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Although state voters approved the slots referendum Nov. 4 with a nearly 60 percent majority, Laurel city officials aren't expecting the revenues to stream in anytime soon.

Five locations in Maryland — Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties and Baltimore city — will be able to house 15,000 slot machines.

Pending the slots operator's license approval, Laurel will receive 12 percent of the impact grants from whoever wins the bid for slots at Laurel Park. Impact grants are state-mandated funds provided for institutions to help offset the negative effects the park will have on the surrounding communities and counties, particularly an increase in traffic and demand for emergency personnel.

Laurel City Council President Gayle Snyder (Ward 1) said the council is unaware of the amount of the grant but probably won't be thinking about the money anytime soon.

"It's so far away, so we don't plan on anything," Snyder said.

Laurel Mayor Craig Moe also wasn't anticipating spending the money anytime soon.

"We'll see once it gets through the local process," he said. "It still has got a ways to go."

The slots bill requires Governor Martin O'Malley (D) to appoint four additional members to the current five on the State Lottery Commission. The commission will own or lease each of the slots locations and vet the applications recommended by the Video Lottery Terminal Facility Location Commission.

The seven-member commission will be responsible for accepting and recommending proposals from bidding slots operators. O'Malley will appoint three members, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis will each appoint two.

Bids must be accepted by Feb. 1 and include a $3 million license fee for each 500 machines. Only one operator can own one slot license.

The existence of slots in Anne Arundel County still hinges on the Anne Arundel County Council, as the county does not allow slots in its zoning laws. In order to change the county zoning laws, a majority of the seven-member council would need to vote in favor of it. In Anne Arundel County, 59 percent voted in favor of slots.

Slots opponent and County Councilman James Benoit (District 4) of Odenton, whose district includes Laurel Park, said he doesn't expect anything to happen for at least a month as the issue is not on the next two council agendas.

"The proponents of gambling are going to have to get together and sponsor a bill," he said.

Benoit is certain there will be a debate over the zoning.

"The opinions on the issue vary widely," he said. "I anticipate there being a vigorous debate."

But some residents are still happy to see the slots pass.

Ray Smallwood, president of the Maryland City Civic Association, is glad to see the slots come. "They will help the economy, help the track and clean up the area," he said. "It will be a plus for us."

He said the slots will result in more police, better roads and better traffic coordination to cope with people coming to play.

"There was a huge sigh of relief when Question 2 passed," said Mike Gathagan, Maryland Jockey Club vice president of communications. "There's renewed hope we will be able to compete with West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware."

The MJC, which owns Laurel Park, plans to apply for a license for the 4,750 video slot machines at the park.