Testimonials

The Southern Maryland Experience

If the Southern Maryland experience in legalized gambling is seriously reviewed as an example, I don't think any state would go into the gambling business. While the Southern Maryland experience in gambling was different in time and scale, the experience offers insight into issues that come from mixing gambling, government, and the economy. Living through that experience, I don't know why we, as a state, would ever want to repeat that mistake.

Put simply, when gambling interests are given legitimacy, greed becomes aggressive. Even worse, community obligation is then only recognized if the gambling industry can dress it up to get what they want. Ultimately, it is predictable as time goes on gambling will spread once legalization begins in the state.

J Frank Raley
St. Mary's County
Former State Senator