State Senators gave preliminary approval Monday night to legislation that would expand gambling across the state of Maryland and allow a sixth casino site in Prince George’s County.
The gambling bill overhauls the slots revenue structure to create a more favorable environment for casino owners and legalizes table games, measures that make another casino – either at National Harbor or Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George’s – more amenable to casinos already in operation or set to open soon.
The bill must pass the Senate’s vote once more before crossing over to the House of Delegates.
Opponents argued that the bill as structured already sets in motion a path for a casino at National Harbor, not Rosecroft, and that a competitive bid process has been tainted by the political influence of Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker.
When Baker weighed in on the issue and provided a detailed study that claimed National Harbor is the best location for a casino in Prince George’s, the decision on the site was essentially made, according to Sen. C. Anthony Muse.
“It was supposed to have been a fair and open process,” said Muse, D-Prince George’s. “But I think the minute persons of authority weighed in with a study that has been done well in advance, moving this in the direction of one particular place, it’s left our citizens wondering how this deal was done and why.”
But an amendment introduced by the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters, ensures that the site of the casino could be at either location.
Slots licensees may now hold up to two licenses, which clears the way for Penn National Gaming to bid on a casino at Rosecroft Raceway, which the company purchased out of bankruptcy in 2011, while already owning Hollywood Casino at Perryville, one of two casinos now open in Maryland.
Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, opposed the amendment, arguing it would allow some casino operators to create monopolies in the state.
But had the multiple licensee amendment not passed, “it would effectively eliminate Rosecroft from competition,” said Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, D-Baltimore County.
While voting against the amendment, Muse dismissed the notion that a site had not already been chosen.
“We can say all we want that it’s not been awarded, but I beg to differ,” Muse said.
