Senate lawmakers are scheduled to vote Friday morning on a referendum bill that could allow a sixth Maryland casino site in Prince George’s County and on amendments that would put even more revenues in casino owners’ pockets.
Casino operators would earn 48 percent of slots revenues if an amendment passes that would allow for privately owned slot machines. Operators now earn 33 percent on slots.
The move should ease the minds and wallets of Maryland casino owners who are wary of a new site in Prince George’s – possibly a $1 billion Las Vegas-style casino at National Harbor – cutting into their profits, according to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.
The Cordish Cos., who has been one of the most outspoken critics of efforts to bring a casino to Prince George’s, should be particularly pleased, Miller said.
“The person that makes the best out of this is Cordish, but he’ll say no all the way to the bank,” Miller said at a Prince George’s Senate delegation meeting.
The Washington Post reported the state, which bought the slot machines for casinos now in operation across Maryland, faces tens of millions of dollars in unexpected costs related to the machines’ operation.
The amendment, offered by the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters, would require casino owners to purchase slot machines. To offset the cost, 8 percent of slots revenues would be shifted to casino owners.
Other amendments would remove the link between slots revenues and a proposed regional medical center in Prince George’s, add a 10 percent local tax on table games, and tweak a measure to require a majority vote of Prince George’s residents to approve a site.
The local-majority provision, a must for the Prince George’s County Council, was determined to be unconstitutional as first written in the bill.
“We’ve got a whole new source of revenue, if the people decide it’s OK,” Peters said.
The amendments should also appeal to Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, who prefers a casino be located at National Harbor rather than Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington.
“Rushern is ecstatic,” Miller said.
