马里兰议院上周在博彩扩张方面行使权力通过了州博彩扩张的议案，今天，议员们开始热火朝天的讨论议案的立法。

　　在美国，亲博彩和反博彩两派的立法者之间的分歧一直在不断加深，反博彩一派的立法者一直坚持博彩是对社会有害的传统论调，而在过去十年中，亲博彩派立法者已经使很多他们的同龄人相信博彩业对增加财政收入和解决就业问题是很重要的。

　　周一，马里兰议院通过的议案将给乔治王子县带来一间新赌场，同时也将给全马里兰州的赌场打开了通向赌台博彩的大门，如果今年晚些时候议案在议院通过并经过选民批准实施，马里兰还会增加大量的老虎机。

　　议院正在讨论的问题包括博彩扩张后的税收结构如何调整，如果这个范围很大的扩张计划被批准实施的话，现行税率可能要进行调整。近几年的民意调查显示，人们赞成把马里兰建成全国顶尖的博彩胜地之一。

　　如同在宾夕法尼亚的情况一样，一旦大家认识到新赌场能够被批准，就会希望有更多的赌场出现。赌台能够带来亿万美元的税收和数以千计的就业机会，而能创造更多的就业机会对在即将到来的选举中想保住自己职位的立法者来说是非常有吸引力的。

　　反博彩的立法者对以增加财政收入为理由通过博彩扩张保留自己的意见，这些立法者相信更大程度的博彩扩张所创造的收入和提供的就业机会是不能抵偿其导致的社会问题的。

　　马里兰是解决问题赌博的一个倡导者，他们把博彩收入的一部分储备用于全州问题赌博的预防和治疗方面。

　　译文：

　　Maryland House Continues Work On Altering State Gambling Plan

　　The Maryland Senate did their job when it comes to major gambling expansion in the state when they passed a major gaming expansion bill last week. Today, it was the House's turn to argue over the legislation, and tempers were flaring during the heated discussion.

　　The divide between pro and anti-gambling lawmakers has always been wide in the US. Anti-gambling legislators have been holding to traditional values that claim all forms of gambling are harmful to society. Over the past decade, pro-gaming lawmakers have convinced many of their peers that gambling could also be a major source of revenue and job production.

　　On Monday, the Maryland House took up legislation that would bring a new casino to Prince George, and would also open the door for table games at all Maryland casinos. The amount of slot machines would also grown by the thousands if the bill passes the House and voters approve the measure later this year.

　　Some of the issues being discussed in the House had to deal with how to handle the tax structure for the additional gambling. The current tax rate would likely change if such a broad expansion plan is approved. Maryland voters have shown in recent years that they are in favor of making Maryland one of the top gaming destinations in the country.

　　As was the case with Pennsylvania, once residents got a taste of what the new casinos could offer, they naturally wanted more. Table games would bring over $100 million annually to the Maryland budget, and would create thousands of jobs. The job creation is what is most appealing to the legislators that are trying to save their own jobs in the upcoming election.

　　Anti-gambling lawmakers have clung to the idea that the original intent of the casinos that have been authorized was to supplement the state budget. These lawmakers believe that further expansion would create more social problems than the revenue or the jobs would be worth.

　　Maryland is one of the leaders in dealing with problem gambling. The state puts aside a portion of all revenue, and is aggressive in ensuring that all residents have treatment and prevention options.