ANNAPOLIS – House lawmakers said Tuesday that they want to change casino legislation approved by the Senate so that Maryland benefits more from dramatically enhanced gambling revenue.
Casino operators’ share of slots revenue would be boosted from 33 percent to 48 percent, and Maryland would receive no money from table games under Senate legislation to build a casino in Prince George’s County and add table games like blackjack to the state’s approved slots parlors.
That doesn’t sit well in the House, according to Del. Sheila Hixson, D-Montgomery and chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
| Miller suggests extending session |
| Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. warned lawmakers that the General Assembly may have to extend its session past its scheduled April 9 adjournment. |
| Citing differences in the House and Senate budget proposal, Miller suggested lawmakers would need extra time to hash out a budget. Budget leaders canceled a meeting Tuesday afternoon, when they were scheduled to discuss the House and Senate’s opposing income tax plans. |
“We could certainly use the money, but as you heard today we don’t feel the state is getting enough under the Senate’s version,” Hixson said following a hearing on the bill Tuesday afternoon.
The state Department of Legislative Services estimates that state coffers would net $88.9 million from Prince George’s slots machines in fiscal 2017 if the measure passes, while counties would collect $51.4 million from a 10 percent share of table games.
Meanwhile, an analysis conducted by gambling experts for the Peterson Cos., the National Harbor developer that wants to bring a $1 billion casino to its site along the Potomac River, estimates state and local tax revenues from gambling would total $881.6 million before expenses in 2017.
That’s a $156.3 million gain for the state compared to the $725.3 million in 2017 revenues if the bill dies, according to the Peterson’s analysis, copies of which were sent to some lawmakers by Peterson lobbyist W. Minor Carter.
But the state would get only a small fraction of the extra casino revenue, frustrating Del. Frank Turner, D-Prince George’s, and other leaders on the House panel.
“We’re not here to pad the operators’ pockets. I’m here to protect the interest of the state,” Turner said after reading Peterson’s report.
Revenue adjustments were necessary to appease the state’s other casino operators, who are concerned that a Prince George’s casino may chip away their revenue, said Victoria Gruber, the Senate president’s chief of staff.
If the House passes the measure, it would have to be approved by a majority of Maryland voters.
