Table Games Bill Won’t Help Education Funds

While a ballot initiative expanding gambling in the state has been heralded as a measure that would generate more money for education, officials said added casino revenue will not boost its funds.Under state law, about 50 percent of slot-machine revenue is earmarked for the Education Trust Fund — an account dedicated primarily to public schools, but also university capital projects. The new law would allow for a sixth casino to open in Prince George’s County and would permit expanded gaming options beyond just slot machines to Las Vegas-style table games. It will go before voters in the November election as question seven on the ballot.The money earmarked for education, however, wouldn’t actually bring in more money for state schools, but would instead offset money in the general fund so it can be spent on other state projects. The state spent about $6 billion on education funding this legislative session, and that amount wouldn’t change despite the nearly $200 million slot machines have generated since the first casino opened in 2010. The money is “largely a drop in the bucket,”said Sean Johnson, the Maryland State Education Association’s political and legislative affairs managing director, because that $200 million in the general fund would be used for something other than education.  More