ANNAPOLIS – Prince George’s County lawmakers plan to propose an amendment to the state Senate’s gambling bill that would require an $800 million minimum investment for the construction of a casino in the county.
The amendment, expected to be introduced by Del. Justin Ross, D-Prince George’s, has the backing of most of the county’s House delegation, according to several lawmakers who are working to secure the state’s sixth gambling license for Prince George’s in a bill that also would allow table games in all Maryland casinos.
With few exceptions — most notably Del. Melony Griffith, the delegation chairwoman — County Executive Rushern Baker said he has the necessary support for his proposed $1 billion casino at National Harbor.
“This thing only makes sense if it’s a world-class facility,” Ross said. “If it’s anything less than that, then we’ll all vote against it.”
A House panel is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday afternoon.
The slots measure approved by Maryland voters in 2007 requires $25 million in investment for every 500 slot machines approved at a casino.At that rate, Maryland Live at Arundel Mills mall represents the largest investment in the state — with 4,750 slots approved there, developer Cordish Cos. is required to spend $237.5 million.
But Baker has bigger dreams for Prince George’s, and a gambling study commissioned by his office shows that a $1 billion facility at National Harbor, not Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, has the most lucrative potential for the county and state.
Though the amendment wouldn’t dictate where in the county the investment must be made, the change is aimed squarely at Penn National Gaming, which has proposed a $300 million racetrack casino at Rosecroft.
Spokeswoman Karen Bailey declined to comment on whether Penn National could meet the minimum investment lawmakers are asking for.
“There’s an ongoing effort here by the county executive and developers at National Harbor to pull a bait and switch on the people of Maryland,” Bailey said.
The amendment would prevent Baker’s plans from being muddled by a lesser facility,according to Del. Jolene Ivey, D-Prince George’s. Lawmakers don’t want to wind up with a slots barn, she said.
A Las Vegas-style casino on the Potomac River could be a national and international attraction, Ivey said — anything smaller would only add to the concerns of lawmakers in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore and casino developers at other sites throughout the state.
“We’re not trying to cannibalize ourselves,” Ivey said. “We want to reach across to other jurisdictions.”
