Legalizing Full Table Games in Maryland – Impact on Local Economy

Several Maryland Lawmakers are attempting to legalize full table games at Maryland slot machine parlors. There are two bills that would have to be passed in order for the legalization of table games.

The first bill would lead to a 2012 vote on the issue. The second bill would decide the rules to which the casinos would have to follow.

If the Maryland Lawmakers succeed in legalizing full table games then several issues would impact the local economy:

• Reduced debt
• Alternative to taxing
• Increase of jobs
• More local traffic
• Increased Competition against other states
• Improved police and fire departments
• Road and sewer maintenance
• More community projects
• Increase of bankruptcy

Maryland currently has a $1.6 billion dollar deficit. The increased money spent on gambling would increase Maryland’s gaming tax. Therefore, Maryland would have more money to help reduce its deficit.

Maryland would also benefit from legalizing table games because it’s a good alternative to taxing the people, thus helping the economy. The less the economy is taxed, the more people will be spending and stimulating the economy.

More jobs will be created as a result of legalizing table games. When Pennsylvania first legalized table games in casinos, more then 4,460 jobs were created. The more jobs are created in the area the more the unemployment rate is decreased. Also, as more jobs are created, more people have money to spend, thus boosting the economy.

Also, local businesses will be impacted for the better. As more people are attracted to Maryland’s slot machine parlors, more traffic will be created in the area. Thus, local business will potentially generate more business from the influx of people.

Maryland would also increase its level of competition in gambling among other states. The more people attracted to Maryland to gamble, the more money Maryland will make.

Police and Fire departments would be impacted as well. As Maryland receives more in gamer tax, it would have more money to improve the police and fire departments. After Pennsylvania legalized table games, the police and fire departments benefitted from increased work forces and better equipment.

Also, Maryland would have more money to spend on repairing roads and maintaining sewer systems. This would provide more business and help these industries grow.

As more money is gained through gamers’ tax, community projects would see benefits. More play grounds for example could be built or improved.

As well as positive, there are also negative impacts on the economy resulting from legalizing table games. As more people spend money on gambling, the economy could be subject to less money being spent in other industries. This is because bankruptcy could see an influx. If some go bankrupt as a result of gambling, there will be less money being spent in the economy.

Although there seem to be many positive impacts on the economy, Governor Martin O’Malley said that he will not investigate the legalization of table games unless slots are fully rolled out. This could hurt the chances of full table game’s legalization in Maryland.