A spin of the wheel

Our view: Tuesday's passage of the slots referendum marks the beginning of a process; whether voters get what they wanted depends on the critical choices that lie ahead This week's approval of the slots referendum by such an overwhelming margin might seem at odds with the years of long and heated deliberations in Annapolis that preceded it. A majority of voters in every county, including those with a history of opposing gambling, cast ballots in support. This outcome is not merely a product of an ailing economy and heightened concern over education funding or higher taxes (although both played a role). It also reflects voters' perceptions that this particular plan was reasonable and limited. By writing slots into the state constitution, lawmakers placed a significant cap on any expansion of gambling. There can be no more than... [read full story]