The Baltimore County Executive's Regional Advisory Board for Business and Education voted to support November's slots referendum on Friday. The EAB -- a forum to the regional economy -- is made up of representatives from business, government and education.

"I have been working hard to ensure the passage of the slots referendum this November," said county executive Jim Smith (D-Baltimore County) in a statement. "I am very pleased that this group-who represents a broad cross-section of employers, and the educators who work directly with students-are taking such a strong position on this issue. The $600 million that will be dedicated to the Education Trust Fund if slots pass, will be impossible to replace."

Pro-slots organization For Maryland For Our Future received an endorsement from the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance on Friday.

Voters will decide on November's ballot if the state constitution should be amended to allow no more than 15,000 slot machine installations at five different locations across the state.

The slots referendum has become one of the most heated issues in the state. Proponents argue the slots will provide necessary funding for the state's education infrastructure and will help close the budget deficit. Opponents believe the revenue projections are overly optimistic, the ballot's language is misleading and the problems associated with gambling far outweigh the benefits.

New polling suggests increased support for slots amid more and more budget cuts and growing financial uncertainties.

According to the poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports: Fifty-four percent of respondents said they were for passing the referendum, 35 percent were against it and 11 percent weren't sure.