CUMBERLAND - The president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday "if the slots referendum doesn't pass, all hell's going to break loose."

Ditto, Kathy Snyder said, if it does pass. A simple majority of voters in November will choose whether to approve or reject a referendum authorizing a constitutional amendment to allow state-regulated slot machines at five locations across the state.

One of the planned locations is Rocky Gap State Park - the center of concern for the audience Snyder spoke before during the initial legislative committee meeting of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce.

The Maryland chamber is a charter member of For Maryland For Our Future, a pro-slots campaign agency endorsed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. The Allegany County chamber has not yet taken a position on the slots issue. Snyder was hoping that could soon change.

If the referendum passes, it could "provide a vent for pent-up needs" across the state, paid for by revenue generated from gaming. If not, Snyder said, "that puts pressure ... (on lawmakers who) have a long-term hole they're going to have to fill" in the state budget.

A Washington Post report last week quoted Warren Descheneaux, a budget analyst for the General Assembly, as projecting a shortfall of up to $200 million by the end of the current budget year, which ends June 30, 2009.

That figure, Snyder said, is "likely to get larger" the longer the current economic downturn lasts.

"It's not good," she said, and could force lawmakers to suggest "Draconian cuts" to programs across the state.

The deficit could be countered by the projected $600 million to $700 million expected - or hoped for - by slots advocates. About half that money is earmarked for education. Committee member Bill Valentine asked Snyder about the accuracy of those projections. Snyder said a "realistic number" to start with is likely $400 million to $500 million.

Allegany County would receive 5.5 percent of the gross revenue from the 1,500 machines at Rocky Gap in a new $75 million slots parlor. Currently, the money is required to be spent in the proximity of the slots parlor. The county would not receive property taxes because the property is on state land.

Snyder said early polls of likely voters across the state uniformly show between a 60 percent and 63 percent support of slots. That percentage holds true, she said, between Democrats and Republicans, whites and African-Americans.

"It means people have made up their minds," Snyder said. To be opposed to slots on moral, ethical or environmental grounds or for slots for financial gains and economic development possibilities, "for many people, this is a no-brainer."

If the slots initiative fails, lawmakers will look toward the business community to pick up the slack, Snyder warned. She said legislators know it would be "political suicide" to seek more money from the general public.

The issue already has garnered the support of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce and others across the state. Only the local agencies in Ocean City and Ann-apolis/Anne Arundel County have come out against slots.

The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce hasn't taken a position on the November referendum, said president Barb Buehl. Snyder asked the chamber to either endorse the slots effort or, if not, then "hopefully you won't go the other way to oppose" the initiative.

The matter will be voted on by the chamber's full board in a future meeting.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.