The Board of Public Works had a busy morning. The panel postponed voting on a slots contract with GTECH Corp. and then approved a 50-year lease of Baltimore's port terminal to Ports America. Comptroller Peter Franchot raised questions about the wisdom of the ports deal and about the legality of approving the slots contract before its funding source -- slots machines -- are operational. We had a stories today on the history of corruption allegations against GTECH, and on a possible investor in a proposed Baltimore slots casino. The casino project will be discussed Thursday at a state slots commission meeting.

Oft-investigated GTECH may get Md. slots computer work
Subsidiary of Italian firm could run central operations

Maryland officials are poised to approve a $21.5 million contract to set up the central operating system for the state's slot machine program to a company that has been accused of questionable practices in other states and countries and at one time was connected to a scandal here.

The Board of Public Works, a three-member panel that includes Gov. Martin O'Malley, plans to consider the contract with GTECH Corp. today. The five-year agreement, which could be extended another five years for $17.4 million, is considered vital to launching the slots program.

The company or its employees have faced allegations of bribery and taking kickbacks in cases that date to the 1990s. A background investigation conducted by Maryland lottery staff revealed that "some of GTECH's past actions remain under scrutiny, but it appears that no conclusions have been reached as to any alleged wrongdoing."