Officials hope fourth slots license will kick-start revenues

Maryland lottery officials are scheduled to decide Thursday whether to recommend approval of the state’s fourth slots license, a move that could help a gambling industry struggling to reach the amount of revenue lawmakers promised five years ago. Lakes Entertainment has a bid to invest $148 million in long-term upgrades at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort,where a new casino could house up to 1,500 slot machines.

Lakes would be the first successful bidder at the Allegany County resort in two rounds of bidding, as a lengthy licensing process and rejected casino proposals have stalled the state’s efforts to open casinos at all five sites approved in a 2008 gambling referendum.