little Orleans. So can the local water treatment plant here in Htown handle it? NO it can`t. We already have met our quota for supply indemand. Also what about the waste treatment plant? Same thing NO it can`t.
You have to look at all the cost before you look at what you can win playing slots.

2- Most people who play them are older people who are on a lower income.
3- Almost every place that has slots has turned into a run down area. Look at Atlantic City. One block off the board walk.
You have boarded up buildings . Why, Because no income to the local area. Stealing and drugs, hookers and more homeless people will be seen than before. Loss of jobs from gambling. Homes wrecked by a parents gambling.
4- What will happen to property prices? Yep it will go way down. Who wants to live near a casino?
5- Rehab will be a big business when and if it happens. That my friend will be paid by your taxes not by the casno owners. They only take in the money and nothing else.
That`s about it for now. Until I can think of more reasons not to have slots in Htown .

At least someone has some sense around here. Mcgee has some very good points.
Seem most people have over looked. It's what I call the bigger picture. Reality

I don't see were bringing in slot machine's are going to do any good myself. Not in Hagerstown, especially not downtown. People can go downtown now, and have drinks, eat at a resturant, go to the theater, walk around if they want.

If the only way to get people to come to Hagerstown, is because of having a Slots Machine's that's pretty sad. I don't see where it's going to boost other businessses. People will be to busy gambling their money away at the Slots Machine's, and they can buy food and drinks there. All places like that do offer food & drinks.

Instead of people going to Alcoholic Anonymous, their be going to Gambling Anonymous or both. There are people that really get hook on gambling, especially when they start winning. They don't know when to stop. Some people lose their life saving, family, friends because of it.

I sure don't want my taxes to go up or my utility bill's. I don't want to see properties prices going down. I don't gamble, don't want no parts of it.

For people that don't actually live in Hagerstown, why would they care either way. They wouldn't have to deal with it.
If they would do something like that, It should be put on the outside of town. Were there's nothing else around.

Thought Maryland suppose to be the richest state. Well guess not.



Seem to me also that if we have Slots, then their raise state sales, gas and income taxes. So that would mean the average citizen would have more money to pay out. If I'm reading that correctly.

All good personal reasons, Mcgee and I can respect that.

But I would like to point out about Atlantic City. AC was crumbling into decay before the slots got there. The slots at least revived the boardwalk and the immediate surrounding area.

Nothing to do with slots, but take a look at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Big tourism spot but again, 5 blocks away and you see heavily depressed drug infested areas.

And I have to disagree about the unemployment. On the contrary, the slots in AC, I believe, did bring in employment, service workers in the casinos and resorts, ancillary services, plus the direct employment of dealers, table supervisors, etc.

But again, I certainly respect your views.

Ok let me weigh in on this. Gee O'Malley and the Democrats want slots now. Didn't Gov. Erlich want slots and was met with resistence. Hmmm an idiot who has us in a deficit, is just trying to save his a$$. The state would have been much better had we been given slots when Erlich first wanted them not as some lame attempt to save O'Malley. To the all of the O'Malleyites "told you so" it only gets worse from here glad you all voted him in you really have set our state back.

As for gambling in general. Look at Las Vegas it is a wonderful city and a great palce to visit. Atlantic City can't be used to judge the impacts by it was a hell hole before gambling. But everyone wants to look at those places only. Try looking at the Mohegan Sun or Foxwood in CT. Both of those have improved the areas around them. In North Carolina Harrah's is operating a great casino and the area around it seems better than when I went there as a kid.


What should we do? Full scale casino gambling. The casino licenses should be limited as far as the number in the sate and the number in a particular locale. I could see casinios in Ocean City, Baltimore, Rocky Gap and Deep Creek Lake for starters. Auction the licenses off to the highest bidders. Then have them as part of the deal pay a yearly fee based on percentage of income generated just off of the gambling aspect not total income. I am also in favor of legalized sports betting. It is time to take it out of the hands of the bookies and let it be regulated, controlled and above board.


Tony

Mcgee, good valid points for consideration. However I would point out that (not saying I'm for or against gambling in DT HTown) all vacant buildings and those with vacant 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors already are in the calculation for our water and sewer, which means there is allocatin assigned to them already which factors into our ussage now.

