Maryland board delays another slot vote

The Maryland Board of Public Works today reluctantly delayed until next year a decision on whether to award an Italian-owned company a $21.5 million contract to manage the state's slot machine operations after Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) raised concerns the deal could be unconstitutional.

Franchot said it didn't appear the state, which faces a projected budget gap of nearly $2 billion next year, had carefully considered how it might pay for the services if slots casinos fail to materialize on schedule.