Dorchester, Allegany
Counties Dominate Slots Debate
By Stephanie Tracy
Capital News Service
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 ANNAPOLIS - Senate amendments to a bill to
permit slot machines removed Dorchester County as a possible gambling site
and effectively guaranteed another site at a planned racetrack in Allegany
County.
In a floor session that started in the morning, then resumed in late
afternoon and ran well into late evening, senators debated dozens of
amendments to a plan, originally proposed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. to put
slots terminals at racetracks and other sites around the state and send the
revenue to education reform.
The Senate version of the bill calls for six slots licenses, with a
maximum of 15,500 machines awarded competitively to three racetrack
locations and three off-track sites. It also was changed to increase the
distance between two slots licenses from 2 miles to 5 miles.
With inclusion of the Ocean Downs track considered a dealbreaker by
Ehrlich and the Republican caucus, and the Senate's rejection of Dorchester
County as a potential location, Allegany remains the only rural county in
the running for slots.
The Budget and Taxation Committee changed the bill to require one of the
three gambling licenses available for tracks "be awarded to a racetrack
location in a rural location." The committee's changes passed easily by a
voice vote, and a final vote on the bill could come as early as today.
Maryland businessman William Rickman holds a permit to build a track in
Allegany County. He also owns the Ocean Downs harness track in Worcester
County.
During the sometimes testy morning debate, Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, D-Prince
George's, challenged the change and argued elimination of Dorchester County
amounts to killing competition for licenses.
The committee version originally called for off-track license bidding
from venues in Cecil, Prince George's and Dorchester counties, and Baltimore
City.
"It's important for all of us to understand that we came in with six
licenses for eight potential locations," Pinksy said. "And now we're in
effect voting on specific sites because the decision has been made on those
sites."
Other senators were concerned about potential costs for infrastructure
improvements around slots locations and adequate funding for compulsive
gambling treatment.
To address some of the local impact worries, Sen. George W. Della Jr.,
D-Baltimore, proposed giving county governments the ability to approve slots
licenses in their jurisdictions. The amendment was defeated 20-25.
The Senate bill would allow Pimlico, Laurel Park, Rosecroft and the
planned track in Allegany County to submit bids for the three available
track licenses.
Revenues from licensing fees, estimated at $60 million, would fund part
of the Thornton education reforms that supplements counties for varying
costs during the 2005 fiscal year. Track owners would receive a maximum of
36 percent of slots proceeds and non-track owners would receive no more than
30 percent.
Local development grants and race purses would be funded by 5 percent and
10 percent of revenues, respectively, and the remaining money would go to
the Education Trust Fund.
The governor submitted a slots bill last session that passed the Senate
by a thin margin, but died in the House. The governor's revised proposal
this year called for 15,500 slots at four racetracks and two off-track
locations.
Copyright © 2004
University of Maryland
Philip Merrill College of
Journalism
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