I do have a slight disagreement about the ills of gambling. I agree, that there are horror stories out there, but those horror stories exist right now. Gambling and drinking, smoking and so on are vices that one can abuse. We have abusers currently going to Charlestown and spending their hard earned grocery money there. I would not want to be labled an enabler, but these individuals are currently spending their money elsewhere and pumping up someone else's economy. Why not here, where we can regulate it. I am sure there would be money set aside for programs to help those who fall into the category of abusers.

I have to tell you, I could picture a slots and table game venue in a row of vacant building in our inner core. I believe it would create some problems, but a growing city will always have challenges to growth in one way or another. I don't believe for a second that we will have a gambling venue in downtown, but, it would be a challenge worth overcoming.

Bruchey let me ask, since I don't know much about how the City business is.

1. How would it benfit Hagerstown?
2. Will the City of Hagerstown, get some of the money?
3. If so, what would the money be used for?
4. Would it raise are city taxes up?

From reading your post, You seem more for it, then against it.

The first problem I see with a downtown casino is parking.

Sorry Udmas parking isn't the first problem. you forget the biggest problem...Penny Nigh!!! Especially if it makes sense you know she would be against it. Her and Alesia would probably try to make an ordinance that says only a 100 people a day could gamble in there and alcohol could not be served.

Tony

Yep, I didn't think about that, but I'm getting used to the 4-1 and 3-2 votes now.

I'm neither for nor against it Lib. I am a firm believer that you must explore every possibility and make a decision based on the merits, not rhetoric.
I don't know if it would be a benefit or a detrement to Hagerstown, again I don't have all the info to make an educated decision.
I would certainly believe that the City would reap the benefits of an increased tax base on the improved property plus utilizing vacant buildings that are in deplorable shape as we speak.
The money would be used to cover cost for services first, police, fire and so on. Any left over could be allocated to a special fund to fund events, programs, advertising and so on.
I don't see how it would have a negative impact on our current taxes. But again, I wouldn't make a decision based on speculation.

I just don't want to see a stop sign, a yield, yes. I believe if it were to ever occur we would have to move forward carefully and base a decision on the correct facts and figures.

You don't poo poo an idea before it ever has a chance to become an idea. I wouldn't even call this discussion an idea. As far as I know, no one is talking either privately or governmentally about this issue here in Hagerstown. Heck, we have a hard enough time making a decision on whether or not to pass a Pooper Scooper ordinance.

JUST ANOTHER CATEGORY OF ABUSERS TO ADD--dopers,boozers, wife beaters, tax cheats, politicians and others undesirables we support with our tax dollars

Thank You for taking the time out to address my questions.

My main concern really is if our taxes will go up. I have to watch my penny's.
I'm always thinking way ahead, what can I say. Just if it happens, make sure it on the outside of town.

You seem to have a good head on your shoulder for being the Mayor.
I'm sure you always look at the bigger picture. As least I hope you do.

The Mayor has to watch his Pennys also.

Yes he sure does. Never know when penny is rolling his way. lurking around a corner.

" see a penny, pick it up, then all day long you'll have.... no, wait... um... see a penny, cross the street, she's not someone you'd want to meet. "

Ummm, Looky, as the mayor said, those abusers are already there. The only difference would be that they would not have to travel to support their habit. That and some of the money they spend could be directed into programs to help those who indeed want it without spending general revenue funds for once.

I truely believe that it is not a question of if slots will be in Md but when and how.

I have heard that some counties what to opt out and not allow slots. That is fine but then the money generated from slots should only go to those counties that opt in and maybe just for schools.

This may be a stupid question by why not have the STATE own and run the casinos. Build them on currently owned state land or purchase the land and keep the entire operation out of private hands. There are a lot of things only the State does now this would be just another. They could hire our injured servicemen coming back from the middle east.

Just think of how much money it would generate if ALL the slot money was the state's not just a portion of it. Of course there would be food and drink money coming in also. Even if it were 100% less efficient than a privetly run operation it would generate a lot of cash.

The State has enough trouble running the enterprises it has now. Put slots entirely in the State's hands and I'd be willing to bet (pun intended) that in the first year it would be millions of dollars in the red.

Yeah, and we could hire Marvin Mandel to run it.