State looking to buy more slot machines
It’s not on this week’s Board of Public Works agenda – but a spokeswoman from the Maryland Lottery Agency says state gambling officials plan to ask for a second batch of slot machines for Penn National’s Hollywood Casino Perryville when the board meets on Wednesday.
Documents obtained by The Sun show that the agency wants to buy 438 machines from a single vendor: Spielo Manufacturing. The price is set at $15.8 million. If passed, the cost of outfitting the Cecil County parlor with 1,500 slots will be $65.2 million.
The Lottery Agency is sensitive to criticism that it is paying too much for the VLT machines and made a point of showing that roughly one third of the cost of the contract is for maintenance fees over five year years. They calculate the average price of each machine is $23,652. Once the maintenance costs are added, the bill to the state will be $36,227 per machine.
The Board earlier this month approved a $49.4 million contract for 1,062 machines to fill the Cecil County parlor. The award included five different venders -- including 290 machines manufactured by Spielo.
The documents also show that the Lottery Agency will meet the 25 percent minority business requirement for the second Cecil contract. The previous contract included 20 percent minority participation, falling short of the 25 percent goal.
The Hollywood Casino is located off I-95 in Cecil County and is set to open in late September.
Comments
Erhlich's lobbying for Cordish slots-at-the-mall is to blame for the slots debacle.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 21, 2010 8:12 PM
The slots debacle is clearly due to the actions of O'Malley, our senate and legislature. Since no one in the legislature or senate wanted to go on record either for or against slots, we had this silly constitutional ammendment. Now we are locked in by our antiquated state constitution to however and wherever slots are used. Now the state is going to pay for the machines! That is incredible. And it was not on the Board of Public Works agenda, which meant no one was able to review the voted upon contract for the purchase of slot machines at an exorbitant cost. This is O'Malley at his best.
Posted by: samdutton | June 22, 2010 8:09 AM
I would love to know what kind of expensive scam is being used to get the 25% participation. Think about the transaction. The State buys slot machines direct from a manufacturer who is not a MBE and somehow gets 25%. What a joke. The Sun needs to follow the money on this one.
Posted by: Mark | June 22, 2010 8:51 AM
Dear Maryland Slot Opponents and Proponents,
The State of Maryland, the Gaming Commission and the Board of Public Works are so politically entwined even the strongest supporters of the Gov. can see the mess that has been created.
Of course if you yellow dog democrats choose to open your eyes.
The gaming industry knows how to regulate itself – the guidelines proposed are from Atlantic City rules and regulations developed may years ago.
I am employed by the gaming industry and I can guarantee these political appointees know NOTHING about the gaming industry.
In the gaming industry the Governor, the State of Maryland, the Gaming Commission and the Board of Public Works are looked upon as the biggest joke in a state trying to regulate the gaming in Maryland.
Their high rate – their incompetence with the Anne Arundel County mess, the Baltimore City mess.
OK Anonymous let’s take a look at your statement:
“Erhlich's lobbying for Cordish slots-at-the-mall is to blame for the slots debacle.” Of course, like all cowards you prefer to be anonymous. You know nothing about the gaming industry and know even less about the mess your Democratic nut balls in Annapolis have created. Cowards all - Referendum my Aunt Fanny.
This is why there must be a PEACEFUL and CONSTITUTIONAL overthrow of this and any other government that uses their office to feather their own agenda.
Democrats of Maryland you outnumber the republicans 2-1. Don’t jump off the cliff with the other Lemmings – get some people in the legislature who will do good things for the people and not for themselves.
Think about it Citizens
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | June 22, 2010 9:08 AM
Spielo Manufacturing IS GTECH. Remember GTECH? Sheila Dixon and her sister? Court cases where GTECH was the defendant?
They are STILL getting state funds thanks to the corrupt GA!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 22, 2010 11:12 AM
Why is the state even paying for the machines in the first place. Let Penn National choose a vendor and pay for the machines. This sounds like an inside job on the part of the gov or legislature.
Posted by: S. Huttle. | June 22, 2010 3:46 PM