Penn National Gaming Inc. has invested $5.5 million in a fight to stop a casino from coming to Prince George's County.
The Pennsylvania-based gambling company contributed the millions of dollars to Get the Facts - Vote No On 7, a committee formed last week to oppose a referendum on Maryland ballots in November that would authorize a casino site in Prince George's, as well as table games at all the state's existing casinos.
Though a gambling bill passed by the General Assembly allows for a competitive bidding process that would give Rosecroft Raceway, the Fort Washington horse-racing track owned by Penn National, a chance to land the casino, officials for the company have argued the casino is most likely destined for National Harbor -- the site preferred by Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker.
Penn National also owns Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia.
MGM Resorts International, which reached an agreement this summer with developers at National Harbor to build a resort casino should their site be chosen, has given $2.4 million to a pro-casino campaign committee, For Maryland Jobs and Schools.
