casino and gambling industry

MGM Resorts International says it would build a resort and casino at National Harbor near Washington if the state authorizes a site there —but only if Maryland lowers the tax rate on gambling revenue and allows table games.

The developers of National Harbor announced Friday they have reached an agreement with Las Vegas giant MGM Resorts International to develop a luxury casino at the proposed gambling site on the Potomac River.

It wasn't exactly crickets chirping, but the response to Harford County Executive David Craig's casino proposal from other elected officials was not overly enthusiastic.

Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker says Maryland's gambling law has been a disappointment and that the state would be best served by legalizing table games and allowing a casino at National Harbor.

In his role as one of 11 members of state Work Group to Consider Gaming Expansion, Turner's questions and comments to presenters during the panel's June 1 and June 12 meetings indicate he hasn't changed his mind about the need to let the five authorized facilities get up and running before the state approves a sixth.

Rosy projections for revenue from a sixth Maryland casino and the legalization of table games ignore the practical and political realities that make a summer special session unwise.

The staff of the General Assembly and its consultants told a work group on gambling expansion Tuesday that Maryland's market is not saturated and could absorb a new casino in Prince George's County.

David Craig's full statement to state panel on potential gaming in Harford County

Appeals court rejects casino developer Michael Moldenhauer's Baltimore bid, saying it's not in city's 'best interest.'

Gambling panel to get numbers

Though the latest call by Harford County Executive David R. Craig for the state to pass legislation to allow a casino to be built in the county has all the trappings of a campaign talking point, the idea is and has been a good one.

City should seek more from casinos and billboards before turning to residents

With the opening of the Maryland Live Casino at Arundel Mills mall, the number of slot machines operating in the state more than doubles — and, officials hope, so will tax revenue from slots.

Harford County Executive David Craig says he wants his county to be considered as a future casino gambling site.

Maryland's two casinos took in about $14.6 million in May, with both facilities' revenues increasing compared with a year ago, according to state regulators.

A Maryland gambling expansion work group was impaneled by Gov. Martin O'Malley to consider gaming expansion and adding a sixth casino in Prince George's County.. During its first meeting June 1, which lasted more than five hours, the panel received a presentation from the Department of Legislative Services and testimony from operators of the state's existing and planned slots facilities.

Nearly two years since Maryland's first casino opened, the state has yet to dole out any of the $3.6 million in slots revenue that has accumulated for small, minority- and women-owned businesses.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig has asked a state work group studying gambling expansion to consider Harford as a casino site despite the proximity of an existing slots parlor in neighboring Cecil County.

The short life spans of Cordish's prior gaming undertakings raises the question of how long the developer will maintain a stake in Maryland Live, especially if it fails to stop a large casino from being built in Prince George's County.

The owner of the soon-to-open Maryland Live! at Arundel Mills and proponents of a new casino in Prince George's County squared off Friday as a work group set up by the governor and legislative leaders began looking at the issue of possibly expanding gambling in Maryland.

Maryland's slots work group can't make a good judgment in time for a July 9 special legislative session.

O'Malley names panel to study gambling expansion

Maryland legislators ended their special session on budget issues last week knowing there's a strong likelihood they may be summoned back to Annapolis in July to contend with the thorny issue of expanded gambling.

Preakness 2012 comes at a time when slots-subsidized purses are breathing new life into Maryland horseracing.

Slots money has injected new life into Maryland horse racing.

Maryland's casinos brought in $14.5 million in April, with both locations increasing revenue compared with a year earlier, the state said Monday.

Baltimore City Council approves Rawlings-Blake's 9-year plan; several oppose bill

Proposal relies on projected revenue from slots

The state has awarded a casino license to the sole applicant at the struggling Rocky Gap resort in Western Maryland.

Gov. Martin O'Malley and top leaders of the General Assembly are considering the possibility of holding two special legislative sessions this year – one in May to deal with the state budget and another in summer to consider an expansion of casino gambling in Maryland.

An advisory committee is recommending that Anne Arundel County spend two-thirds of the $15 million from the new slots casino on public safety, the rest on education, transportation and job training.

The debate over a proposed casino in Prince George's County that encompassed much of the time and attention of state lawmakers during the waning hours of the General Assembly session April 9 was so crazy that Del. Frank Turner had to hide from reporters and lobbyists.

Maryland House Republicans on Tuesday disputed the need for a special legislative session, arguing that the so-called "doomsday" budget state lawmakers adopted last week is far from draconian and that there's no need to raise taxes.

The debate over a proposed casino in Prince George's County that encompassed much of the time and attention of state lawmakers during the waning hours of the General Assembly session April 9 was so crazy that Del. Frank Turner had to hide from reporters and lobbyists.

The NFL relaxed its policy last week, allowing franchises such as the Baltimore Ravens to accept casino ads in game programs, on limited signs at stadiums and on local radio.

The expansion of gambling in Maryland, again, distracts lawmakers from the more immediate concern of the state's budget.

Good news for Perryville's non-profit organizations – they are eligible to receive part of more than $100,000 in casino revenue. And there will be more to come in subsequent years

Mike Miller's tying of a gambling bill to Maryland's budget shows the corruption at the heart of Annapolis.

General Assembly lets table games bill die, what this means for the Hollywood Casino in Perryville

Laurel's District 23 Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters' bill to authorize Maryland to have a sixth gambling site in Prince George's County is being revised in the House of Delegates.

A high-stakes bill to expand gambling is still unsettled in Annapolis, but one thing seems clear: The payout right now is going to lobbyists.

Another $12 million in gross gaming revenue was generated by the Hollywood Casino Perryville's video gaming devices during March, the Maryland Lottery said Thursday.

Gambling is picking up as Maryland's two casinos reported $16.3 million in slots revenue last month, the largest combined total since the two facilities have been in business.

A Senate bill to add another slots parlor and legalize table games amounts to a massive giveaway to casino operators but would produce little for the state.

The Maryland Jockey Club -- the financially-strapped operator of the state's major thoroughbred racetracks -- substantially cut its losses last year thanks to state slots subsidies, but it still falls short of becoming financially stable.

A measure that would pave the way for a casino in Prince George's County picked up support Friday from Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, even as some city lawmakers raised concerns that it would endanger the gambling venue planned near M&T Bank Stadium.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's proposal to trim tax rate 20 cents by 2020 depends on revenue from the planned slots casino.