With the withering economy, no state wants to loose revenue, no matter where the source. However, just yesterday, Delaware raised the gambling stakes when legalized sports betting and table games were approved at it’s casino’s. Maryland leaders are fearful that Delaware’s new abilities are going to jeopardize the revenues from the planned slot parlors.

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller stated, “Delaware and West Virginia were not even considered horse-racing states and now they are ahead of us (Maryland) because of the funds available for purses. Two of the four planned parlors are less than 20 miles from the Delaware state line, and a bigger and better casino is going to bleed revenue from our state.”

Slots are considered the money making area of most gambling establishments, but table games do draw high rollers. More high rollers, means more money being spent at surrounding businesses, such as restaurants, spas, and other vendors.

Joe Weinberg, president of The Cordish Co., who is planning to build in one of the five locations that were approved last fall. “The competition is only going to increase.” He said. With licences possibly being awarded this fall, the first parlors could be open as soon as 2011.

The scary thing is Maryland is not even in the game yet. Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf, a Democrat who wrote the gambling expansion bill, said “lawmakers want Delaware’s table games up and running as quickly as possible, perhaps by early 2010.”

Ultimately, Delaware’s fast moving gambling efforts were a consequence of Maryland’s approval for slots. This new law makes will add Delaware to a small list of states that allow sport betting. With Delaware’s edge, it may force voter’s in Maryland to consider table games.

Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course, one of the tracks that stands to benefit from the slots, will be holding the Preakness coming up this weekend. George O’Malley, a Maryland voter and frequent visitor to the track is in support of slots, and said, Suppose some would call this “A race of the states.”