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MD Bid Turnout Disappoints (2 of 2)

Observers reported that there was a palpable air of disappointment at the Capital. The state Speaker of the House, Michael Busch, was a bit more optimistic. He stated that he thought the slot bids were “a pretty good start,” even if he knew that everyone has been wishing for a more significant turnout. Busch blamed the tough economy for the lower-than-expected turnout from developers, but he was far from the only one to cite that excuse. The fact simply is that in this economy, it’s hard for development firms to drum up the capital required to kick-start a venture such as the new slot machine gambling parlors.

It is known that Cordish Co., based in Baltimore, drafted a proposal to bring four thousand seven hundred fifty slot machine terminals to the Arundel Mills Mall in Anne Arundel County. Since the Maryland Jockey Club had previously made public its desire to install slots at the Laurel Park racetrack, also in Anne Arundel, it is speculated that this site is the one with dueling bids. There has been no official confirmation or denial of this to date. Interested bidders had a deadline of two in the afternoon yesterday to bring all proposals to the Capitol. Now, state officials are faced with the task of slogging through the lengthy proposals. The commission has the right within statute to seek more bids, but Fry said it would remain undetermined until a later date whether such action would be necessary.

Maryland’s voters OK’d the installation of the new slot games in November, wooed by the promise of as much as six hundred million dollars of taxable income being funneled through state coffers. The earliest gambling establishments will open in 2011, at sites that already have the facilities for such an operation.

Back to February 2009 Archive.