On Friday Maryland got bids for operating casinos in two separate locations: western Maryland and Baltimore. But, they proved not easy to get ever since the state introduced its slot-machine gambling program about three years ago. The program has had a number of setbacks, but this latest development may mean that it has a full set of operators by 2012.
There are a number of organizations interested in the move, including one group connected to Caesars Entertainment. They will all need to undergo background checks and there is no guarantee that they will be granted a license.
The Chairman of the commission that picks the state’s slots operators, Donald C. Fry, said at a news briefing, “The encouraging thing is it gives us applicants for all five sites.”
Baltimore site
The Baltimore location is to the south of the M&T Bank Stadium. Bids have been submitted by two groups and authorization has been given by the state to build a casino which consists of up to 3,750 machines. But, it will be beaten in size by a casino which is currently being built in Anne Arundal County at an outlet mall.
Only the Caesars affiliated group has come up with the $22.5 million license fee. It was indicated by Fry that the second bidder would probably end up being disqualified.
Rocky Gap site
The smaller casino at Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Allegany County has received bids from three applicants. One bidder is Nathan Landow, the former chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party and a Montgomery County developer. At this casino, 1,000 slot machines will be permitted. But, the real number looks set to be more between 200 and 850.
Current casinos
To date, two of the five casinos being built in Maryland have now opened. One is the Hollywood Casino Perryville which contains 1,500 machines and is based in Cecil County. The other is the casino based at Ocean Downs, located next to a Worcester County horse track, which contains 800 machines.
Maryland Live! is set to open in June 2012. It is being constructed in a parking lot based at Arundall Mills mall. According to The Washington Post, Baltimore-based Cordish, the casino’s developer, is currently in the process of asking for funding from the casino’s Chinese investors.
Previous attempts
Due to the limited amount of money available for similar projects, it has been hard for the state to get businesses interested in the Rocky Gap and Baltimore sites. The first round of bidding went ahead in 2009 and only one applicant could be found for the Baltimore location, Baltimore City Entertainment Group. But, the applicant was later rejected due to concerns over whether they could actually afford the project.
The group subsequently filed two lawsuits: one against the decision reached by the panel and the other accusing the process of reverse discrimination.
Despite Fry saying that they could submit a new bid, the group said that they would continue down their legal route and have accused the panel of “mismanagement.”