Under the referendum, a total of 15,000 slot machines would be authorized at five locations across the state, one of which centers on Ocean Downs. As a concession to competitive business concerns here, the General Assembly inserted provisions in the legislation that prohibit a slots operation at Ocean Downs from offering live entertainment other than a piano player, or free food sometimes used at casinos to entice gamblers.
Also under the legislation, if slots come to Ocean Downs, no one with a financial stake in the track may develop a hotel, amusement park or conference center - even a miniature golf course - within 10 miles of the facility.
Montgomery County developer William Rickman, who owns the harness track as well as a track-and-slots operation in nearby Delaware, did not return calls for comment but has previously lobbied for slots at Ocean Downs.
Last year at this time, anti-slots forces in Ocean City were focused on lobbying politicians, and they galvanized many small businesses to post placards in shop windows. Now that the issue is in voters' hands after years of debate in Annapolis, the local Chamber of Commerce is appealing directly to tourists.
"It's about getting the message to the thousands of visitors that come to Ocean City," said Melanie A. Pursel, executive director of the local chamber, which has split with the pro-slots statewide business organization.
"This is a vibrant, family-oriented community, and we just feel [slots] would do nothing but bring negativity here ... destroy small businesses, bring additional crime and the need for additional social services to deal with addiction."
Pursel's organization is working with Marylanders United to Stop Slots, a ballot committee, to deliver the no-slots message through advertisements in local media. On Thursday, the group held a news conference at the southern end of the boardwalk, and Comptroller Peter Franchot, a leading anti-slots voice, railed against the gambling proposal as a government-backed scheme to "defraud" citizens of their disposable income.
But the event attracted little local media attention and even less interest from the throngs of vacationers promenading under a baking sun. When asked, few tourists voiced strong feelings on the slots question. They were on holiday, after all.
