County councilman opposes installing local slots

Although a bill to allow slot machines in this state passed in 2008, students hoping for these gambling devices to crop up minutes from the campus may have to travel outside the county to bet their money due to a county councilman's opposition.

While slot supporters have said the machines' revenue would help fuel economic growth in the state, Prince George's County Councilman Eric Olson (D-College Park) introduced a bill last month to prohibit them in this county. The council will hold a meeting today to discuss the issue.

Because the nature of gambling encourages people to lose their money, Olson said, slot machine revenue would not provide a sufficient remedy to the county's economic woes.

Instead, the county should look toward sustainable development practices to spur economic growth and partnerships with this university to create much-needed jobs in the fields of engineering and biotechnology, Olson said.

"I have concerns about the social ills associated with slots," Olson said. He added that the economic downturn hit county residents hard and now is not the time to bring machines that enable residents to bet their mone to the area.

While the 2008 statewide referendum authorized five locations to install slot machines, the county — and consequentially College Park —was not one of them. But Olson said he wanted to make certain they wouldn't be in the county he represents.

In January 2009, Olson introduced a bill that would prohibit slot machines in the county, but the bill did not make it out of committee. With new faces on the council this year and the arrival of County Executive Rushern Baker (D), Olson reintroduced the bill with fellow council members Will Campos (D-Hyattsville) and Andrea Harrison (D-Springdale) to squash speculation the county would ever create slot machine venues.

"There's three of us on the bill," Olson said. "There's definitely support from the council."

College Park Mayor Andy Fellows, who agrees with the proposal, said it is unlikely the city council would approve of such machines within city limits, calling them the "last thing College Park needs."

"I believe the council would be wholeheartedly opposed to it," Fellows said. "I think the idea that gambling for spurring economic growth is a regressive idea."

However, state Senate President Mike Miller (D-Calvert and Prince George's) is opposing the measure, and said county officials should be putting the state's needs over their own jurisdictions' interests.

The state is also losing potential revenue opportunities to states, such as Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with better gaming venues, Miller said. The additional revenue could be used to lower taxes and help create an economic boom, he added.

"The state has a preeminent role in regards to issues involving gambling," he said. "I think that Councilman Olson would be wiser if he focused on areas in College Park."

Bringing slot machines would benefit the state's unemployment numbers, according to Miller.

"It's a win-win for everyone," he said. "It means jobs, jobs and more jobs." Miller added that slot machines in the county would create about 1,000 retail clerk jobs.

Several students said they'd support the gambling devices in the county and in the city.

"Slot machines are pretty much, in essence, the same thing as the lottery," said sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Kim Closs. "I think it should be legal. ... If you want to go risk your money, then go for it."

bach@umdbk.com