For months now Anne Arundel Countin in Maryland has struggled with the issue of slots. Slots are highly popular in the world today and since the late 1800s the game has brought in millions of players. It began as an unassuming game that drew consistent numbers and has elevated to the point where it provides over 60% of land-based casinos’ revenues. A new study proved how lucrative the games are and for that reason, casinos everywhere are focused on maintaining a heftier number of games to bring in as much revenue as possible.

Now, states are jumping on the bandwagon. State legislators have seen how profitable the games are and are now trying to bring them into their legislature to increase revenues. The recession was very hard on the US and most states were left with huge deficits, huge expense and no way to overcome them. The states are hard-pressed to find more ways of generating revenue and slots is a viable option.  The issue comes in however with trying to get the approval for the machines. The side are staunchly drawn– on one side some legislators are trying to legalize slots to bring in millions of tax-revenue dollars, and on the other side legislators are worried that bringing in slots creates additional problems. Opponents believe that slots and gambling in general, will inevitably bring a rise in corruption, money laundering, addictions and crime. Without the added police and watchdog force to manage it, it could mean sheer disaster for communites throughout the US.

The fight has been going on now for months and Maryland is one state that has joined in on the debates. The state’s Anne Arundel County has more issues now with gambling and legalizing slot machines. A coalition against slot machine gambling near a popular shopping mall has submitted thousands of additional signatures to force a vote on the proposal. The coalition, which includes community groups and the Maryland Jockey Club, says it delivered 16,702 signatures to the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections on Friday. Opponents need 18,790 signatures to put a zoning measure needed for the project near Arundel Mills Mall on the November ballot. The elections board already has verified 13,136 signatures. Cordish Company, the builder of the casino, filed a lawsuit last month against the board of elections claiming that it is overlooking fraud in the petition drive. In the next few months the issue will play out but only time will tell if Anne Arundel county finally brings in slot machines.