Card games, table games and VLTs
A local bill backed by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to provide a financial stimulus to Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George’s County opened the door this morning to a long and loud debate about the state’s fledging gaming program.
The bill permits card games at Rosecroft – this means poker, blackjack – but not slots or table games like roulette. The struggling racetrack is on the verge of collapse, according to owners who testified at a Senate hearing last week.
One owner teared up describing the potential loss of 600 jobs. But permitting such gaming at Rosecroft would require a constitutional amendment and a statewide referendum. While the voters at it, why not expand gaming across the state? That was the question Minority Leader Allan Kittleman asked on the floor, offering an amendment that would allow the state slots commission to award six “table game” licenses anywhere in Maryland.
The licenses would be distributed by the slots commission either in the locations already approved for slots … or anywhere else the commission determines they should go. BWI Airport, for example, one place some have discussed.
Some Senators objected saying Kittleman’s idea has not had a hearing and is too vague. But they also sounded frustrated that surrounding states are enhancing their own gaming programs while Maryland is being left behind.
“All of the state around us are better situated,” said Sen. Delores G. Kelly, a Baltimore County Democrat. She also cited cost: “Why do all of us have to pay for a referendum that only deals with one jurisdiction?”
Den. George Della, from Baltimore also wants to expand gaming options. “This would be a great way to help ourselves,” he said, supporting Kittleman’s idea. Della was once opposed to gaming, but now that it has passed he wants the types of gambling expanded. “This would take us to the next level,” he said.
Senators didn’t vote on the amendments this morning. They plan to continue the debate Friday. No matter what they do, the idea of expanding gaming will likely come before the body again this session. Sen. Catherine Pugh, a Baltimore Democrat, said she’s confident the Senate Budget and Tax Committee will approve her bill that allows table games.
The bill permits card games at Rosecroft – this means poker, blackjack – but not slots or table games like roulette. The struggling racetrack is on the verge of collapse, according to owners who testified at a Senate hearing last week.
One owner teared up describing the potential loss of 600 jobs. But permitting such gaming at Rosecroft would require a constitutional amendment and a statewide referendum. While the voters at it, why not expand gaming across the state? That was the question Minority Leader Allan Kittleman asked on the floor, offering an amendment that would allow the state slots commission to award six “table game” licenses anywhere in Maryland.
The licenses would be distributed by the slots commission either in the locations already approved for slots … or anywhere else the commission determines they should go. BWI Airport, for example, one place some have discussed.
Some Senators objected saying Kittleman’s idea has not had a hearing and is too vague. But they also sounded frustrated that surrounding states are enhancing their own gaming programs while Maryland is being left behind.
“All of the state around us are better situated,” said Sen. Delores G. Kelly, a Baltimore County Democrat. She also cited cost: “Why do all of us have to pay for a referendum that only deals with one jurisdiction?”
Den. George Della, from Baltimore also wants to expand gaming options. “This would be a great way to help ourselves,” he said, supporting Kittleman’s idea. Della was once opposed to gaming, but now that it has passed he wants the types of gambling expanded. “This would take us to the next level,” he said.
Senators didn’t vote on the amendments this morning. They plan to continue the debate Friday. No matter what they do, the idea of expanding gaming will likely come before the body again this session. Sen. Catherine Pugh, a Baltimore Democrat, said she’s confident the Senate Budget and Tax Committee will approve her bill that allows table games.
Comments
Slots and gambling has to be the longest running number one joke in Annapolis.
It is a shame that the Democrats could not bury their egos, act like statesmen and actually pass slots during the first Ehrllich regime. Let alone vote on the issue themselves instead of giving us a we have no courage please decide for us people of Maryland aka statewide referendum. A big hand please to our clueless leaders Moe OMalley , Curly Miller and Larry Busch.
Posted by: jay | March 18, 2010 4:50 PM
Please note that the debate has gone directly to a discussion of HOW MANY locations to add, and has completely ignored the question about WHETHER TO ADD ANY locations at all. The voters were told "limited slots at the racetracks" and that gambling would not expand. What the heck happened? Is this what we signed up for?
Posted by: Aaron Meisner | March 19, 2010 9:51 AM
well it took 15 years to get the lottery and the voters had to do it it took 15 years to get slots and the voters had to do it but we still do not have any runing our state repersenatives do not have the guts to do the job they are elected to do but they have the guts to pass bills with out funding and to deregulate industries that afect the tax payers after the fact they need to step up and do the job
Posted by: pete chenoweth | March 23, 2010 2:04 PM