Senator Catherine E. Pugh Pushes for Casino Table Games at Marylands Slots Facilities

A state senator from the city of Baltimore said that she would like to see casino table games as well as slot machines at the slots facility planned for the nearby MandT Bank Stadium.

Expanding the gambling options at the planned 3,750 slot machine parlor would help improve the amount of tourists going to Baltimore, Senator Catherine E. Pugh (Democrat-Baltimore City) said on January 25th, 2010 at a Greater Baltimore Committee forum on the 2010 General Assembly.

Pugh's comments come 3 days after a state's slots commission said that the state of Maryland should consider permitting casino table games like poker at a time where neighboring states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware are improving the gambling offerings.

However, adding casino table games would need an amendment in the constitution of Maryland. State voters in 2008 approved opening five slots-only parlors in Baltimore City, Cecil, Anne Arundel and Worcester counties and at the Rocky Gap State Park in Western Maryland.

Donald C. Fry, who heads the state's Video Lottery Facilities Location Commission, said that the panel plans to write to state legislators asking them to consider a legislation of adding casino table games as an option to increase gaming revenue at the five slots location.

Fry, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Baltimore Committee, said that it is not their decision but a law decision for the state legislature to make.

Baltimore's incoming Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the current City Council president, has said that starting the planned Baltimore slots facility is one of her priorities.

Monday, 15 February 2010
Marissa Patterson