Klausmeier to push table games
Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, a Democrat from Baltimore County, introduced a bill this morning to legalize table games like poker, blackjack and roulette at the state's casinos.
The measure would help Maryland catch up with surrounding states which allow such games, she said. Maryland casinos only contain video lottery machines. "We need everyone to come to our facilities," she said. "The young, the old and the in between."
Klausmeier said the legislative push is in its "infant steps." If the bill passed, the idea would have to be approved by voters on the 2012 ballot before games were permitted.
Last year Sen. Catherine Pugh, a Democrat from Baltimore City, introduced a similar measure to allow table games. It was killed in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Two of the five casinos Maryland voters approved in 2008 are up and running. The Hollywood Casino Perryville earned a banner amount when it opened in September, but since then has had lackluster returns. A second casino near Ocean City opened this month.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he wants to see Maryland's casinos operating before fiddling with the rules.
The measure would help Maryland catch up with surrounding states which allow such games, she said. Maryland casinos only contain video lottery machines. "We need everyone to come to our facilities," she said. "The young, the old and the in between."
Klausmeier said the legislative push is in its "infant steps." If the bill passed, the idea would have to be approved by voters on the 2012 ballot before games were permitted.
Last year Sen. Catherine Pugh, a Democrat from Baltimore City, introduced a similar measure to allow table games. It was killed in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Two of the five casinos Maryland voters approved in 2008 are up and running. The Hollywood Casino Perryville earned a banner amount when it opened in September, but since then has had lackluster returns. A second casino near Ocean City opened this month.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he wants to see Maryland's casinos operating before fiddling with the rules.
Posted by Annie Linskey at 11:36 AM | Permalink
| Comments (11)
Categories: 2011 legislative session
Categories: 2011 legislative session
Comments
Finally, someone with common sense!!! No one who gambles real money plays video games. I am so sick of Americans legislating thier morality on others. If YOU don't want to gamble, don't go to the casino...
Posted by: Pirate1001 | January 14, 2011 12:48 PM
it's about time, anyone who really wants to gamble doesn't want to do slots. Legalize sports betting, and table games and get some money back into the state instead of letting it go elsewhere!
Posted by: Dom | January 14, 2011 1:12 PM
The Dems love slots and gaming now. They are just slobbering over that extra revenue. Maryland should have the best school and the lowest taxes in the country in a few years. Go democrats!!!!!!
Posted by: Neal | January 14, 2011 1:36 PM
Dom - I believe MD cannot legalize sports betting due to federal laws. Delaware was the only state that was allowed.
Posted by: Neal | January 14, 2011 1:41 PM
Just line up at Michael Busch's door... He's the one who kept us behind our neighbors... IDIOT !!!! You people in AA Co. keep voting him in... IDIOTS!!!!!!
Posted by: frosty | January 14, 2011 2:26 PM
No.
Let those operating the warehouses full of sucker machines sink or swim all on their own: WITHOUT table games.
I was in favor of table games being allowed **in lieu of** the warehouses full of sucker machines that got approved instead... I like the idea of small card rooms in existing facilities spread out all aver the state that could also have a few slot machines.
Actually, I'm still in favor of that model but NO on giving anything more to the big operators.
And as much as I'd enjoy being able to have a friendly game of cards at the neighborhood place...I'm willing to keep doing that privately or when out of state.
Posted by: MrRational | January 14, 2011 2:38 PM
We need to be level headed about this. The only way to catch up to and jump ahead of our neighbors is to allow legalized prostitution in our gambling facilities. We should also explore the possibility of legalizing heroin and morphine and opening opium dens on the sites of our slots facilities. That would be progress and really laying the gauntlet down for the states on our borders.
Posted by: theonlyway | January 14, 2011 3:16 PM
Slot machines are more profitable than table games for casinos. Slot machines dont call out, get sick, or steal. Table games require staff and more staff to watch the staff on the floor because of cheating. Table games are the draw but slots pay the bills.
Posted by: mkmny | January 14, 2011 5:12 PM
Neal:
Go Democrats????
Who stonewalled slots in this state for so many years while Ehrlich was governor for no other reason than to make him look back and **** the will of the people???????
GO DEMOCRATS?
Unbelievable
(Maybe you are just being sarcastic, I hope so)
Posted by: lionfour | January 15, 2011 6:07 AM
Regarding legislating morality, we do that with just about all of our laws, gambling is just one of those, which incidentally is NOT immoral. What's immoral is a parent who gambles money that should be used for rent or food for the family.
When the opportunity to gamble becomes more convenient, like a legal gambling parlor down the street, it's similar to holding a shot of whiskey under an alcoholic's nose. It gets to be too much of a temptation.
It's true, some will still use the illegal parlor, some will travel to Atlantic City etc., but most will just not do it, or do it as often, when it's not real convenient.
As far as the tax money? Well, gambling in Atlantic City was supposed to make that a booming area again . . . the city is still mired in poverty and decay except for the casinos. The politicians will piss that extra money away in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Jimmy A | January 15, 2011 8:04 AM
Sad but true...Maryland had a chance 8years ago to have slots..Hypocrits-lotto, video horse racing, Keno, lottery all legalized gambeing but resisted for years because it was a republican idea, now broke , in debt, allowing medicaid to give 150 sessions of mental health per year sessions..unreal, now always behind W.Va. and Deleware, glad i am retiring from this loser state and now can collect my lottery "check".
Posted by: fred nastri | January 17, 2011 7:39 PM