O'Malley remains cool to table games in Md.
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) remains opposed to legalizing table games at Maryland casinos, he said Tuesday as he visited a Cecil County slots site set to open this fall.
As Maryland struggles to get its slots program off the ground, surrounding states, some of which have had slots for years, are now embracing black jack, roulette and other Las Vegas-style table games.
A state commission has said Maryland should consider the addition of such games, there is support among some leading state senators and former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) has said he is open to the idea if returned to office.
But O'Malley, visiting the site of Hollywood Casino Perryville, said one of the strong selling points of the 2008 ballot measure on slots was the "moderate nature" of Maryland's proposed program, which allows up to five locations.
As passed, the measure requires Maryland lawmakers to hold another referendum if they want to expand the types of gaming or number of slots casinos authorized in the state.
O'Malley also said Tuesday that he remains unconvinced that Maryland needs to reopen debate over the share of proceeds slots operators are allowed to keep. The current split -- 33 percent -- is among the lowest in the country. O'Malley said he considered that provision a selling point of the ballot measure as well, since it allows a larger share to go to education programs.
By
John Wagner
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May 26, 2010; 7:49 AM ET
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Posted by: VikingRider | May 26, 2010 1:33 PM | Report abuse
Once again, a reason for a third party makes a blood-curdling, guttural, primeval scream. Why not compete with Chalrestown and Dover Downs on more than just slots?
Get with the times, O'Malley. Put this on a referendum so we can vote table slots into existence during THIS election cycle. Our needs cannot be out on hold at the behest of your political career.
Posted by: thelongblueline | May 27, 2010 12:27 AM | Report abuse
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Come on gov, get with the program, slots, the lotto, next step table games. Let the good times roll. The voters said we want gambling in Md., if this has any chance of helping dig the state out of it's abyssmal budget hole, you got to go all the way. Gambing is better than the regressive sales tax expansion the allegedly progressive Dems. pushed on us.