An item on The Washington Post website states that Ron George, a republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates, has prepared a bill which would ban slot machines from being within 1,000 feet of a shopping centre, church, community centre, playground or school.

Slots already placed at racetracks are an exception in the bill, according to the report.

George was quoted in The Washington Post item as saying "my constituents overwhelmingly prefer [slots] at a racetrack rather than a shopping centre, mall or in the middle of a community that is not currently near a gambling location."

Click here to the read the The Washington Post article in its entirety.

(With files from The Washington Post)