Bringing slot machines to Prince George’s County does not fit with the county’s development goals and could deter businesses from coming to the county, local ministers say.
Prince George’s already has a reputation for crime and underperforming schools, and the social degradation that could occur by bringing slots and other casino-style gambling would further pile on to that reputation, said Melvin Forbes, leader of Family, Faith and Future.
Forbes, with ministers from the Collective Empowerment Group of Prince George’s, a coalition of more than 150 local churches, is pitching alternative business models for Rosecroft Raceway, which new owner Penn National Gambling is trying to revive by bringing slots and horse racing back to the track.
The ministers are backing County Councilman Eric Olson’s legislation that would ban slots from the county.
Penn National officials say the racetrack won’t survive unless slots and other games are brought in to supplement live races.
A study commissioned by Forbes proposes an alternative to slots — a family-friendly development with plans for a sprawling sports complex, campgrounds, hotel and family-focused amusement park.
“It’s a good alternative to slots, something that would provide a great deal of economic boost without all the social destruction,” said Pastor Jonathan Weaver of Greater Mt. Nebo Church in Bowie.
The variety of attractions proposed in the study could generate about $9.1 million annually in sales and property taxes and create about 2,900 construction jobs, according to Frank DuBois, professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University.
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A study commissioned by Penn National estimates that casino-style gambling could generate more than $2.3 billion in tax revenue in the first three years.
“We’re thinking that maybe this isn’t as much of an economic factor as slots are, but in terms of the total positive impacts on the community, it does seem to work,” DuBois said.
The study answers County Executive Rushern Baker’s call for alternative proposals to slots at Rosecroft.
Baker called the legislation banning slots premature, adding that he wants to keep all the county’s options on the table when asking for additional funds from the General Assembly next year.
“That to me is a better option than the legislation to ban slots,” Baker said. “Because at least we can go to Annapolis with their proposal and say we have another idea with what can happen to Rosecroft. At least we can have a dialogue.”
The County Council is scheduled to vote on Olson’s legislation Tuesday.
