Table games on the table?
Leaders of the Maryland General Assembly said in interviews today that legislation seeking voter approval of table games such as poker and roulette could gain passage either this year or next. A gambling expansion has long been discussed, even though just two of five planned slots parlors are up and running.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he'd prefer to let the 2008 voter-approved slot-machine program get going before making any changes to it. Ground breaking for what will be the state's largest casino, at Arundel Mills Mall, is scheduled for Thursday. O'Malley, who isn't thrilled that slots are going there instead of Laurel Park race track, is slated to attend.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch said he believed any gaming expansion moves would "take place next year," rather than this year.
"There will be some sort of vetting of this issue over the summer," Busch predicted. "There will be discussions between the Senate leadership, the House leadership and the governor. ... I don't think it goes anywhere unless you have all three people" on board.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said there's a "strong possibility" his chamber -- which has had a more favorable view of gambling than the House -- will consider the table games legislation this year. But he acknowleged that the House holds the cards.
"The history in the House is that they don't take up issues such as this until the year they'd be on the ballot," Miller said.
That would be next year, for the presidential election.
When the time comes, Miller, who represents parts of Prince George's and Calvert counties, said he would like to see voters weigh in both on table games and on adding new slots sites -- namely Prince George's Rosecroft Raceway, a long-struggling harness track up for sale.
-- By Julie Bykowicz and Annie Linskey
