Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said Thursday he wants slot machines in Prince George’s County, to the surprise of many county officials who rejected the gambling machines last year.
“Well that may be the Senate president’s idea and he has a right to his idea, but in order for that to happen the legislature will have to vote on it … and I don’t support it,” said Sen. Nathaniel Exum, D-Landover.
Miller, D-Calvert, has been a long-time supporter of slots, unlike many of his fellow lawmakers in Prince George’s, who oppose gambling.
“The state is still struggling to figure out how to come up with the slots that were approved two years ago. said Del. Michael L. Vaughan, D-Landover. “If you have an approved plan that you have not been able to implement, why do you think you can expand?”
In fall 2008, Maryland residents voted to legalize 15,000 slots at five sites — none in Prince George’s. Gambling companies have been awarded licenses at three sites, but none has opened.
For slots to land in Prince George’s, Miller would have to submit a proposal to the legislature. If passed, the change would need to be approved by voters in the November election.
A proposal for slots at Rosecroft Raceway — where Miller wants to put the slot machines — was killed in the Senate last year.
“I thought we put that to rest,” said Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters, D-Bowie.
Del. Barbara Frush, D-College Park, said she is not morally opposed to slots. “I don’t think it’s a great way to balance the budget, but any revenue we can bring into Maryland that’s not immoral or illegal, I favor.”
She offered National Harbor as a good place for slots in the county. “You’ve got all those people from the District and from Virginia right there,” she said.
Faced with unexpected hangups with developing the sites, slots committee chairman Don Fry said he is planning to reduce the minimum investment requirements — approximately $84 million — for a slots license at Rocky Gap State Park in Cumberland.
“There is not a lot of interest in that location,” he said. “We need to make it more attractive to bidders.”
The reduction is among other “minor legislative changes” Fry is planning to address in the commission’s next meeting Jan. 22.
