Md. slots unlikely to hit budget figures

Gee, Tom, do you have any idea why Delaware's deputy finance secretary might say discouraging words about Maryland's slots plan ten days before voters go to the polls to approve it? What's next, a story about the folks at Pepsi saying Coke's latest marketing plan is unsound? Steve Lebowitz Annapolis

Tom, it seems you have a groupie. Does justafacts (bad name for some goof who can't tell fact from fiction)comment on every article you write? He reminds me of someone my parents talked about. A guy who was always in front of the sun in Baltimore with a sign that said "sun lies". I don't know what his story was either, but you got one, hon.

I just re-read your piece and it seems Mr Cook is offering a more encouraging outlook than say our own state Comptroller. O'Malley and the GA would be smart to pay attention.

We are watching the slots debate from here in utter anguish for you all...here is my message...please read it? "Look at Australia, Canada and NZ...all are now trying to BAN slots..when we realised how much we had been mislead and conned. DO not believe the figures...you only get told the 'good bits'! The 'only 2%' of problem gamblers means 'pathalogical' gamblers. You are being given the wrong figures! to persuade you unfairly. Your government must ask more questions! The REAL damage to families, retailers and kids in school comes from the 'recreational but OVER-SPENDING' gamblers...and they are left unmentioned! THAT group is not ever QUOTED! They over-spend and harm others around them. Your shops will fail including restaurants, hairdressers, shoe shops...ALL of which would employ more people than casinos! Just 1 extra person is employed in a casino for every new $1 million turnover....that is a huge loss to your communities for very little gain! Your taxes will not rise for LACK of slots...that is a furphy! They will rise BECAUSE of them in the end! Costs outweigh advantages! Harms are HUGE from indirect costs and your kids will have increased school-room trouble from upset, anxious, over-tired children of over-spending gambling parents! Your teachers will have increased problems with class disruptions and bullying. You WILL have increased crime and theft and the only winner in the end will be the gambling industry...NOT the taxpayers! The modern gambling machines are downright dangerous...like cars with no brakes they are so addictive....and you will never hear of the suicides who weekly are dragged out of casino toilets. The embarrassed government will hide the true theft rate by settling out of court...when government employees steal YOUR money! PLEASE do not think for one minute that slots being legalised will bring more money to Maryland. After experiencing slots...around 85% of our citizens surveyed by local governments said NO they wanted slots BANNED! Why would we say that? If slots had lived up to the promises we were given?? PLEASE say NO?? PLEASE do not make the "Australian Mistake"? PLEASE do not think that slots will solve your troubles?" (www.dutyofcare.org.au)