Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are Maryland racing's problems unique to our state?

A. No. The rapid expansion of legalized gambling throughout the country has placed the industry under competitive duress in many states. In fact, slots at tracks in Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, Rhode Island and West Virginia were authorized because states recognized this as a competitive economic issue.

Q. What makes a private industry such as horse racing unique?

A. Horse racing is the only regulated industry in the state that competes with the state. Maryland regulates banking, insurance, and public utilities, but does not offer those services. By contrast, the Maryland lottery, a state agency, is the state's largest seller of gaming, with more than 700 retail outlets scattered statewide. Thus, we have the oddity of a regulator competing with an industry it regulates. This creates particular competitive problems for the racing industry, which has a large infrastructure to support and a substantial agri-business component with more than 600 farms and 200,000 acres of farmland. State gaming policy, including that of surrounding states, has direct consequences for horse racing. Additionally, Maryland has constructed two major stadiums and an arena and materially assisted with another stadium project over the past decade. Slots at the state's racetracks will allow the tracks to build new facilities and offer world-class purses, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for state and local government use without requiring tax increases or government assistance to the racing industry.